Maintaining a balanced diet is crucial to your overall health for so many reasons. Not only does what you put into your body impact your weight, but it can even play a role in your gut health, your mental health, your sleep, and basically every other aspect of your wellness that you can think of. Your diet is especially important when it comes to your cardiovascular health. While adding antioxidant-rich foods to your plate is one of the best ways to keep your heart in good shape, limiting your intake of certain artery-clogging options is also a vital step to take if you want to lower your risk of heart disease.
Typically, foods that are fried and high in trans fats are among the worst options. To discover one snack that’s especially high on the list of offenders, we spoke to nutritionist Lisa Richards, creator of The Candida Diet. She told us that you should avoid mozzarella sticks at all costs in order to keep your heart safe from disease. Read on to learn more about the risks of this deviously delicious food.
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Mozzarella sticks
While mozzarella sticks may be one of the most tempting contenders when you're browsing the frozen aisle at the grocery store—after all, they're gooey, delicious, and addicting—they're also unfortunately one of the worst snacks out there for your health. This is especially true when it comes to your heart.
Richards says some of the main issues at hand are all the fat and carbs. "Mozzarella sticks are considered an artery-clogging snack due to their high levels of unhealthy fats and refined carbohydrates," she warns. "These sticks are typically coated in a batter and deep-fried, which not only increases their calorie content but also introduces trans fats and saturated fats from the frying oil."
These unhealthy fats pose a risk to your health in several ways, but they can take a significant toll on your heart due to the fact that they're likely to raise your cholesterol. "Trans fats and saturated fats are known to raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, contributing to the buildup of plaque in arteries, increasing the risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease," Richards says.
Additionally, refined carbs are among the worst, inflammatory ingredients. "The refined carbohydrate content in the batter and breading can lead to spikes in blood sugar levels, potentially impacting insulin sensitivity and promoting inflammation," she goes on. Yikes! Guess we'll choose a different snack after all.
The bottom line
Ultimately, indulging in your favorite snack every now and then isn't going to kill you. However, when you regularly chow down on fried, fatty options like mozzarella sticks, you could be doing serious damage to your heart over time.
"Regular consumption of mozzarella sticks, along with other fried and high-fat foods, can have detrimental effects on cardiovascular health and overall well-being," Richards concludes. You're better off reaching for some healthier snacks instead.
READ MORE: 3 Things To Stop Doing Because They Could Lead To Heart Disease
