Fox News – The secret of avoiding heart disease could come down to which foods are on — or off — your plate.
While you can’t control factors such as age or family history, the choice to adopt a heart-healthy diet can help reduce your risk.
“The goal is not to go on a temporary diet for rapid weight loss, but to make good lifestyle choices to promote well-being permanently,” said Dr. Bradley Serwer, a cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, a Cincinnati-based company that offers cardiovascular and anesthesiology services to hospitals nationwide.
Serwer and other cardiologists shared with Fox News Digital their nutrition advice for reducing the risk of coronary disease and heart attacks.
Here are some of their tips.
The worst foods for the heart
Fried foods
“Foods that contain high levels of trans fats, which are found in many fried foods, are some of the worst offenders,” Serwer said.
Trans saturated fats are artificially created, he noted. They raise levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), also known as bad cholesterol, while at the same time lowering high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or good cholesterol.
“High levels of bad cholesterol promote coronary atherosclerosis, also known as clogged arteries,” Serwer warned.
Bread, pasta and potatoes
Dr. Alexander Postalian, a cardiologist at the Texas Heart Institute, warned that simple carbohydrates — including bread and potatoes — are the primary enemy.
Fried chicken
“Foods that contain high levels of trans fats, which are found in many fried foods, are some of the worst offenders,” a cardiologist said. (iStock)
“They get absorbed quickly, raise blood sugar and can get converted into ‘bad’ cholesterol,” he said.
Other examples of simple carbohydrates include sugary drinks, sweets, rice and tortillas …
