The human body can’t live without food or drinks, but these four things we’re consuming might just be what is causing our hearts to give out before they’re ready.
There have been so many things that have been known to cause bad health, particularly for our hearts.
Things like being sedentary, smoking, eating a fatty diet, and more, can all end up causing us issues in the long run.
But there are other things that we could be doing that seem harmless enough but are majorly disrupting your heart health.
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Dr Jeremy London, a cardiac surgeon, has come out to reveal the four significant things that are putting your heart at risk.
Fast Food
This is probably a sad thing that you already suspect. Fast foods are terrible for our health, and that’s because it isn’t even real food, according to the doc.
Dr London began by saying: “Four foods that I avoid as a cardiac surgeon, number one: fast food.”
He explained: “Well, the name says it all.”
He says that ‘most of what's available in fast food, chains is edible food product,’ which isn’t even ‘real food’.
So, what is it?
According to many doctors and experts, ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are filled with ‘industrially manufactured substances’ that can trigger inflammation in the body and lead to poor health - like heart health.
Soft Drinks
Number two: soft drinks. He explained that soft drinks includes both diet and regular soft drinks and that both are harmful to our health.
Calling them ‘liquid death’, he said not to drink them.
As per Doctor Evan Levine, a cardiologist in Scarsdale, New York, he revealed that soft drinks are terrible for your heart because they are ‘toxic’.
He said: “Lets be simple here: a can of soda has 10 teaspoons of sugar in it or the equivalent amount of corn syrup.”
He explained it can raise triglycerides, cause weight gain, spike blood sugar levels and increase the risk of diabetes, leading to a risk to the heart.
Milk
Number three: milk products. Okay, so I know this one might cause a ruckus, but it’s also a drink he says just makes sense not to consume.
The surgeon revealed that 'we are the only mammals that drink milk outside of infancy, and we drink it from a different species’.
“Think about it,” he said.
As per the British Heart Foundation, even though it contains nutrients like calcium and protein, cow’s milk can be high in saturated fat, ‘which can raise cholesterol levels and, in turn, increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke'.
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Alcohol
Finally, number four is for ‘alcohol’, so if you like to have a tipple on an evening, he says to stop.
Dr London shared: “Alcohol is absolutely toxic to every cell in our bodies- even moderate for occasional use is in fact detrimental.”
He added: “So, if we are working so hard to optimise our health, the least you could do is stop actively poisoning.”
Dr Evan Levine said studies sharing how small amounts of alcohol can be beneficial are likely wrong, claiming: “There’s nothing heart healthy here and all those studies — most sponsored by the alcohol or wine industry — were likely flawed observational studies, with an association with better outcome but not causation."
He said: “People who drank a glass of wine may have been more athletic or had some other unaccounted benefit.”
Of course, every other day there are studies claiming that this one thing you've been consuming is now super bad for you. Best thing to do is keep it all in moderation and if you have any doubts about what you might be eating, consult your doctor.
Topics: Food and Drink, Health, Science, Community
Britt Jones