When it comes to heart health, you are what you eat.
One of the best things you can do for your heart is abide by a healthy, nutritious diet. A diet chock full of Omega-3s, potassium, calcium, magnesium, fiber, and antioxidants is a great way to maintain your overall health, and support your heart.
I know that we don’t often think of our meals in terms of calcium, fiber, and antioxidants, since we are much more concerned with how things taste.
So, if you want to adjust your diet to support heart health, it’s much easier to just add or subtract certain ingredients.
Here are 10 foods that are surprisingly bad for your heart. The easiest way to make a change in this regard is to just eliminate the items from this list!
Ketchup- Typical processed ketchup contains tons of sugar and sodium.
Rotisserie Chicken- Rotisserie chickens from supermarkets are chock full of sodium and saturated fat. If you must have a roasted chicken, roast it yourself.
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Reduced Fat Salad Dressing– Removed fat in processed foods is often replaced with sugar and salt, especially when it comes to salad dressing.
Fat-free Peanut Butter- If you want a healthier peanut butter, opt for an all-natural, full-fat and sugar-free nut butter. Fat-free peanut butters contain high amounts of sugar.
Flavored Milk Alternatives- Flavored milk alternatives often have hidden sugar and calories, so opt for an unsweetened almond milk instead.
Canned Soup- Canned soups can contain up to 500 mg of sodium per cup. If you’re in the mood for soup, make your own!
Fruit Flavored Yogurt- Processed fruit yogurts can contain up to 6 teaspoons of sugar per serving. Greek yogurt is much better for your heart.
Fancy Coffee Drinks- Fancy coffee drinks are chock full of sugar, fat, and hidden calories. A plain iced coffee with a splash of unsweetened almond milk may not taste as good, but your heart will thank you.
Coffee Creamer- The best way to drink your coffee is black, as flavored coffee creamers contain trans fat, sugars, and hydrogenated oil.
Margarine- In comparison to butter, margarine is full of saturated fat and additives. So ironically, butter is actually better for you.