Popular foods that can compromise heart health

Certain foods have generated devoted followings among people from all walks of life. While flavorful foods can be hard to resist, some wildly popular items found in refrigerators and pantries far and wide could be compromising millions of people's heart health.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute notes that food and heart health are inextricably linked. Individuals who prioritize including heart-healthy foods in their diets can lower their risk for various cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack and stroke. Those who succumb to the temptation of less heart-healthy foods may pay a considerable price for such indulgences. The World Health Organization reports that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death across the globe, and poor dietary choices are among the handful of variables contributing to those high mortality rates. While the following popular foods might be delicious and tough to avoid, they also have a reputation for compromising heart health.

- Bacon: The sizzling sounds and enticing aromas of bacon, not to mention its flavor profile, make this a hard-to-resist food. However, health care experts note that bacon is high in cholesterol and saturated fat. Saturated fat can be especially bad for heart health, which is one reason why the American Heart Association advises individuals aim for a dietary plan in which less than 6 percent of calories come from saturated fat. That makes bacon a no-go for individuals interested in a heart-healthy diet, as a single slice of uncooked bacon typically contains 110 calories.

¥ Red meat: Red meat is another appetizing but heart-unhealthy food. Like bacon, red meat tends to be high in saturated fat, though that content varies depending on the cut and the type of meat chosen. For example, grass-fed beef contains less saturated fat than grain-fed beef. In addition, cuts that are not considered lean, which include beef short ribs, rib-eye steaks and T-bone streaks, also tend to be higher in saturated fat, and thus less heart-healthy, than leaner cuts like sirloin and extra-lean ground beef.

- Baked goods: Baked goods may be irresistible, but that status might change when people recognize that regular consumption of cookies, cakes and muffins has an adverse effect on heart health. WebMD notes that baked goods have been linked to elevated triglyceride levels. ThatÕs significant, as the Cleveland Clinic reports that high triglyceride levels in the blood can lead to a condition known as hypertriglyceridemia, which can harm the heart and blood vessels. Eating too many baked goods also can lead to weight gain and potentially overweight or obesity, each of which the AHA identifies as a significant risk factor for heart disease.

- Processed meats: Fans of deli meats may insist there's no better midday meal than a sandwich, but their hearts might beg to differ. Processed meats, which include deli meat but also foods such as sausage and hot dogs, contain high amounts of salt and are often loaded with saturated fat. A 2021 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that eating a little more than five ounces of processed meat per week increases a person's risk of cardiovascular disease by 46 percent. Five ounces equates to roughly five slices of deli meat cut 1/8-inch thick.

Certain foods like bacon and red meat are hard to resist. However, those who want to preserve their heart health are advised to eschew these fan favorites and replace them with alternatives that help to lower their risk for cardiovascular disease.