Understanding Foods That Can Cause Heart Disease

Understanding Foods That Can Cause Heart Disease

 September 4, 2022

A woman holding up some vegetables at the market

Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the Western world, despite being mostly avoidable with the right lifestyle choices. A balanced diet is crucial if you want to reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. While there is less scientific evidence linking specific foods to an increased risk of heart disease, several ideas have been proposed to explain the link. 

While there is no scientific proof that particular foods promote heart disease, other ideas have been proposed. Other theories have not even been confirmed, while some research has produced no findings. We must educate ourselves. We should understand how to limit or avoid the foods that support healthy heart health.

If you are worried your senior needs help cooking or staying away from bad foods, then you may need to be there for them or hire professional senior care to help. Although senior care can cook the basics or help remind your senior to stay away from certain ingredients, your senior mom or dad will still be in control. This means they can still eat bad foods. The best way to see any change in diet is to be flexible and remember to encourage them to make healthy decisions. Here are some foods that may cause heart disease. 

Fast Food Products

Oils are widely documented to lead to excessive cholesterol levels and heart disease under specific conditions. There are certain oils that you need, but you must get the correct ones in the correct quantities. This is not to say that you may continue to consume fast food or fried meals if you are healthy.

Fast food and other fried meals are harmful, because they are prepared using vegetable oils high in saturated fat, and provide more fat than the average person needs. Although these factors may not directly cause weight gain, they increase a person’s chance of developing coronary artery disease.

Reduce your intake of processed, quick, and fast-food restaurants. The method you cook may significantly impact the nutritional value and overall quality of your meal. You may swap the fried bacon and sausages for grilled versions and the fried eggs with poached ones that you beat in a spoonful of olive oil. If you want your meal to have more flavor and nutritional value, try grilling or baking it instead of deep-frying.

High Fat Dairy Products

You should restrict your consumption of full-fat dairy if you’re concerned about your cholesterol levels, so choosing the right type of dairy to eat is important. However, entire milk shouldn’t be consumed.

Cholesterol levels rise when people choose full-fat versions of foods. Think about how all the HDL and LDL cholesterol in the world is found in meat and dairy products. Cholesterol levels may be lowered by selecting low-fat meals. Of course, the additional sugar in low-fat items may contribute to obesity and other health issues, so beware! Take care not to substitute sugar for cholesterol, which may cause diabetes.

Canned Vegetables 

Canning veggies are widely available in supermarkets, may be kept in big numbers to save grocery shopping, and provide a handy supply of nutrients. However, it is becoming clear that canned veggies are bad for your heart. Manufacturers are worried, but it seems not everyone is.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Senior Care in Pittsburgh, PA, please contact the caring staff at In-Home Quality Care today. Serving the Greater Pittsburgh Area since 1990! Call 412-421-5202