Are You Scared Of Heart Diseases? See 17 Worst Foods For Heart

         

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Sugar, Salt, Fat

 

Over time, high amounts intake of salt, sugar, saturated fat, and refined carbs can raise your risk for a heart attack or stroke. If you’re concerned about your heart, you’ll have to keep these out of regular diet.

But rather than stick on any one bad food, it’s wise to focus on your overall diet. You might still have these things if you mostly take heart-healthy fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy.

2.         Bacon

More than half of bacon’s calories come from saturated fat, which may raise your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol, and boost your risks of a heart attack or stroke. It’s high in salt, which bumps up your blood pressure and pushes your heart work harder. High amounts of sodium (the main part of salt) can cause stroke, heart disease, and heart failure. Bacon’s added preservatives can worsen these conditions as well.

3.        Red Meat

Conuming too much beef, lamb, and pork may raise your risks for heart disease and diabetes. It could be because they’re high in saturated fat, which may boost cholesterol. More recent studies show gut bacteria process a part of the meat called L-carnitine. Reduce your portions. Also, look for lean cuts including round, sirloin, and extra-lean ground beef.

4.        Soda

Consuming small amounts of added sugar isn’t harmful, but a can of soda contains more added sugar than experts recommend for a whole day. Soda drinkers tend to gain more weight and are more expose to obesity and type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. And while the science is still working on diet drinks, some research attribute weight gain and strokes to them. Your best bet should be plain, carbonated, or unsweetened flavored water.

5.       Baked Foods

   

Cookies, cakes, and muffins have to be rare treats. They are especially loaded with added sugar, which contributes to weight gain. They’re also responsible for higher triglyceride levels, and that may lead to heart disease. Their main ingredient is usually white flour, which can spike your blood sugar and make you hungrier. Get healthier treats: Swap in whole-wheat flour, reduce the sugar, and use liquid plant oils instead of butter or shortening.

6.      Processed Meats

Hot dogs, sausage, salami, and lunch meat are the worst kinds of meats for your heart. They are loaded with salt, and most are high in saturated fat. When it comes to delicious meats, turkey is better for you than salami since it doesn’t contain the saturated fat. Though it still has a fair amount of sodium,  it isn’t as heart-healthy as fresh sliced turkey breast.

7.    White Rice, Bread, and Pasta

Rice, bread, pasta, and snacks made from white flour are deprived of p  their healthy fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Refined grains quickly convert to sugar, which your body accumulates as fat. A diet high in refined grains might cause belly fat, which studies suggest can lead to heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Try to get at least half of your grains from whole grains such as brown rice, oats, and whole wheat. When you shop, ensure you get "100% whole grain."

8.      Pizza

Pizza can be healthy if you prepare it the right way, but most takeaways pizza and frozen pies contain staggering amounts of sodium, fat, and calories, all of which can increase your risk of a heart attack. When yo ordering out, go for a thin crust (whole wheat if possible),  take less cheese, pile on the veggies, and avoid the pepperoni or sausage, which are high in salt. For the most heart-healthy pizza, do it yourself.

9.      Alcohol

Moderate drinking won’t harm your heart except you have high blood pressure or high triglycerides, a type of fat in your blood that might boost your risks of heart disease. Heavy drinking, however, can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure, strokes, and weight gain. Therefore, if you don’t already drink, it better you don't start.

10.      Butter

Butter is loaded with saturated fat, which can increase your bad cholesterol and increase heart disease risks. You would better replace butter with olive oil or vegetable oil-based spreads, which contain heart-healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats. If you have high cholesterol, a spread with stanol could be better. Regular use may help lower your LDL cholesterol levels.

11.    Flavored Full-Fat Yogurt

Yogurt can be a super source of nutrients. Eating it regularly could protect you from high blood pressure. But be mindful of the kind you buy. Flavored yogurts are loaded with added sugar, which links it to weight gain, high blood pressure, inflammation, and heart disease. For the healthiest choice, eat plain low-fat yogurt and put your own fresh fruit, cinnamon, or vanilla for flavor.

12.     French Fries

The deep-fried potatoes from restaurants and fast-food places have lots of fat and salt, which is bad news for your heart. One study found that people who ate french fries or hash browns 2 to 3 times a week were more likely to die early. If you indulge, get the smallest portion possible or split your order. Even better: Make your own oven-baked fries with heart-healthy olive oil. They’ll be even better for you if you use sweet potatoes.

13.      Fried Chicken

Deep-frying chicken adds calories, fat, and sodium to an otherwise healthy food. Studies have linked fried food with type 2 diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure -- all of which raise your odds of heart failure. For a crispy but healthier choice, bread skinless chicken breasts in whole-wheat flour and bake instead of frying.

14.     Canned Soup

Soup can be an easy way to get more vegetables, protein, and fiber. But watch out for unhealthy ingredients. Canned soup often has lots of sodium, which can cause high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. And any cream-based soup has unhealthy saturated fat. The healthiest way to enjoy soup is to make it from scratch with a low-sodium broth. If you do buy prepared soup, check the label for the least salt and fat.

15.     Ranch Dressing

The main ingredients of this popular dressing are typically buttermilk, salt, and sugar. This makes it high in fat, sodium, and calories. None of that’s good for your heart. You can make a healthier version of your favorite creamy dressings by blending low-fat sour cream or cottage cheese with low-fat buttermilk and fresh herbs like dill, tarragon, or chives.

16.     Ice Cream

Ice cream is high in sugar, calories, and saturated fat, so save it for a special treat. Eating foods loaded with fat and sugar leads to weight gain. It can also drive up your triglycerides and lead to a heart attack. Cut your calories and fat by choosing sorbet, low-fat or nonfat frozen yogurt, or frozen fruit bars. Check the label for the least amount of sugar and saturated fat.

Potato Chips

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Potato chips are one of the foods that contribute most to weight gain. And not only are they loaded with saturated fat, they’re also covered in salt -- which is also linked to heart disease. Skip the lower-sodium or low-fat potato chips. They’ll just leave you hungry again. The most nutritious snacks combine healthy proteins, carbs, and fats, like whole-grain crackers with low-fat cheese or homemade popcorn tossed with olive oil