Cardiologists To Share The One Food They Would Never Eat
If you are considering a diet plan that will help you improve your heart health, it’s easy to get confused over which foods are “good” and which ones are “bad.” For example, bacon, which is high in fat and protein, is allowed in the keto diet plan, emphasizing low-carb, high-fat foods. However, cardiologists and the American Heart Association (AHA) do not look favorably on processed meat.
Some foods are not harmful if eaten occasionally, but which ones should you avoid or limit? To help you, HuffPost spoke with cardiologists who revealed foods they do not eat or eat occasionally.
1. Chopper Liver
Some people enjoy eating chopped liver, while others say chopped liver is something that they feel like, meaning they consider themselves insignificant or not worth considering. According to Dr. Eleanor Levin, a cardiologist at Stanford University, chopped liver is not worth eating.
“Liver is a red meat that’s extremely high in fat,” Dr. Levin said. “In general, I avoid red meat because it’s very high in saturated fat and trans fats, and in addition to being bad for the heart, saturated fat can provoke osteoporosis. The liver is especially bad because it’s also the organ that filters out toxins, so any toxins are typically just sitting there. I used to eat chopped liver when I was a kid, but I haven’t since I became a cardiologist.”
2. Doughnuts
Doughnuts, made from fried dough and topped with icing, is a breakfast treat. However, Dr. Jayne Morgan, a cardiologist based in Atlanta, warns that doughnuts are fried in oils that contain trans fats, which are detrimental to heart health.
“Trans fats raise cholesterol levels and blood sugar, contributing to Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke,” Dr. Morgan said. “Trans fats are often ‘disguised’ on labels as partially hydrogenated oils, so read your labels and avoid them.”
But don’t scratch doughnuts entirely off of your breakfast list because not all of them are fried in oils that contain trans fats. Dunkin’, for example, fries its doughnuts in palm oil, which doesn’t have trans fat but does have saturated fat. It’s still not great for your heart, so eat them in moderation.
3. Bacon
Dr. Francoise Marvel, a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins University, said she typically avoids bacon because it’s a highly processed red meat that is high in saturated fat, which increases the risk of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). LDL, also known as bad cholesterol, can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. And that’s not all. Dr. Marvel said the chemicals added to bacon, like nitrates, have been linked to cancer and other health problems.
“It should be noted there is a varying amount of processing and ingredients used by different bacon manufacturers,” Dr. Marvel said. “But overall, to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and other health problems, limiting the intake of processed red meat like bacon is beneficial.”
Dr. Marvel recommends that you do your heart and blood pressure a favor by replacing the two slices of bacon you usually have with your breakfast with two slices of avocado.
4. Breakfast sausages
When bacon is not available, then sausages will work for breakfast. But doctors say sausages aren’t healthy either. Dr. Elizabeth Klodas, a cardiologist based in Minneapolis, said she avoids breakfast sausages at all costs. ”These are high in sodium (promoting higher blood pressure) and a rich source of saturated fats, which raise cholesterol readings,” Klodas explained. “Plus, because we only have so much room in our stomachs, foods like breakfast sausages can displace other items that might be more health-promoting.”
If you’re thinking about substituting one highly processed meat for another, think again. Dr. Klodas said that the World Health Organization has classified all processed meats, including bacon and sausages, as carcinogens, which are substances that can cause cancer.
5. Margarine
Margarine, made from plant or animal fats, is often used as a substitute for butter, which is made from cream or milk.
“Margarine seems like a great idea in theory, but it turns out to be just as bad as butter,” Dr. Harmony Reynold, a cardiologist at NYU Langone Health, said.
Dr. Reynold cited a 2021 study from BMC Medicine that found eating butter, and margarine was linked to higher mortality while eating canola and olive oil was linked to lower mortality from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, respiratory disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
“Olive oil is better, and each tablespoon of olive oil was associated with a 4% lower risk of death,” Dr. Reynold said. “With that in mind, I tell my patients to use olive oil whenever possible, even for cooking eggs or toast. When nothing but the taste of butter will do, it’s still better to use mostly olive oil with a skinny pat of butter for flavor.”
6. Steak
If you love steak, then you might not like what Dr. Leonard Lilly has to say: Steer clear of steak—most of the time.
“I avoid really fatty red meat, like highly marbleized steak, because it’s very high in saturated fat,” Dr. Lilly, the chief of cardiology at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, said. “Clinical studies have shown that saturated fat consumption is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.”
Now, having said that, Dr. Lilly noted that most people could get away with eating small amounts of almost anything on rare occasions, so he confessed to occasionally eating steak.
7. Deep Fried Chicken
“The one food that I rarely eat is deep-fried chicken,” said Dr. Sanjay Maniar, a cardiologist based in Houston. “Regularly eating fried foods will increase your risk of heart disease and stroke by increasing the amount of saturated and trans fats in the body.”
Saturated and trans fats can raise bad cholesterol levels and lower the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, also called “good cholesterol.” These unhealthy fats are considered the building blocks for fatty buildup (atherosclerosis) in the blood vessels of the body, Dr. Maniar said.
Chicken is a versatile meat, so other cooking options are available.
“You can get great flavor by adding fresh herbs and grilling or baking chicken rather than deep frying it,” Dr. Maniar said. “You’ll keep the taste but save the calories.”
8. Bologna
Bologna was once considered an inexpensive and convenient lunch option for children. Now, bologna has faded in popularity because of the healthier food options available. So, it’s best to pass on it, according to Dr. James Udelson, chief of cardiology at Tufts Medical Center.
“In some ways, bologna is a symbol in that it incorporates many things that should generally be avoided, including highly processed meats, which are very high in salt content and associated with risk of cardiovascular disease down the line,” Dr. Udelson said.
Dr. Udelson noted that the key to dietary heart health is following the AHA’s recommended Mediterranean-style diet, which is high in vegetables, whole grains, fish, some lean meats, nuts, and legumes.
Source Links:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/leighweingus/cardioligists-share-the-foods-they-avoid-sc
https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-021-01961-2#Abs1
