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I am a cardiologist. These are the seven foods I will never eat – and why

Dr. Deepak Bhatt, a top cardiologist at Mount Sinai, told DailyMail.com that overeating is generally bad for your cardiovascular system

A top heart doctor has revealed the seven foods he never eats to keep his tick healthy.

While obvious choices such as fast food, alcohol and red meat on Dr. Deepak Bhatt, there are several culprits that may surprise you.

Dr. Bhatt, a cardiologist at Mount Sinai in New York, said, “The best advice for a heart-healthy diet is one that is relatively low in calories.”

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide and in the United States, causing nearly 700,000 American deaths each year.

coconut oil

Although it was considered the ultimate health food in the late 2010s, according to Dr. Bhatt the evidence that coconut oil is not so good for your heart.

Coconut oil contains more saturated fat than lard, which can cause cholesterol to build up in the arteries.

It is also used in mouse and rat studies to mimic cholesterol blockages in the arteries known as atherosclerosis.

When it comes to coconut oil, Dr. Bhatt, “some caution is probably needed.”

“And I wouldn’t cook too much in coconut oil,” he added.

Coconut oil is “pretty high in fat,” he said. “Coconut may have health benefits, but like anything — eventually, too much of something is likely to backfire when it gets to where it goes from health benefits to just a bunch of calories.”

Excess protein

Health-conscious people often aim for high-protein diets, especially those who work out in the gym.

But Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health in Denver, Colorado, and a member of the American College of Cardiology’s Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Section Leadership Council, pointed out TODAY: “It seems that we obsessed with protein in this country.

“It’s not unusual for people to get twice as much protein as they need per day, and that puts a strain on the kidneys and can cause more problems later on.”

The recommended amount of protein is 0.36 grams per pound of body weight, which means that a 165-pound person should consume 60 grams of protein per day.

Dr. Bhatt said that “for most healthy people with normal kidneys, if they measure a normal or even higher than normal protein, it generally doesn’t cause kidney problems. It’s really more specific to people who already have kidney damage.”

To increase protein intake, people can eat meats that are high in saturated fat, which in turn can increase low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol.

It can build up on the walls of your arteries and cause problems such as heart disease and stroke.

Too much protein can also mean neglecting other food groups.

Energy drinks can raise blood pressure or cause cardiac arrhythmias, in which the heart beats at an abnormal rhythm

Energy drinks can raise blood pressure or cause cardiac arrhythmias – where the heart beats at an abnormal rhythm

energy drinks

Much has been said about the effects of energy drinks on mental health and sleep, but Dr. Bhatt said the effect on the heart can be just as severe.

Energy drinks are best avoided because of their high sugar content and the ingredients they contain that can increase blood pressure or cause cardiac arrhythmias – a condition in which the heart beats at an irregular or abnormal rhythm.

DR Bhatt warned: “You have to be careful with energy drinks and herbs and supplements and things like that because they can contain all sorts of substances that can cause arrhythmias or heart rhythm disturbances or other health problems.

“It’s best to stick to things that are actually healthy, real foods and not fake foods.”

He added: “Otherwise like [energy drinks] with a lot of calories, they sometimes have a lot of caffeine or other substances that can cause heart arrhythmias.”

An irregular heartbeat that makes your heart feel like it’s fluttering or racing can be an indication that your heart isn’t working as it should. This can be a sign of heart disease, including coronary heart disease and cardiomyopathy (problems with the heart muscle).

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Even diet sodas aren’t the healthiest for the heart, as they usually cause calorie cravings.

DR. Bhatt said, “Obviously, diet sodas have fewer calories than regular sodas, but they tend to be super sweet, and “there’s at least some research that suggests it tricks the brain into thinking, ‘I’ve got some calories right now. necessary. ‘Cause I get all the candy, but I don’t get any calories.

“It doesn’t help. Now I have to get calories into the system.” So there’s a body of research that says even the diet soda might not be that good.”

If you want to stay hydrated while exercising, Dr. Bhatt that “there is nothing like good water”.

He said: “If you want something that has a bit more flavour, sometimes a bit of fruit extract in water can make it a bit more flavourful, or sometimes just a bit of fizz can make it more exciting. regular guy water. Such things are relatively low in calories, but also quite safe.”

Red meat is the worst food you can eat for your heart, said Dr.  Bhatt told DailyMail.com

Red meat is the worst food you can eat for your heart, said Dr. Bhatt told DailyMail.com

red meat

DR Bhatt told DailyMail.com: “The worst [for cardiovascular health] is red meat.’

“There is no doubt that red meat increases the risk of heart disease and also cancer.”

He said it poses the second greatest risk after tobacco.

Processed meats such as sausage, bacon and salami all contain large amounts of calories, saturated fat and salt.

More than half of the calories in bacon come from saturated fat, which raises your bad cholesterol. This can put you at greater risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

The high salt levels can also raise your blood pressure and make your heart work harder.

Nitrates are added to meat as a preservative, but they are not properly broken down by stomach acid.

A 2020 study suggested that eating just four slices of bacon is enough to increase your risk of heart disease.

Dr. Bhat explained: “Part of this has to do with really advanced things like our microbiome – the universe that lives in our digestive system. [of] Billions of different organisms and bacteria. They live there, they have to live there, they’ve evolved with us in many cases, but things we do that upset that balance are ruining our cardiovascular health.”

“Red meat seems to be particularly bad in terms of reactions it causes in the intestines or digestive system. Especially meat, which causes further chemical reactions that create substances that are bad for cardiovascular health, especially when they interact with the other organisms, the bacteria, that live in our digestive tract.”

However, red meat is packed with iron, zinc and other nutrients. Many previous studies have shown that avoiding red meat altogether can be harmful, as it can lead to nutritional deficiencies.

alcohol

Dr. Bhatt said that alcohol is best avoided to have a healthy heart.

He said: “It’s a myth that it’s good for heart health. Alcohol is essentially empty calories, without any nutritional value.

“People should not fool themselves into thinking that they are doing something good for their health.”

He added: “The evidence shows that alcohol consumption, even up to one drink a day, increases the risk of a heart rhythm disorder, or arrhythmia, known as atrial fibrillation.

“The scientific evidence shows cardiovascular risks of alcohol consumption, not benefits. Certainly, if someone drinks a lot of glasses of wine or whiskey or cans of beer, it can increase their risk of things like high blood pressure and, in large amounts, things like heart failure.

DO YOU really KNOW what’s in your food? Take the surprisingly difficult DailyMail.com quiz

Some of the products on supermarket shelves that are marketed as healthy are packed with surprising amounts of calories, fat and sugar.

Alcohol increases blood levels of the hormone renin, which causes blood vessels to constrict, increasing blood pressure.

fast food

Dr Bhatt said junk food is so bad for the heart that it can cause the patient’s medication to stop working.

He said: “Most fast foods are tasty, and that means a lot of salt, a lot of sugar. This excess salt can contribute to high blood pressure.

“Sometimes even when the doctor prescribes medication and the medication doesn’t seem to work. This is not because the drugs don’t work, but because there is so much salt in a person’s system that the drugs can’t really do what they would otherwise.

“Baked foods are also unhealthy and often contain a lot of calories.”

He added: “The more you can avoid all that, the better.”

Dessert

Added sugar is another thing to stay away from, Dr. bhatt

He said: “Especially simple sugar, white sugar and things like that which are common in things like cakes and biscuits, but also a lot of breads just have a lot of sugar, salt and white flour.

“These types of simple carbohydrates, such as those found in white flour, are generally the types of foods that increase the risk of diabetes and obesity, which are risk factors for heart disease.”

Excessive sugar consumption can lead to increased fat storage in the body, especially in the liver and around the internal organs. Over time, the body can begin to resist the effects of insulin, and the pancreas must produce more insulin to keep blood sugar levels within a normal range.

Persistently elevated blood sugar can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes.

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