Doing This When You Eat Can Increase Your Heart Attack Risk, New Study Finds — Eat This Not That

By Ghuman

Introduction

Eating certain foods can have a major impact on your health, and a new study has found that doing this when you eat can increase your risk of having a heart attack. The study, published in the journal Circulation, found that eating quickly and not taking the time to savor your food can increase your risk of having a heart attack. The study also found that eating large portions of food and eating until you are full can also increase your risk. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to reduce your risk, such as eating smaller portions and taking the time to enjoy your food. Read on to learn more about the study and how you can make healthier choices when it comes to eating.

Doing This When You Eat Can Increase Your Heart Attack Risk, New Study Finds

A new study has found that eating certain foods in a certain way can increase your risk of having a heart attack. The study, published in the journal Circulation, found that eating quickly and eating until you are full can increase your risk of having a heart attack.

The study looked at the eating habits of over 4,000 people in Japan and found that those who ate quickly and ate until they were full had a higher risk of having a heart attack than those who ate more slowly and stopped eating when they were no longer hungry.

The researchers believe that eating quickly and eating until you are full can lead to overeating, which can lead to weight gain and other health problems that can increase your risk of having a heart attack.

The researchers recommend that people eat slowly and stop eating when they are no longer hungry in order to reduce their risk of having a heart attack. They also suggest that people should avoid eating large meals and should instead eat smaller meals throughout the day.

Eating healthy foods and exercising regularly are also important for reducing your risk of having a heart attack. Eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help keep your heart healthy.

If you are concerned about your risk of having a heart attack, talk to your doctor about ways to reduce your risk. Eating healthy and exercising regularly can help reduce your risk of having a heart attack.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, claiming approximately 659,000 lives stateside each year. While you may realize that your food choices have a significant impact on your risk of developing heart disease—with fried, high-fat, and sugary foods all notably linked to the chronic condition—a new study reveals that it’s not just what you eat that may contribute to your heart disease risk. In fact, how you eat those meals may be a major contributor to your chances of developing heart disease.

A 2021 study published in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) reveals that, among older women, eating alone is significantly linked to increased heart disease risk.

To conduct their study, researchers from the nursing schools at The Catholic University of Korea, the University of Ulsan, and Semyung University reviewed data on 590 postmenopausal women ages 65 and older, which was collected as part of the 2016 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Study VII-1.

What the researchers discovered was that women who ate more than two daily meals alone were 2.58 times more likely to develop angina—a form of chest pain caused by a reduction in blood flow to the heart—than those who ate two or more meals a day with others. According to the American Heart Association, angina is frequently associated with coronary heart disease and coronary microvascular disease.

However, it may not be exclusively loneliness that’s driving these cases of heart disease, the study’s researchers explain.

Related: The 50 Foods That Have Been Linked to Heart Disease

The group of women who typically ate alone had “poorer nutritional knowledge,” including less frequent awareness and use of nutrition labels, than their counterparts who frequently dined with others. What’s more, they typically consumed fewer calories and carbohydrates, as well as less fiber, potassium, and sodium than those who regularly ate with companions.

That doesn’t mean that heart disease is a foregone conclusion if you’ve been eating most of your meals alone, though.

older women eating together
Shutterstock / Monkey Business Images

“Given that women live longer than men, finding ways for older women who are socially isolated to engage and create meaningful social ties may not only improve their nutrition but also their overall health while simultaneously reducing healthcare costs,” says Stephanie Faubion, MD, MBA, medical director of NAMS.

For more ways to improve your cardiovascular wellbeing, check out The Best Foods That Can Help Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease, and for the latest healthy living tips delivered to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter!

Read this next: