41 Foods That Are Bad for Your Heart
It’s not just battered and fried bird that’s tough on your ticker. High levels of potato consumption have been linked to increased risk for both hypertension and type 2 diabetes in scientific research. And frying the spuds delivers a one-two punch to your cardiac health.
14 Potato chips
Increased servings of potato chips tacked on more pounds than other foods (including sugary drinks, processed meats and red meat) in a New England Journal of Medicine study.
In addition to ample calories—160 calories per serving for 15 Lay’s—chips are low in fibre and protein while offering a good shake of sodium.
15 Fruit smoothies
Serving size and sugars can be deceptive in these sips. “What could seem healthier than a fruit smoothie? In theory, they should be healthy unless you count how many grams of sugar you consume,” Fisher notes.
Consider how many pieces of fruit it takes to squeeze one full glass of juice. “Plus, by drinking fruit instead of eating it whole, you lose the essential fibre that could help normalize elevated blood lipids—a key risk factor of heart disease,” Fisher says.
