Does Bacon Clog Your Arteries?

Being overweight or obese can make you more likely to have a heart attack or stroke over time. If you’re worried about your heart, you’ll want to keep these out of regular rotation.

But rather than fixate on any one bad food, it’s wise to focus on your overall diet. And you can still have these things if you eat a lot of heart-healthy foods like whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy.

A lot of the calories in bacon come from saturated fat, which can raise your bad cholesterol (LDL) and make you more likely to have a heart attack or stroke. It’s full of salt, which bumps up your blood pressure and makes your heart work harder. High amounts of sodium (the main part of salt) can lead to stroke, heart disease, and heart failure. Bacon’s added preservatives are linked to these issues as well.

Eating too much beef, lamb, and pork may raise your odds for heart disease and diabetes. It may be because they’re high in saturated fat, which can boost cholesterol. More recent studies point to how gut bacteria process a part of the meat called L-carnitine. Limit your portions. Also, look for lean cuts like round, sirloin, and extra-lean ground beef.

A small amount of added sugar isn’t bad, but a can of soda has more added sugar than nutritionists say you should eat in a whole day. People who drink soda are more likely to be overweight or obese and to have heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or high blood pressure. However, it is still not clear how diet drinks affect health. Some studies have linked them to weight gain and strokes. Your best bet is plain, carbonated, or unsweetened flavored water.

Cookies, cakes, and muffins should be rare treats. They’re typically loaded with added sugar, which leads to weight gain. They’re also linked to higher triglyceride levels, and that can lead to heart disease. Their main ingredient is usually white flour, which may spike your blood sugar and make you hungrier. To make treats that are better for you, use whole-wheat flour instead of white flour, less sugar, and liquid plant oils instead of butter or shortening.

Hot dogs, sausage, salami, and lunch meat are the worst types of meats for your heart. They have high amounts of salt, and most are high in saturated fat. Turkey is better for you than salami as a deli meat because it doesn’t have as much saturated fat. But it still has some salt in it, so it’s not as good for your heart as fresh sliced turkey breast.

White Rice, Bread, and Pasta

Rice, bread, pasta, and snacks made from white flour are missing  their healthy fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Refined grains quickly convert to sugar, which your body stores as fat. Studies show that belly fat is linked to heart disease and type 2 diabetes when you eat a lot of refined grains. Try to get at least half your grains from whole grains like brown rice, oats, and whole wheat. When you shop, look for the words “100% whole grain. “.

If you make pizza the right way, it can be healthy. But most takeout and frozen pies are loaded with sodium, fat, and calories, all of which can make you more likely to have a heart attack. If you’re going to order pizza, choose a thin crust (whole wheat is best), ask for less cheese, and pile on the vegetables. Pepperoni and sausage are high in salt, so skip them. For the most heart-healthy pizza, make it yourself.

Your heart won’t be hurt by moderate drinking unless you have high triglycerides or high blood pressure. High triglycerides are a type of fat in your blood that can make you more likely to get heart disease. Heavy drinking, on the other hand, can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure, strokes, and weight gain. So if you don’t already drink, don’t start.

Butter is high in saturated fat, which can raise your bad cholesterol and make heart disease more likely. Instead of butter, you should use spreads made from olive oil or vegetable oil. These have heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. If you have high cholesterol, a spread with stanol is even better. Regular use can help lower your LDL cholesterol levels.

Yogurt can be a super source of nutrition. Eating it regularly might protect you from high blood pressure. But watch the kind you buy. Sugar that is added to flavored yogurts can make you gain weight, get high blood pressure, swell up, and even cause heart disease. If you want to eat something healthy, get plain low-fat yogurt and add your own fresh fruit, cinnamon, or vanilla to taste.

Eat less deep-fried potatoes from fast food and restaurants. They are high in fat and salt, which is bad for your heart. A study found that people who ate hash browns or french fries two to three times a week were more likely to die young. If you indulge, get the smallest portion possible or split your order. Even better: Make your own oven-baked fries with heart-healthy olive oil. They’ll be even better for you if you use sweet potatoes.

Deep-frying chicken adds calories, fat, and sodium to an otherwise healthy food. Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure are all linked to fried food. All of these things make you more likely to have heart failure. For a crispy but healthier choice, bread skinless chicken breasts in whole-wheat flour and bake instead of frying.

Soup can be an easy way to get more vegetables, protein, and fiber. But watch out for unhealthy ingredients. Salt in canned soup can lead to high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. And any cream-based soup has unhealthy saturated fat. The healthiest way to enjoy soup is to make it from scratch with a low-sodium broth. If you do buy prepared soup, check the label for the least salt and fat.

The main ingredients of this popular dressing are typically buttermilk, salt, and sugar. This makes it high in fat, sodium, and calories. None of that’s good for your heart. If you mix low-fat sour cream or cottage cheese with fresh herbs like chives, dill, or tarragon, you can make your favorite creamy dressings that are better for you.

Ice cream is high in sugar, calories, and saturated fat, so save it for a special treat. Eating foods loaded with fat and sugar leads to weight gain. It can also drive up your triglycerides and lead to a heart attack. Cut your calories and fat by choosing sorbet, low-fat or nonfat frozen yogurt, or frozen fruit bars. Check the label for the least amount of sugar and saturated fat.

Potato chips are one of the foods that contribute most to weight gain. They are also very high in salt, which is also linked to heart disease, and they are full of saturated fat. Skip the lower-sodium or low-fat potato chips. They’ll just leave you hungry again. The healthiest snacks have a mix of healthy fats, proteins, and carbs, like whole-grain crackers with low-fat cheese or olive oil-tossed popcorn you make yourself.

Debunked: Saturated Fat Doesn’t CLOG Your Arteries, Cause Heart Disease New Analysis Finds

Can you eat bacon if you have a heart attack?

You can still have these things if you mostly eat heart-healthy fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy. More than half of bacon’s calories come from saturated fat, which can raise your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol, and boost your chance of a heart attack or stroke.

What foods should one eat to reduce plaque and increase opening of arteries?

Mainly foods rich in HDL (good cholesterol) that play the role of cleaning the arteries, such as avocado, olive oil, oilseeds and seafood. Foods rich in vitamin K are also important as it helps prevent hardening and blockage of the arteries, the best sources are dark leafy greens, nuts, kiwi, avocado, grapes, plums and figs. In addition, it is important to consume enough antioxidants, which are present in fruits and vegetables.

Is Bacon bad for You?

It’s so common in dishes that you might think it’s okay to enjoy that sizzling, greasy strip. The fact is that bacon is not only loaded with saturated fat, but also contains high amounts of sodium, both of which are linked to increased risk for heart disease. The same is true for frankfurters and deli meats such as salami, ham, and pastrami.

What foods clog arteries?

Read More: The Effect of Diet on the Circulatory System Foods that clog arteries are typically high in saturated fats and cholesterol. They may also contain a lot of sugar and simple carbohydrates, like white bread. Usually, it’s not just one type of food but the combination that negatively affects artery and heart health.

Can you eat eggs a day if you have clogged arteries?

Eggs are healthy foods but should be eaten in moderation. The American Heart Association recommends one egg per day as part of a healthy diet. Much more than one egg per day could be harmful to your heart’s health. Most people can eat these foods in moderation; it’s too much of them that can contribute to clogged arteries.

How can I prevent clogged arteries?

Clogged arteries is most often caused by fatty plague buildup in the walls of the arteries, which reduces blood flow to heart muscle cells. You can prevent developing clogged arteries by doing the following: • Quit smoking • Eat a healthy diet • Reduce your LDL (bad) cholesterol • Reduce high blood pressure • Lose weight • Exercise. If left untreated, clogged arteries will continue to build plaque, increasing the risk of having a heart attack, heart failure, a stroke or painful legs from peripheral artery disease.