When it comes to breakfast, many of us have our go-to favorites that we rely on to kickstart our day. However, the unfortunate truth is that some of those beloved breakfast staples could be secretly sabotaging our health. There are a number of popular options that experts recommend steering clear of for a healthier body—and there are a few in particular you should avoid if you want to keep your heart in great shape.
To shed some light on a few breakfast items that could be clogging your arteries and raising your risk of heart disease, we spoke to dietitian Lisa Andrews. She told us that bacon, full-fat cream cheese, and butter are among the worst culprits. Read on for all of her expert insight about the risks of each.
1. Bacon
There are many health issues associated with processed meats like bacon, and according to Andrews, potentially clogged arteries is just one more risk to consider. "Some people call bacon a breakfast meat, but it's really just a breakfast fat," she warns. "Bacon is often made from the belly of a pig, which means it's mostly saturated fat." She points out that saturated fat is notorious for raising blood cholesterol levels, thereby elevating the risk of heart disease.
You're better off sticking to heart-friendly lean proteins that can support a healthier body.
2. Full-fat cream cheese
Next time you reach for a bagel (which unfortunately comes with risks of its own), consider spreading something besides cream cheese on it. "You're better off using peanut butter on that morning bagel," Andrews says. "Cream cheese is a soft cheese made mainly from milk and cream. Unlike other cheeses which provide protein and calcium, cream cheese contains mostly saturated fat, which can increase cholesterol." Say it ain't so!
Nut butters, on the other hand, contain heart-healthy fats that can wonders for your whole body.
3. Butter
Butter or margarine? According to Andrews, neither is a great choice. "The butter/margarine debate rages on but butter is not exactly better!" she tells us. "Butter contains over 20% of the Daily Value for saturated fat (34% to be exact). The AHA (American Heart Association) advises most Americans to limit saturated fat intake to no more than 10% of their daily calories, and even less if they have high cholesterol or a history of heart disease. Try whipped butter instead, which has half the fat and calories." Noted!
The bottom line
As we consider our breakfast choices, it's essential to keep in mind the long-term implications for heart health. While these breakfast ingredients might be tasty and satisfying in the moment, their impact on our arteries might not be worth it. Making informed choices about what we put on our breakfast plates can be a crucial step towards safeguarding our cardiovascular well-being. So next time you reach for that strip of bacon, dollop of cream cheese, or pat of butter, consider the toll it might be taking on your heart. Opting for healthier alternatives could be the first step towards a breakfast routine that not only satisfies your taste buds but also nurtures your heart.
