These are the scientifically proven foods that can cause heart diseases

These are the scientifically proven foods that can cause heart diseases

1. Potato Chips

It’s no secret that potato chips are off limits on any healthy eating plan. They’re high in calories, fat, and sodium—and especially hard to quit noshing on after just one serving. A low-sodium diet is essential for a healthy heart, as eating over 2,300 milligrams (equivalent to one full teaspoon) of salt a day can result in high blood pressure—a serious risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Save your heart and skip the crunchy salt-dusted spuds.

2. Pancake Syrup

Most commercial pancake and waffle syrups are made with high fructose corn syrup rather than real maple syrup. According to Harvard Medical School, consuming too much fructose can lead to an increase in blood triglycerides, which increases blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, and taxes your ticker and arteries.

3. Soda

Cracking open too many cold ones isn’t just adding inches to your waistline, it’s also likely preventing your heart from pumping properly. “Drinking soda has serious consequences,” Adam Splaver, MD, clinical cardiologist and co-founder of NanoHealthAssociates warns us in 15 Foods That Tax Your Heart. “Regular soda promotes an insulin spike, which leads to weight gain and can cause a host of metabolic disorders. Beyond the sugars, soda has phosphoric acid which can promote osteoporosis and may be a cancer-causing agent. And the sugar can lead to inflammation which causes cardiovascular disease.”

4. White Bread

If you’re an avid reader of Eat This, Not That!, we’re not surprised you’ve already swapped out that loaf of Wonder bread for fiber-rich Ezekiel. Not only will this switch help you fend off belly fat, it’ll also prevent heart disease. Unlike unadulterated whole grains, refined grains (those found in white bread) are stripped of the fiber, minerals, phytochemicals, and healthy fats—all of which promote heart health.

5. White Rice

Next time you’re ordering a spicy tuna roll, opt for swapping the sticky white rice for brown. White rice undergoes processing, which strips the grain of its fiber- and nutrient-rich germ and bran. Consuming the stripped grain can lead to insulin spikes, which trigger weight gain—a risk for heart disease.