Surprising Foods That Increase Your Risk Of Heart Disease

[caption id="attachment_822938" align="alignleft" width="1068"] Bigstockphoto.com/Young African American couple tucking into a pizza[/caption] If you’re on heart disease watch, either because it runs in your family, or your recent annual physical revealed less-than-perfect results, then adjusting your diet can be one of the greatest things you do to reduce your risk. You likely know to just keep driving when you see your favorite hamburger drive-thru, and you probably know you need to remove the bacon from your bacon-and-eggs breakfast, but did you know that some foods that increase your risk of heart disease aren’t that obvious? In fact, they may be foods that are considered healthy for other reasons, but simply need to be cut back on if you are at risk of heart disease. When you’re adjusting your shopping list for your new heart disease concern, be aware of these surprising foods that increase your risk of heart disease.   [caption id="attachment_822940" align="alignleft" width="401"] Bigstockphotos.com/Open tin cans of corn, beans and peas isolated on white[/caption]

Canned vegetables

Yes, they are vegetables, but they’re also canned which means they’ve been loaded with sodium to preserve them. Many people don’t realize that high sodium intake doesn’t only affect blood pressure, it also affects heart health.         [caption id="attachment_707625" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Deli turkey

You know to cut back on the red stuff like pastrami and brisket, but any deli meat will be processed, and processed meat is also typically high in sodium. It’s also high in chemicals that can interfere with your metabolism, causing weight gain, which can lead to heart disease.       [caption id="attachment_822943" align="alignleft" width="400"] Bigstockphoto.com/close up shot of two Bloody Marys with garnishes[/caption]

Tomato juice

How harmful can a little vegetable juice be? Well, tomato juice is much higher in salt than a regular old tomato. If you must have the stuff, then juice your own tomatoes at home. This goes for any vegetable juice.         [caption id="attachment_617603" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Lox plate

The lox plate may seem healthier than a bagel with cream cheese, but smoked salmon and capers are loaded with sodium. Plus, bagels are not exactly easy on the waistline.     [caption id="attachment_617470" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Cottage cheese

While cottage cheese may be considered a diet food, what it lacks in calories in makes up for in sodium. If you’d like to get protein from cottage cheese, choose a low-salt variety. [caption id="attachment_703373" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Thick dairy

Any time you add heavy cream to your coffee, or a cream-based soup, you’re asking to clog up your arteries. Find better alternatives when you need cream, like almond milk.           [caption id="attachment_717632" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Baked goods

Your cinnamon rolls, dinner biscuits, and store-bought pies have something hiding in their delicious, flaky goodness—trans fats! If it’s baked, but comes in some sort of packaging, it probably contains high levels of trans fats.         [caption id="attachment_700902" align="alignleft" width="437"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Ice cream

Most people only think about the calories and fat in ice cream, but this cold, creamy dessert can also increase your bad cholesterol. If you love the stuff, consider making your own at home by blending frozen bananas with a little sugar.       [caption id="attachment_713629" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Margarine

If you cut out butter, you don’t necessarily get brownie points if you’re substituting in margarine. This yellow food masquerading as a healthy option is high in trans fats.           [caption id="attachment_717499" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

White starches

White rice and white pasta can all screw up your blood sugar, which can drive you to crave fatty foods that are bad for your heart.             [caption id="attachment_700501" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Fancy coffee drinks

If it’s sweet and blended, then it probably has heavy cream, lots of sugar, and artificial flavoring. That means it’s bad for your arteries, bad for your blood sugar, and bad for your metabolism.           [caption id="attachment_693890" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Diet soda

Diet soda actually ends up making you feel hungry and having cravings. It can cause you to gain weight, which can increase your risk of heart disease. Sorry to say it but, there is nothing quite like water if you’re on a health watch.         [caption id="attachment_702808" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Cheese

Yes, it’s a good source of calcium and protein, but it’s also loaded with saturated fat, and tends to cause weight gain in your belly—the most dangerous kind for those on heart-watch.           [caption id="attachment_696691" align="alignleft" width="421"] Shutterstock.com/Chicken soup[/caption]

Most pre-made soup

Most pre-made soup is swimming in salt. Don’t be fooled by the healthy types like bean and kale and vegetable and lentil; read the nutrition label to find the sodium content.         [caption id="attachment_695129" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Juice

The fructose found in most juice can cause belly fat which, as we stated before, puts you at risk of heart disease. It can also cause blood sugar spikes and crashes, which can lead to cravings.

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