6 Foods That Could Destroy Your Heart Health

You are well aware that smoking can destroy your lungs and affect your heart, but having an unhealthy diet and inactive lifestyle can also impact your heart health. All your harmful habits can negatively impact your body in the long term. On the other hand, various foods can increase cholesterol levels and contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries, leading to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. In this article, let’s discover the foods that could lead to heart complications.

Foods to avoid for better heart health:

• Red meat: Consuming too much red meat like beef, pork and lamb can increase your risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. Red meat is high in saturated fat which can increase your cholesterol levels. You can limit your portions, or try lean cuts like extra-lean ground beef.
• Processed meat: Sausage and salami are the poorest types of meat for heart health. These types of meats have high amounts of saturated fats and salt, which can harm your heart. Turkey is better than salami as it is low in unsaturated fat, but it also has high amounts of sodium, which is not good for the heart.
• Sugary drinks and soda: Although a small amount of sugar may not be harmful, a glass of sugary drink or soda can be dangerous for your heart. People who drink too much sugary drinks are more likely to develop obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. It can also increase one’s risk of having a stroke. That is why it is better to drink plain water or unsweetened drinks.
• Bacon: Bacon is high in saturated fats and can increase low-density lipoprotein or bad cholesterol which can lead to heart attack or stroke. Bacons contain high amounts of sodium which can raise your blood pressure and increase your chances of having a heart attack or stroke.
• Cakes or pastries: Try limiting your consumption of cookies, cakes or pastries, because they are loaded with sugar and white flour which could lead you to gain weight. They are typically made with white flour, sugar, and butter, which can increase your blood sugar level and triglyceride levels. You can bake cakes or cookies using healthier ingredients. For example, whole wheat flour is a good alternative to white flour, cane sugar and coconut sugar are great substitutes for white sugar, and liquid plant oils are better than regular butter.
• Fried foods: French fries and fried chicken may satisfy our taste buds, but they are not good for the heart and overall health. Several studies have found that fried food is linked with several conditions, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, all of which raise your risk of heart attack.

Apart from all these, it is also essential to do exercises, even 15 minutes of walking or running can benefit you. Also, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption are crucial for your overall health.