Heart Disease: Foods You Should Avoid
By Sara Butler
You are what you eat. Or, in this case, your heart is. There are certain foods out there that can contribute to the development of this disease. Don't think you need to worry? Well, according to the American Heart Association, one-third of all deaths in the United States are related to heart disease. That's a scary statistic and one that you can reduce your chances of inclusion by avoiding these unhealthy foods.
Candy
If you had to guess how much candy the average American eats in one year, how much would you guess? The answer is an amazing 22 pounds!
Candy is nothing but sugar in some form and it can increase the amount of fat your body carries. That directly increases your risk of heart disease. If you worry that your sweet tooth will not be silenced, then think of other ways you can satisfy it. A 70 percent dark chocolate bar is a good start to cutting back on the sweet stuff but still giving yourself a little treat.
Pancake Syrup
Chances are that the commercially made waffle and pancake syrup you have in your refrigerator right now is nothing more than flavored high fructose corn syrup and has never seen the inside of a maple tree. Studies have shown that eating too much high fructose corn syrup can lead to higher triglycerides, which can tax your heart as well as all your vessels.
Soup
Soup in a can is convenient but its far from heart-healthy. Canned soups are notoriously high in salt. In fact, the average serving of canned soup contains in the neighborhood of 800 milligrams of salt, which is about 40 percent of all the salt you need in an entire day. Too much salt in the diet can lead to high blood pressure -- and high blood pressure is bad for your cardiovascular system.
Cake
Heart-healthy eating, as it turns out, isn't a piece of cake. Commercially baked goods are loaded with sugar and full of trans fats too. Trans fats have been banned from foods manufactured commercially, but that doesn't mean you can't find them in foods prepared in restaurants or bakeries. So it's really best for your heart if you skip over the apple crumble and just have an apple instead.
Heart disease is serious, but it's also 100 percent preventable. So when you eat, think of your heart!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Katy, Tex.