Cardiovascular health is crucial for overall well-being, and diet plays a significant role in supporting a healthy heart. Fall offers an array of seasonal foods rich in nutrients that can promote cardiovascular health, like apples, pumpkins, and leafy greens. However, some popular fall foods—often featuring seasonal treats and comfort dishes—can actually be harmful to heart health. These foods can be high in saturated fats, sugars, and refined carbs.
We checked in with Dr. Christopher Van Nguyen, who specializes in cardiology, to learn about two of the worst artery-clogging fall items that can damage your heart health. Dr. Van Nguyen revealed that pie crusts and seasonal coffee drinks are the ones to stay away from. Read on to learn more.
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1. Pie Crusts
Pie crusts, especially traditional, buttery varieties, can negatively impact cardiovascular health when consumed frequently. Most pie crusts are made with butter, lard, or shortening, which are high in saturated fats. Many store-bought ones use partially hydrogenated oils, which contain trans fats.
Dr. Van Nguyen further adds that pie crusts "are often high in trans fats and saturated fats, which can raise LDL cholesterol, the 'bad' cholesterol. These unhealthy fats, along with refined sugars and white flour, can contribute to plaque buildup in arteries, restricting blood flow and increasing heart disease risk."
He suggests making homemade pie crusts made from healthier options, such as whole grains like oats or almonds. These are high in fiber and contain heart-healthy fats.
2. Seasonal Coffee Drinks
Those cozy fall coffee drinks we all love—pumpkin spice lattes, caramel apple macchiatos, maple pecan lattes—might be doing more harm to your heart than you think. These delicious drinks often come with tons of added sugars. All that sugar spikes your blood sugar, which can lead to inflammation in your blood vessels.
"These drinks are high in sugar and unhealthy fats, which can lead to weight gain, insulin resistance, and increased bad cholesterol, all of which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease," says Dr. Van Nguyen.
Enjoying these drinks occasionally is fine, but cutting down on the sugar, skipping the whipped cream, or even choosing a smaller size can help you enjoy the fall flavors without compromising heart health.
