Cardiology Specialist Prof. Dr. Zekeriya Nurkalem gave the following information about the foods you should keep out of your shopping cart and diet in order to keep your heart healthy for many years:
FAST-FOOD BURGERS
When consumed in moderation, high-quality, grass-fed beef may have some heart health benefits. But saturated fats from animals have a detrimental effect on heart health, especially when combined with carbohydrates. Fast food restaurants that tend to use lower quality ingredients and unhealthy cooking methods should be avoided.
PROCESSED AND SMOKED MEATS
Just six thin slices of deli can contain half the recommended daily sodium level. The majority of people should be on a salt-restricted diet because of sodium’s link with high blood pressure.
Also, not everyone needs medication. Sometimes patients with high blood pressure can make significant improvements simply by adjusting their diet.
PIZZA
Pizza is on the salty foods list. (Other salt bombs include soups, condiments, and salad dressings). Pizza’s sodium content and saturated fat get high as you add extra cheese and meat-based toppings. When dining out or ordering, limit yourself to one or two slices and opt for veggie toppings.
FRIED FOODS
Consumption of fried foods such as french fries, fried chicken and fried snacks is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Traditional frying methods create trans fats, a type of fat that has been shown to raise the bad cholesterol type and lower the good type.
If you’re stir-frying vegetables at home and preparing it with olive oil and coconut oil, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it. But what most people understand as typical fried foods, which you don’t prepare at home, should definitely be avoided.
SUGAR GRAINS
Even foods that seem like part of a balanced diet, such as breakfast cereals, can be loaded with sugar. Eating refined carbohydrates and sugars in the morning will produce inflammation and move blood sugar up and down, so you’ll crave more sugar throughout the day. Instead, fruit can be eaten with an egg or avocado on whole wheat bread.
COOKIES AND PASTRY
Most baked goods, especially commercially produced ones, are full of sugar and are likely made from saturated fats (like butter or palm oil) or trans fats.
MARGARINE
There may be room for discussion about the cardiovascular risks associated with saturated fats such as butter. What is more certain is that diets high in trans fats certainly increase a person’s risk of heart disease.
Trans fats are common in margarines, which are solid at room temperature and are often marketed as a healthier alternative to butter.
DIET BEVERAGES
It may be fat-free and zero-calorie, but diet drinks have a dark side. People are under the impression that diet sodas are healthy and they really aren’t. In addition, research continues to link cola with the development of heart disease risk factors such as obesity and diabetes.
While some research shows that people who drink diet soda tend to eat and consume more calories than they would normally consume, other research shows that the chemicals in diet soda can actually alter gastrointestinal bacteria and make people more prone to weight gain. These types of drinks are also not a heart-healthy choice.