We know eating healthily is one of the best things you can do for your heart, but what foods should you avoid? What are the worst foods for the heart?
Eating heart-healthy foods can help reduce the risk of developing heart disease by minimizing heart disease risk factors. However, just like eating certain foods will improve your heart health, others will damage it. The following are some of the worst foods for the heart.
1. Processed Deli Meats
According to Suzanne Fisher, RD, LDN, founder of Fisher Nutrition Systems in Cooper City, Florida, these meats are not healthy. “Even the lower-fat versions of cured lunch meats contain the preservative sodium nitrate,” says Fisher, and sodium nitrate can increase inflammation.
2. Hot Dogs
“Hot dogs and sausages can be high in saturated fat,” says Rania Batayneh, MPH, the owner of Essential Nutrition For You and the author of The One One One Diet. “Even low-fat options tend to be packed with salt. It’s important to watch your sodium intake, as more dietary sodium often leads to higher blood pressure.”
3. Rotisserie Chicken
If you like the taste of these chickens, be aware that they contain much more sodium and fat than typical home-cooked chicken. Still, you can avoid the unhealthy aspect by roasting your own at home and controlling the number of ingredients.
4. Ketchup
Condiments are one of the sneakiest food products around as you may not realize they’re full of added sugars and sodium. One of the most popular condiments is ketchup, which is very high in sodium and sugar as well.
5. BBQ Sauce
If you like barbecue sauce, then it’s time to reassess your intake and start limiting it for your heart’s sake. Typically, just a couple of tablespoons contain about 310 milligrams of sodium, so start eating less or eat homemade sauce.
6. Table Salt
While about 70% of our total sodium consumption comes from restaurant or packaged foods, table salt still accounts for about 15% of sodium intake. Since you’re in complete control of how much salt you add, then start cutting the amount of salt you use.
7. Reduced-Fat Salad Dressings
If you’re eating salads to be healthier, then reconsider using salad dressings – especially the reduced-fat ones. “When fat is removed, sugar is typically added to maintain the taste and texture,” says Fisher.
The Outlook
What makes these some of the worst foods for the heart is that people may not consider some of these as harmful. As a result, they can sneakily damage your heart health without you realizing it.
However, if you’re serious about taking care of your heart, then avoid or limit these food products. On the other hand, if you want to boost your health, you can take supplements like L-arginine Plus.
Its ingredients are effective at promoting circulation, blood pressure, cholesterol, and more. Give your heart health the support it deserves by staying away from these unhealthy foods and by taking L-arginine Plus.