World Heart Day: 6 foods that are ‘pure poison’ for your body’s engine

The heart: It’s our most vital organ, but if you ask someone how to best care for yours, they’ll likely tell you that eating certain foods can increase your heart disease risk, it's often tough to change your eating habits. So, if your ticker is in danger, even doctors will suggest you to watch what you eat. Read on to discover 6 foods that sabotage your heart health and that need to be booted out of your diet ASAP.

Processed Meats

Processed meats are those preserved using salts, nitrites, or other preservatives. They include hot dogs, bacon, sausage, salami, and other deli meats, including deli ham, turkey, bologna, and chicken. Long-term observational studies have found that the high levels of salt and preservatives found in processed meats are part of the problem making these the worst types of meats for the heart.

Biscuits

The fluffy biscuits and cookies contain hydrogenated oil and even a single piece may contain a whopping 3 grams of trans fat that is way beyond what’s recommended for a healthy heart. Same goes for your cinnamon rolls, frozen pies and so on.

Ice Cream

Most of the popular Ice Cream brands contain Saturated fat, trans fat as well as cholesterol, which are harmful for your heart. However, no single food can put your heart health in danger. Portion control and frequency are the keys to enjoy your favourite Ice Cream, once in a while.

Soft drinks and sugar-sweetened juices

The largest source of added sugar in our diets isn’t from food, but from beverages. experts say that diets high in added sugar may be just as big a threat by contributing to obesity, inflammation, high cholesterol and diabetes, all of which are risk factors for heart disease.

Deep-fried foods

Several studies have linked the consumption of fried foods, like French fries, fried chicken and fried snacks, to an increased risk of heart disease. Conventional frying methods create trans fats, a type of fat shown to raise the bad type of cholesterol and lower the good kind.

Tomato sauce and Ketchup

When it comes to your blood pressure and heart health, condiments matter. The sauces and dips you savour, carry over 200 milligrams of salt per tablespoon which means heaps of sodium in your diet! And the ketchup you dip your fries might be doing you a great harm.

Now, that you know which foods to eat more of and which foods to limit, you'll be on your way toward a heart-healthy diet!