Heart health is essential to overall wellness, as heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. While factors like exercise and genetics play a role, diet has a significant impact on heart health, influencing blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammation levels. Certain foods, especially those high in saturated fats, added sugars, and sodium, can contribute to plaque buildup in the arterieis and increase the risk of heart disease.
Dr. Jeremy London, a heart surgeon who has over 460K followers on TikTok, shared four foods he avoids in order to steer clear of heart disease. According to him, some of the foods include fast food, soft drinks, and more. Read on to discover all four!
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1. Fast Food
Fast food can increase the risk of heart disease due to its high levels of saturated fats, trans fats, sodium, and added sugars. Many of these fast food items are fried, processed, and cooked in oils that are extremely unhealthy for the heart.
"The name says it all. Most of what's available in fast food chains is edible food products; it's not even real food," says Dr. London. Yikes!
2. Milk Products
This one may come as a shocker, but Dr. London says, "We are the only mammals that drink milk outside of infancy, and we drink it from a different species; think about it."
Research on dairy consumption and heart disease is mixed. Some studies suggest that dairy products such as milk contain saturated fat content, which can increase LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol). However, this can also depend on the person and the type of dairy product consumed. Fermented dairy products such as yogurt and kefir are praised for their health benefits, while some health experts suggest sticking to low-fat dairy options.
3. Soft Drinks
When ordering fast food, a large cup of soda feels like the cherry on top. However, sodas are known to be high in added sugars, especially fructose and sucrose. Excessive sugar consumption can lead to obesity, which is a major risk factor for heart disease.
London says this includes both diet and regular soft drinks and calls them "liquid death."
4. Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages are detrimental to almost every major part of your body. One, these drinks are calorie-dense, which can lead to weight gain and obesity. Regularly drinking large amounts of alcohol can raise blood pressure. This is concerning as hypertension is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack and stroke.
"Alcohol is absolutely toxic to every cell in our bodies. Even moderate or occasional use is in fact detrimental," Dr. London reveals. He warns, "If we're working so hard on optimizing our heart, the least you could do is stop actively poisoning your body."
Here are some heart-healthy alternatives you can enjoy instead!
