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Foods to Avoid Cardiac Problems

Submitted by Serena Mason on August 3, 2010

Heart diseases are a prime cause of death in the United States. The major causes for an increasingly greater number of people getting affected with cardio-vascular diseases are unhealthy eating patterns and limited physical activity (due to sedentary nature of jobs).
There are a number of foods for a healthy heart which can help you reduce your susceptibility to heart problems. Some such foods which help avoid cardiac problems are:

Consuming oily ocean fishes like tuna, sardines, and salmon can help you to avoid heart problems. These foods are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which regulate the cholesterol levels of your body and also prevent the risk of blood clots on the cardio-vascular system of the body. In addition, the intake of salmon reduces inflammation in the heart.

Use olive oil in place of other fatty oils like vegetable oils when cooking.

Olive oil lowers the level of LDL cholesterol in your body, thereby reducing the risk of heart diseases.

Almonds help in keeping a check on the cholesterol levels of the body. Moreover, almonds also provide Vitamin E and fiber, which ameliorate the physiological systems of the body.

Apples are a rich source of a phytochemical called quercetin. This compound is anti-inflammatory in action and averts the formation of blood clots in the circulatory system, thereby preventing cardiac ailments.

You are also recommended to substitute your breakfast cereals with oatmeal.

Oatmeal is a rich source of a soluble fiber, beta glucan which help reduce the overall cholesterol levels of the body, especially the LDL or bad cholesterol level.

You should consume some red wine, which is high in anti-oxidants, namely resveratrol. This form of anti-oxidant is supposed to be good for the heart.

You must try to consume whole grains instead of flour. Whole grains are rich in fiber and vitamins, which reduce proneness to heart diseases.

You must consume tomatoes which are a rich source of a pigment called lycopene.

Lycopene is supposed to reduce the risk of heart diseases.

You must not consume red meat. Instead substitute red meat with low fat white meat or with soy proteins like tofu.

Other than these foods, you should also consume a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables.

These foods are negative calorie foods which help burn excessive calories and fat from your body. Also, you must increase your level of physical activity by working out on a regular basis. This will also help you get rid of harmful fats or cholesterol, thereby avoiding cardiac problems.