Obesity or being overweight is a problem that affects many people in developed countries today. This is due to unhealthy eating habits and the consumption of junk food and fast foods that are high in trans and saturated fats. If you want to keep your heart healthy and active, you need to minimize your intake of fatty foods. The following are some of the foods that should be avoided to maintain a healthy heart:
1. Restaurant frying: The quality of the oil used to cook food in restaurants is not very high and it is not healthy for our hearts. Most of these foods contain trans fats, which are bad for your heart. There are some restaurants that are switching to trans fat-free oils, but you might ask what kind of food is used to cook the food. If you are not sure about the quality, avoid eating food in those places. Fried foods are generally high in fat content. It is wise and healthier to eat something like vegetables, broccoli, beans, fresh bean foods and desserts without cakes.
2. Whole milk: There are versions of milk that are lower in fat, keeping the rest of the nutrients available now. Lots of people are switching to these. Whole milk, on a daily basis, can cause a lot of damage to the heart due to the accumulation of fats in the blood vessels, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
3. High Sodium Processed Foods: As the food industry becomes market oriented, there are a large number of foods available in the markets. This increases dependency on processed foods. Processed or packaged foods, such as canned soups, packaged snacks, and frozen dinners, are high in sodium. Choose fresh, homemade foods like home baked goods, fresh fruits, simple foods, whole grains, seeds and nuts instead of packaged processed foods.
4. Processed foods that contain trans fats: Trans fats are commonly found in many processed foods. These trans fats can increase the risk of heart disease. Trans fats can be harmful even in small amounts. Some foods may boast zero trans fat, but may contain hydrogenated vegetable oils, which contain trans fat. So don’t trust an item to be free of trans fats unless it doesn’t contain hydrogenated vegetable oils. Some of the foods high in trans fats are baked goods, margarines, microwave popcorn, frozen vegetables, and packaged pie crust. Bakery items should be avoided, as small bakeries may use oils that contain trans fat.
5. Soft drinks: Regular daily consumption of soft drinks can increase the risk of heart disease. Soft drinks are high in sugar, which provides only calories and no other nutrients to your body. You can use water or milk with meals or to quench your thirst instead of soft drinks. Thus, you will not ingest extra calories in the form of soft drinks but you will do it only with healthier foods.
