When consuming a well-balanced and nutritious diet, the health benefits you receive are plentiful. However, a failure to include copious amounts of nutrient-dense foods into your diet can lead to an array of heart issues. At Integrative Cardiology Center of Long Island, our team of cardiologists is well versed in the role that food plays in your heart health. If you’d like to learn more about the types of food that you should limit your consumption of so you can remain healthy, please inquire with a member of our staff. Also, see below for examples of foods that are not considered heart-healthy.
Bacon
Just because it is a popular food enjoyed by many, it doesn’t mean it comes without health issues. Bacon is considered one of the worst foods for your heart, as over half of its calories come from saturated fats. To make matters worse, bacon is also filled with plenty of sodium. Consuming an abundance of bacon can lead to complications such as:
- Increased low-density lipoprotein levels.
- Boosted bad cholesterol.
- Raised risk of suffering from a heart attack or stroke.
- Increased blood pressure.
Red Meat
While consuming protein is important, overdoing portions of red meat can lead to heart problems. Similar to bacon, red meat is high in saturated fat, which can clog arteries and boost your bad cholesterol. Red meat may also run the risk of increasing your development of diabetes. To help keep your heart healthy, be sure to limit your intake of some of the following foods:
- Beef
- Lamb
- Pork
Soda
Foods and drinks with small amounts of added sugar will not likely damage your heart health to a certain extent. However, one serving of soda has more sugar in it than your daily recommended amount. Although this sugar makes the drink taste great, it also wreaks havoc on your heart health. Those who drink soda often increase their likelihood of dealing with:
- Weight gain
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Strokes
Baked Goods
While the craving to consume baked goods can be great, fighting the urge to do so could be very beneficial to the health of your heart. The base ingredient in most baked goods is white flour, which can spike blood sugar levels. Eating baked goods can also increase your triglyceride count, leading to a higher risk of developing heart disease.
Butter
One final food worth mentioning that is detrimental for your heart is butter. Butter is used in a variety of dishes, but it will make all of them more unhealthy to consume. Butter is also packed with saturated fat, and consuming it too frequently will lead to an increased risk of heart disease. To limit your butter usage, try substituting it with olive oil.
Integrative Cardiology Center of Long Island
At Integrative Cardiology Center of Long Island, we take a holistic approach to healthcare. Our FIT In Your GENES program allows our cardiologists to stabilize your heart health and can protect you from the damage that occurs when you eat unhealthily. For more information about our treatments, or to learn more about how your diet has impacted your heart health, be sure to request an appointment with us today.