You should definitely read the American Heart Association‘s diet and lifestyle advice if you’re planning on keeping your heart healthy and happy.
You can also learn which foods cardiologists avoid if you feel like it’s going to make the process easier.
The experts claim that while none of these foods need to be taken out of your diet for good, you should avoid them as much as possible.
With that being said, here are some of the foods that cardiologists themselves avoid in 99 percent of cases.
Margarine
It’s time to cease consuming fake butter if you still do so since margarine is really unhealthy.
Cardiologist Harmony Reynold explains that “Margarine sounds like a good idea in theory, but it turns out to be as bad as butter. A study found that with every tablespoon of margarine per day, people were 6 percent more likely to die over the 16 years of the study. Olive oil is much better, and every tablespoon of olive oil was linked to a 4 percent lower risk of death. With that in mind, I tell patients to just use olive oil whenever possible, even for cooking eggs, or for toast. When nothing but butter taste will do, it is still better to use mostly olive oil with only a skinny pat of butter for flavor.”
Sausages (especially for breakfast)
A cardiologist by the name of Elizabeth Klodas says that “These are high in sodium and a rich source of saturated fats, that raise cholesterol levels.”
Klodas pointed out that the World Health Organization has designated all processed meats, such as sausages, ham, and bacon, as carcinogens.
Your breakfast sandwich’s bacon and sausage are neither healthy nor recommended, especially on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning.
Bacon
This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. Cardiologists everywhere recommend staying away from bacon, as delicious as it may be.
Dr. Francoise Marvel says that “Bacon is an example of highly processed meat that is high in saturated fats and increases bad cholesterol — called low density lipoprotein LDL — which is associated with an increased risk of stroke and heart attack. The way bacon gets processed is through ‘curing’ pork, which typically involves adding salts, sugars and even nitrates. The large amounts of salt used may increase blood pressure as well as fluid retention.”
Nitrates, one of the chemicals added are associated with a high risk of cancer and other illnesses, Marvel went on to say.
Marvel advises substituting bacon with some avocado for a delicious and nutritious breakfast that is also kind to your heart.
Bologna
Perhaps you haven’t had bologna since fourth grade, or perhaps it still is a component of your diet but the point is that you should probably avoid it.
Tufts Medical Center chief of cardiology Dr. James Udelson says that “In some ways, bologna incorporates many things that should be avoided, including highly processed meats, which are high in salt content and associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease down the line.”
Doughnuts
Since many doughnuts are cooked in trans-fat-filled oils, they are bad for your heart.
Cardiologist Jayne Morgan explains that “Trans fats raise cholesterol levels and blood sugar, contributing to diabetes, heart disease and strokes. Trans fats are often ‘disguised’ on labels as partially hydrogenated oils, so make sure you read your labels and avoid them.”
However, not all doughnuts are fried in trans-fat-free oils.
Some places use trans-fat-free palm oil to fry their donuts.
Regardless, you should still make sure you consume doughnuts in moderation as palm oil does include saturated fat, which is really bad for your heart when ingested excessively.
All in all, you won’t have any problems if you sometimes consume any of these meal options.
Just follow these cardiologists’ advice and keep away from them as much as possible, however.
