When it comes to protecting your heart health, what you eat plays a crucial role. While some foods can promote a strong cardiovascular system, others can significantly increase your risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular events. Some of the worst culprits include meats that may be commonly sneaking their way into your diet.
To highlight a few particularly detrimental options that may be putting your heart at risk and increasing your chance of disease, we spoke to cardiologists Dr. Michael Ross MacDonald from The Harley Street Heart and Vascular Centre, Leonard Ganz M.D., chief medical officer and divisional vice president of medical affairs at Abbott’s cardiac rhythm management business, and Dr. Raed Bargout, a cardiologist at Dignity Health-Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale. They warned against bacon, hot dogs, and deli meat. Learn more about the risks of each below.
1. Bacon
As delicious as bacon is, MacDonald calls it out as one of the worsts meats for your heart health. Just as with hot dogs, this delicious but detrimental breakfast food is packed with saturated fats and sodium.
Ganz seconds the sentiment that red meats like this should be avoided as much as possible if you want to reduce your risk of heart disease. "Red meats are high in saturated fats, which can adversely affect the lipid profile," he says. "Recent research suggests that when bacteria in the gut break down meat, one of the metabolites produced is TMAO, which may increase the risk of heart and kidney disease, as well as type 2 diabetes. In particular, processed meats such as bacon and sausage have nitrates, which may increase inflammation and sodium, ultimately raising blood pressure that may be associated with inflammation." Say it ain't so!
2. Deli Meats
In addition to red meat, another major culprit of heart disease to be wary of is deli meat. These are among the least healthy processed meats and are packed with additives that could take a toll on your overall health—especially your heart.
As Dr. Bargout says, "Processed deli meat is on the top of the list for food that can increase the risk of cardiovascular events including heart attacks and stroke." Lean meats like turkey and chicken make a great alternative.
3. Hot Dogs
Hot dogs are an undeniably delicious and popular treat—especially when summer rolls around and cookouts become a frequent occurrence. However, the unfortunate truth is that they're a terrible choice for your heart, and eating them in excess could raise your risk of heart disease.
MacDonald cites hot dogs as one of the worst processed meats for your cardiovascular health, noting that they're "high in saturated fat and sodium, which can all contribute to the development of heart disease." Yikes! "Saturated fats increase the risk of plaque buildup in arteries, narrowing them and restricting blood flow," he explains.
Meanwhile, sodium is associated with a number of health issues, especially in terms of heart health. "Sodium leads to fluid retention, which can strain the heart and elevate blood pressure, further increasing the risk of cardiovascular complications," MacDonald says.
