'Common foods' that increase heart attack risk should be avoided by heart patients

'Common foods' that increase heart attack risk should be avoided by heart patients
Cardiovascular disease is leading cause of death, killing one person every 37 seconds, according to CDC. But there are ways to keep yourself from statistics and reduce your risk of a heart attack, and that starts with maintaining a healthy diet.

The FDA recommends that people consume less than 10% of their daily calories from added sugars. But many of us eat more every day, which is not good for heart health. Also, sodium is another problem besides sugar, as eating too much salt can raise blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to hardening and narrowing of arteries, which increases risk of heart disease. In addition, there are some saturated fats to be aware of, as research has shown that eating foods high in saturated fat can increase low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol levels and put you at risk for heart disease, which can lead to heart failure. attack. In short, foods high in sugar, salt, and saturated fat can end up increasing your risk of a heart attack, even if you don't realize it. To drastically improve your cholesterol and blood pressure levels, as well as your overall risk of heart attack, you need to improve your eating habits as much as possible. Read on to find out which foods you should avoid to keep your heart rate up.

'Common foods' that increase heart attack risk should be avoided by heart patients

So, what are the common foods that can "harm" your heart?

1. Baking

"Baked goods contain twice as much sugar and hidden saturated fat, often have no nutritional value, and often contain hidden saturated fat and hydrogenated oil, which can raise bad cholesterol." Some hydrogenated fats also contain trans fats, which have been shown to increase cholesterol levels.

'Common foods' that increase heart attack risk should be avoided by heart patients

2. French fries

Obesity and abdominal fat have long been linked to cardiovascular disease. The more fat in middle part of body, higher blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol levels in blood. By these standards, consider french fries a triple threat to heart health. Not only are they full of simple carbohydrate sources that raise blood sugar levels, but they are also full of fat and salt.

'Common foods' that increase heart attack risk should be avoided by heart patients

3. Ice cream

When blood cholesterol levels rise above normal levels, it can clog arteries and increase risk of heart disease, so a healthy adult should consume no more than 300 milligrams of cholesterol per day. One cup of a certain ice cream contains over a third of your daily intake, along with many other creamers. In addition, ice cream is high in saturated fat, which is bad for heart, and high in calories, which can lead to weight gain and poor heart health.

'Common foods' that increase heart attack risk should be avoided by heart patients

4. Coffee mix

Warning: Coffee mixed with syrup, sugar, whipped cream and other additives can contain as many calories and grams of fat as a milkshake. Not only can sugar overload cause blood sugar levels to spike, caffeine can also raise blood pressure levels — a far from ideal combination if you're trying to prevent diabetes and heart disease.

'Common foods' that increase heart attack risk should be avoided by heart patients

5. Bacon/bacon and sausage

The bacon and sausages you love for breakfast and delicacies you serve for lunch can be dangerous to your health. How? Many of these meats contain nitrates, which are preservatives that interfere with body's natural ability to process sugar, which can increase risk of diabetes. And if that's not enough, most processed meats also contain sodium, which is known to contribute to high blood pressure, which can lead to obesity and heart disease.