Category Archives: Diet
Foods to Avoid If You Have Severe Heart Disease or Heart Failure
We have known for decades that poor dietary habits and resultant diseases, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and more can all contribute to long-term irreversible cardiovascular disease and even eventual heart failure. As the heart is required to work harder and harder, pushing blood through clogged arteries, it begins to weaken and that can lead to major issues.
As a result, diet and a generally healthy lifestyle is a key component to stopping the progression of heart disease or preventing it in the first place. But which foods are helpful, and which are harmful?
Salt, Blood Pressure, and Your Heart Health
Salt is one of the most common additions to food to add some extra flavor. Although our beloved salt may feel like a staple in every meal, you might want to think twice before reaching for the shaker. Salt is known for increasing your blood pressure and causing bigger problems down the road. This doesn’t mean you have to live a salt-free life, but, like most things, moderation is key.
The Lowdown on the Mediterranean Diet for Heart Health
Decades ago, it became clear that people in the Mediterranean countries such as Greece and Italy lived longer, healthier lives with fewer instances of cardiovascular disease when compared to similar demographics in North American or Northern European countries. It became readily apparent that the typical Mediterranean diet provided significant heart health benefits and has since been held up as a standard by which we should model our own diets.
Staying Healthy, With Cardiovascular Disease, During The COVID-19 Crisis
You have undoubtedly heard that cardiovascular disease represents some of the highest risk of serious complications due to COVID-19. Heart problems, along with age and pulmonary disorders, make this virus far more problematic and deadly. However, please remember that you can modify your risk by following important, commonsense tips from the CDC, our health officials and our office. In this article, we will discuss the best ways to maintain and improve your heart health and general health to minimize your risk of coronavirus complications.
Setting the Record Straight About Cholesterol
In most people’s eyes, cholesterol is a bad word. It is the sticky substance that lines your arteries, causes ischemic heart disease and ultimately a full-on heart attack. But, in actuality, cholesterol is an umbrella term alternately describing a component of both the bad and not so bad foods we eat as well as the results of a common blood test.
Are Dietary Supplements Good for Your Heart?
Dietary supplements are an ever-growing part of the American consciousness. We’ve all heard the ads and seen the articles written about the amazing benefits of certain supplements. As our collective health has deteriorated, we look for ways to keep our bodies a little bit healthier. Supplements seem to be a quick and easy way to make that happen.
Interestingly, the multibillion-dollar supplement industry remains largely unregulated by the FDA. This is baffling. So, at least for now, we must rely on our own research and clinical studies to evaluate the potential benefits and risks of the various supplements available.
Alcohol Consumption and Heart Health – Is It Good or Bad for You?
There has been quite a bit of research undertaken on how alcohol affects the heart and general health. Some conflicting conclusions have been drawn that alcohol can alternately be bad or curative for you. However, while most studies show an association between alcohol and changes in the heart, very few have proven cause and effect. So, what’s the truth?
Tips to Reducing Your Sodium Intake
Salt…sodium chloride; one of the most common and innocuous compounds on Earth. However, salt can wreak havoc on our bodies when we consume it in excess. Not only does salt cause water retention, bloating, seemingly never-ending thirst and more, it can also cause a wide range of very serious chronic diseases, including high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, stomach cancer and osteoporosis.
The 3 Foods & Drinks You Need to Avoid for Your Heart’s Sake
We’re always reading magazine articles about the best foods for your health and by the time you get through the list, it just becomes overwhelming. From fruits and nuts, to veggies and lean meats…yes, they’re all good and adding them to the diet is really important. However, we consume a whole lot more than that and it is some of those unhealthy foods that create some real problems. So, let’s look at the five foods and drinks that you should consider avoiding:
