41 Foods That Are Bad for Your Heart
Actual candy bars also put your heart through the paces. Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the sugar industry funded many studies that found fat was the most-wanted heart disease culinary criminal. Turns out, excess sugar consumption (a single 3 Musketeers bar has 36 grams, or just shy of 3 tablespoons) has been scientifically tied to heart disease since at least the 1950s.
30 Red meat
Aim to integrate more plant-based proteins, such as beans and nuts, for the most significant heart health boost. “Red meat consumption has been shown to increase cardiovascular risk,” Rivera says.
A 2018 study from the European Heart Journal may point to why. Compared to white meat or vegetarian protein sources, red meat triggers the body to produce more of the gut bacteria trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) during digestion. High amounts of TMAO in the body have been associated with increased risk for heart attacks and stroke, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
31 White bread
One of the AHA’s “salty six”—or the six largest sources of sodium in the American diet—are breads and rolls.
Whole grains come paired with fibre and more vitamins, while white bread is commonly stripped of both. Since the carbs come with no fibre to balance things out, they increase blood sugar rapidly, which can contribute to the development of diabetes or heart conditions over time.
32 White rice
Processed rice ranks right up there with processed bread on the heart-harming scale. “Highly processed carbohydrates increase belly fat, which is a risk factor for diabetes and coronary disease,” Rivera says.
