Processed meats, energy drinks, coconut oil and 5 other popular foods that can damage the heart
Many of the most popular foods and drinks in the world can do significant damage to the heart.
Multiple experts, including interventional cardiologist Maja Zaric, MD, contributed to the new assessment. Joel Kahn, MD, a cardiologist known for appearances on programs such as “Dr. Phil” and “The Joe Rogan Experience,” was also quoted.
The list, published on the Eat This, Not That! website, begins with processed meats at No. 1.
“Consuming large amounts of saturated fat, particularly animal fat, will allow for disproportional ingestion of cholesterol and increase the level of fats known to be a direct cause of vessel injury,” Zaric said.
Baked goods were next on the list, with Zaric emphasizing that “simple starches and sugars may be worse than saturated fats.” These were followed by energy drinks, coffee creamer and coconut oil.
Coconut oil was a slightly less obvious choice than some of the others; as the article notes, it has gained popularity in certain circles, especially on social media. But Kahn calls it a “dangerous food,” citing its high levels of saturated fat.
Alcohol, pizza and canned soups rounded out the list. Pizza can be especially damaging if its loaded with processed meats and cheese, the author pointed out.
Click the link below for a more complete look at each entry on the list:
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.