depends largely on lifestyle and diet. In order to keep our heart and blood vessels in good condition and protect them from cardiovascular diseases, it is of great importance to eat he althily, to monitor our cholesterol and blood pressure, and above all to avoid some particularly harmful foods for the heart.
What are the most harmful foods for the heart and blood vessels?
Processed and dried meats
Sausages are especially loved by millions of people around the world. Their variety is so tempting and their delicate flavors and aromas are truly irresistible. However, sausages, dried and processed meats pose huge risks to the heart.
A 2020 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found a link between red and processed meat and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attack, writes thehe althy.com. Vascular deposits from these meats and sausages cause plaques that narrow and block blood vessels. This increases the risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 42%.
Refined and processed grains
One of the worst and most heart-damaging foods are processed and refined grains. They cause blood sugar and insulin levels to rise. Soon after eating such foods, their levels drop sharply, causing sudden hunger. Under such circumstances, you are very likely to overeat or reach for high-calorie junk foods.
Fried Foods
Fried foods are delicious and loved, but potentially very dangerous for the he alth of the cardiovascular system. They increase blood pressure, cause obesity and a jump in cholesterol levels - increasingly dangerous prerequisites for the appearance of cardiovascular diseases.
Fizzy and sweetened beverages
These drinks cause triglycerides to rise, just like sweet and fatty foods. The concentrated sugars in sodas and sweetened beverages raise triglyceride and cholesterol levels, which also increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Candy and Sweets
They are not only bad for your teeth and waistline, but also bad for your heart. Like sweetened beverages with a high concentration of refined and processed sugars, candy and sweets are harmful to cardiovascular he alth. They can increase the risk of hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, heart attack and stroke.
Alcohol
If you regularly drink alcohol, it increases your cardiovascular risk. Such are the results of a study published in Alcohol Research & He alth, writes thehe althy. Metabolizing alcohol releases sugars that increase the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
