Introduction
Eating habits can have a major impact on our health, and a recent study has identified the #1 worst eating habit that increases your risk of dying from heart disease. Eating too much processed food is the worst eating habit that can lead to heart disease, according to the study. Processed foods are those that have been altered from their natural state, such as canned or frozen foods, fast food, and processed meats. Eating too much of these foods can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, as they are often high in sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars. This article will discuss the dangers of eating too much processed food and provide tips on how to eat healthier.
The #1 Worst Eating Habit That Increases Your Risk of Dying from Heart Disease, Says Study — Eat This Not That
A new study has revealed the #1 worst eating habit that increases your risk of dying from heart disease. According to the study, the habit is eating processed meats such as bacon, sausage, and hot dogs. The study, which was published in the journal Circulation, found that people who ate the most processed meats had a 72% higher risk of dying from heart disease than those who ate the least.
The study also found that eating unprocessed red meats such as beef, pork, and lamb was associated with a slightly lower risk of death from heart disease. However, the researchers noted that the risk was still higher than that of people who ate the least amount of red meat.
The researchers concluded that the best way to reduce your risk of dying from heart disease is to avoid processed meats and limit your intake of unprocessed red meats. They also suggested that people should focus on eating more plant-based proteins such as beans, nuts, and seeds.
If you’re looking for healthier alternatives to processed meats, the researchers suggest trying plant-based proteins such as beans, nuts, and seeds. These foods are high in fiber and other nutrients that can help reduce your risk of heart disease.
Eating a healthy diet is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of dying from heart disease. So, if you want to reduce your risk, make sure to avoid processed meats and focus on eating more plant-based proteins.
It’s no secret that if you’re at risk of suffering from a repeat heart attack or stroke, it’s important to be thoughtful about the food choices you make. You may already know that eating certain foods, such as fatty fish and nuts, can help keep your heart healthy, while others, such as meat-topped pizzas, could be putting your ticker in danger.
Now, new research finds that, for people with a history of cardiac events, eating a diet full of ultra-processed foods can spike the risk of dying both from heart disease and all other causes. (RELATED: The 100 Unhealthiest Foods On the Planet)
The study, which was published in the European Heart Journal, looked at 1,171 adults with a history of heart disease over an average period of a little more than a decade. Using food frequency questionnaires, researchers compared the amount of ultra-processed food eaten each day by the participants with the total amount of food they consumed.
They found that among participants who ate the highest percentage of ultra-processed foods, the chance of dying from cardiovascular disease (CVD) was about two-thirds higher than it was for the control group. Additionally, the ultra-processed diet increased all-cause mortality (i.e. death for any reason) by around 40%.
RELATED: One Major Side Effect of Eating Ultra-Processed Foods, Says New Study
“It is really hard to think that you can completely get rid of these [ultra-processed] foods nowadays, since almost half of our daily calories come from them,” the study’s first author Marialaura Bonaccio, PhD, told Eat This, Not That! in an interview. “However, people should start thinking about getting back to a traditional diet, which strongly limits foods that are ultra-processed, instead favoring home preparation and consumption of unprocessed food.”
To calculate the total amount of ultra-processed foods consumed by participants, researchers used the NOVA classification system, which classifies all foods into four groups, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization. They are unprocessed or minimally processed foods, processed culinary ingredients, processed foods, and “ultra-processed” foods.
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“It’s perhaps unsurprising that in an observational study a trend would exist indicating that those who consumed the largest amounts of ‘ultra processed foods’ were at greater risk of heart disease than those who consumed the least amount,” Andy De Santis, RD, MPH, author of The 5-Ingredient Heart Healthy Cookbook, told Eat This, Not That!.
“The term ultra-processed foods encompasses a broad array of foods,” he added, “many of which are tied together by the presence of high glycemic carbohydrates (i.e. white flour), processed and red meat (hot dogs, sausages, hamburgers) and other dietary components (butter, cream, high fat diary, added sugar, etc.) that could be problematic when consumed in large amounts and could help to explain these findings.”
While everyone could benefit from shifting their diet from one that features ultra-processed foods to one that includes more nutrient-dense whole foods, those with a history of cardiovascular events should be especially mindful of what they eat. If you’re on the hunt for smarter food choices, be sure to check out these 15 Homemade Swaps for Ultra-Processed Foods.