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This Breakfast Food Is Putting You At Risk Of Heart Disease, According To Cardiologists
This post has been updated since it was originally published to include more expert insight
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it's unfortunately the one we neglect most. Whether you're in a hurry in the morning and skip it altogether or opt for something lacking in nutritional value, not starting the day off with a balanced meal can set you up to feel your worst all day long. And unfortunately, while there are many healthy options out there, most popular breakfast foods are packed with sugar and preservatives, which means that you aren't getting the vitamins and nutrients you need, and are instead consuming empty calories.
Eating a diet high in sugar and preservatives can lead to a number of long term health issues, including diabetes and heart disease. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States according to the CDC, which can be attributed to the presence of sugary and processed foods present on the market. While things like genetics can increase the likelihood of these conditions, one way you can invest in your long term health is by eating a healthy and balanced diet, and that starts with breakfast. There's one type of breakfast food in particular cardiologists say you should avoid if you want to keep your heart health in check: highly processed meats.
Processed meat is extremely high in saturated fat, which is a major faux-pas when it comes to heart health. In fact, according to Dr. Bargout, a cardiologist at Dignity Health-Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, California, foods with high amounts of saturated fat are the worst foods for your heart. "Food that is rich in saturated fat increases total cholesterol, LDL, and lipoprotein (Lp)a," he says.
Cholesterol is found in your blood and is necessary for promoting the growth of healthy cells. But if there is too much of the waxy substance in your bloodstream, it can prevent blood from pumping efficiently. Excessive amounts of cholesterol are directly linked to a higher risk of heart-related illness.
Pork, especially, is one common breakfast food that can take a serious toll on your heart due to its saturated fat content. "Pork is loaded with saturated fat—leading to cardiovascular problems, high cholesterol, weight gain and more," adds Caitlin Policastro, a nurse practitioner at the New York Center for Innovative Medicine. Weight gain and high cholesterol are two things that can increase the likelihood of heart-related illness, so being mindful of how much pork you're consuming is essential, especially if you are already at risk due to genetics or pre-existing conditions.
Pork sausage is a breakfast staple in many dishes, and is often included in scrambles, omelets, and breakfast sandwiches. While preparing breakfast featuring pork sausage yourself is one way you can control what goes into it, buying pre-packaged breakfasts, especially pre-made frozen breakfast sandwiches or breakfast bowls, may mean you're getting extra saturated fats, preservatives, and sugars that Dr. Bargout and Policastro say should be avoided.
Bacon is another major culprit. According to registered dietitian Catherine Gervacio, nutrition writer for Living.Fit, this processed meat is "actually considered fat due to the ratio of fat to the actual meat," with a single slice packing in 10.4g of fat and just 3.84 grams of protein. "Tofu bacon or plant-based bacon is a healthy alternative since it has no cholesterol and has a taste similar to bacon," she suggests.
While you don't have to cut out your favorite breakfast foods altogether, you should consider making adjustments—for instance, try making your own breakfast sandwiches and include a healthier alternative like turkey sausage instead. Whenever possible, choosing lean proteins is the best choice for your health.
A balanced, healthy lifestyle starts with a fulfilling diet that is packed with nutrients. This also means paying attention to ingredient labels, and avoiding heavily processed, pre-packaged breakfast foods. If you are trying to be extra mindful of your heart health, you should avoid meats high in saturated fat, specifically pork, when possible.
READ MORE: 3 Artery-Clogging Habits Doctors Say You Should Kick Over 40–They Lead To Heart Disease!
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Six Signs Of Heart Failure You Might Not Expect - Almost One Million Britons At Risk
The signs and symptoms of heart failureThe heart is one of our most important organs, responsible for pumping blood around the body.
Therefore, any damage to the heart can prove fatal.
Heart failure occurs after long-term damage to the organ, often the culmination of various conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure.
This leaves the heart weakened and stiff, meaning it is no longer able to move blood around.
It doesn't mean the heart has stopped working but it will need support to continue to do so.
Therefore, any signs of heart failure should be immediately investigated.
There are some symptoms that are to be expected.
These include things such as chest pain and a rapid or irregular heartbeat.
However, there are some signs that may not be so obvious.
According to the Mayo Clinic heart failure can cause:
If you experience these signs you should speak with your GP.
Other, more obvious, symptoms include:
However, if you experience any of the following you should call 999:
It is thought there are around 60,000 new cases of heart failure diagnosed in the UK every year, with 900,000 people in total affected by the condition.
These are predominantly among older people over the age of 75, but it can affect people of any age.
There are a number of health conditions that can lead to heart failure.
These include:
The NHS adds: "Sometimes obesity, anaemia, drinking too much alcohol, an overactive thyroid or high pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension) can also lead to heart failure."
TreatmentThere is no cure for heart failure, however, there are treatments available to help keep symptoms under control that can prove successful for many years - quite possibly for the rest of your life.
These include:
For many people a combination of treatments will be required.
Heart Attack Warning Signs That Should Not Be Ignored
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The life-threatening reality of a heart attack is well documented.
It's the No. 1 killer of both men and women in our country. Part of the reason is that the warning signs often get dismissed as something else.
Denial is your biggest enemy when your body starts telling you there is a problem.
Heart attacks come in two forms.
"Some people have what we call the Hollywood heart attack. They have crushing chest pressure. Elephant sitting on the chest. [They are] sweaty, short of breath, lightheaded, may even pass out," according to Dr. Raghu Tadikamalla, cardiologist and hypertension specialist at Allegheny Health Network.
Dr. Tadikamalla says these cardiac events usually come from a heart artery blockage rupturing and cutting off blood flow to the heart.
But the other type of heart attack is dangerously subtle, and the warning signs could be attributed to many other things.
"Neck pain, jaw pain, abdominal pain, maybe just shortness of breath."
Dr. Tadikamalla says those symptoms, if they come on with exertion, could be concerning.
"That gets better with the rest, would be very concerning for something going on with the heart."
So, they should not be ignored, even if you're convinced that abdominal pain is indigestion.
"Elderly women are the classic group that might present with a heart attack with more abdominal symptoms," the doctor added.
Unfortunately, not everyone gets the advantage of warning signs.
"Some heart attacks can come out of the blue, without preceding symptoms."
But if you've had neck or jaw pain, or shortness of breath?
"More frequent symptoms, progressive and severity symptoms that are occurring with less activity, that could be a sign that you have worsening heart blockages that need to be addressed," said Dr. Tadikamalla.
If you're a weekend warrior, or occasionally work out and wake up the next day with those symptoms, Dr. Tadikamalla says that's probably muscular and not a heart attack.
What about if someone has a sharp pain or stabbing pain in their chest?
Dr. Tadikamalla says heart attacks are generally a feeling of pressure on the chest; a brief stabbing pain probably isn't a heart issue but could be a sign of something else, and you should see your doctor, especially if they are recurring.
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