Cardiac diet: 11 foods cardiologists recommend to limit

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the USA. Eating healthy food helps keep the heart healthy while avoiding other types of foods is necessary as they increase the risks of heart disease. In addition, cardiologists claim that following a heart-healthy cardiac diet is the best way to prevent heart disease and keep the cardiovascular system healthy.

Avoiding foods and beverages linked to poor heart health may be the most preventative factor in heart disease-related death. That doesn’t mean people cannot occasionally enjoy ‘avoided foods’ as a treat. They just should not be a part of your regular diet. Knowing which foods to limit is the right way toward a heart-healthy diet plan.

Cardiac diet: avoid excess intake of sugar, salt, and fat

High amounts of saturated fat, refined carbs, sugar, and salt intake may lead to cardiovascular disease and other health problems.

Follow no added sugar diet

Eating sugar in small amounts is fine for health, but excess intake of added sugar increases the risk of heart disease. Also, a high-sugar diet is linked to the number of diseases that cause death worldwide. According to the study results, high sugar intake increases blood sugar and blood pressure levels, which are risk factors for heart disease.

In addition, the study showed that people who consumed more added sugar were at greater risk of coronary complication development and heart disease than those who ate less added sugar. Moreover, increased sugar intake causes stroke and is linked to atherosclerosis, which is characterized by artery-clogging deposits.

Salt negative effect

Limit salt intake to less than 5g per day. High salt consumption and insufficient potassium intake (less than 3.5 g) contribute to high blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Therefore, it is recommended to refuse processed foods such as salty snacks, ready meals, bacon, salami, and bacon as most salt comes from these foods.

Saturated fat

Our body requires healthy fats for energy and proper functioning. However, overeating saturated fat increases LDL (bad) cholesterol to build up in the arteries, leading to heart disease, stroke, and other health problems. Foods like coconut oil, butter, palm oils, and red meat contain a high amount of saturated fat.

Red meat

Red meat such as beef, lamb, veal, and pork (you may be surprised to learn that pork is included in the red meat category) is high in saturated fat, which increases cholesterol. Such meat is terrible for the heart and arteries and should be limited to a small percentage of the overall diet.
As the human body needs protein, try to choose heart-healthy protein sources, such as fish, turkey, chicken, and seafood, or even better, eat more plant-based proteins, including tofu or chickpeas, instead of animal protein!

Bacon, hot dogs, and other processed meats

Bacon is high in saturated fat and contains high amounts of sodium. They are both linked to increased risk for heart disease. Salami, ham, and pastrami are also very harmful and loaded with saturated fat. So, be sure to stick to healthier food options and limit bacon and eggs breakfast to a minimum.

Sugary drinks and cereals

A bowl of cereal with juice or soda for breakfast is a harmful and destructive habit that harms health conditions. All sugar-sweetened and energy drinks have much-added sugar that causes weight gain, which results in diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. All these health conditions are linked to heart diseases.

Also, too much-added sugar also affects arteries by increasing triglycerides and cholesterol (known as LDL) levels. Find out more about cholesterol here.

In addition, added sugar leads to atherosclerosis, causing fatty, artery-clogging deposits. Finally, excess sugar is also linked to inflammation in the body. Some studies claim that drinking sugar-sweetened beverages more than 8 servings per week significantly increases stroke risk.

To stay healthy, try to switch to drinking more water as it increases energy, relieves fatigue, and promotes weight loss. Be sure to read the labels to reduce the consumption of foods with high levels of added sugar. A cardiac diet is an important step to take for preventing cardiovascular problems.

Fried foods, potato chips, and other snacks

French fries, along with potato chips, nacho chips, and cheese curls that are covered in salt – highly processed foods. They contain high levels of saturated and trans fats and are filled with additives and high amounts of sodium that are bad for cardiovascular health. All cardiologists claim that there is nothing healthy about junk food. Excessed consumption of snacks and fried foods causes not only weight gain but also heart disease. So instead of junk food, go for nuts, dried fruit chips, or seeds to benefit your overall condition.

Regarding food choices, focus on heart-healthy eating that helps your heart keep beating and avoid those that can prevent it from normal functioning.