Heart health is at the core of your overall wellbeing, and your diet plays a crucial role in keeping your heart as healthy as possible. While adding antioxidant-rich foods is one great way to keep your cardiovascular health in great shape, it’s also important to limit your intake of foods that could have a negative impact on your heart—and not all of them are as obvious as bacon.
To discover a few of the lesser-known breakfast foods that could lead to cardiovascular issues like high blood pressure and disease, we spoke to registered dietitian Jesse Feder from My Chrons and Colitis Team. He told us that bagels and smoked fish—often enjoyed together—are two unexpected options that you may want to cut out for a healthier heart. Learn about the risks of each below.
1. Bagels
Bagels are undeniably one of the most delicious breakfast foods around. Unfortunately, they're also one of the least healthy breakfast foods around. Not only are they packed with refined carbs, but Feder points out that they're also surprisingly high in sodium, making them a poor choice for your heart health.
"Bagels may seem like a safe bet when it comes to your blood pressure but they are actually usually quite high in sodium," he says. "One bagel can set you back 400-800mg of sodium depending on the type and size. This can contribute to increases in blood pressure which can damage your blood vessels over time and lead to heart disease." Yikes! It's best to stick to complex carbs and healthy bread options instead.
2. Smoked fish
Although salmon makes a good source of lean protein for breakfast, Feder tells us that smoked fish may not be the best option for your heart due to its high sodium content. "While fish itself is quite healthy, the smoking process adds a ton of sodium to it," he says.
Like bagels, he explains that consuming high amounts of smoked fish for breakfast can contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease over time. Instead, consider opting for oven-baked options.
Ultimately, of course, it's okay to treat yourself to your favorite breakfast from time to time—even if that's a bagel with lox. However, it's important to remember that the foods we eat on a regular basis can make or break our health in the long run, so limiting your intake of these foods as much as possible is a good idea.
READ MORE: How To Add More Potassium To Your Diet To Lower Blood Pressure
