If you want a healthy ticker, there are some foods you’ll want to indulge in every now and then only Find out which ones and how to make healthy substitutes

1. Foods That Are Bad for Your Heart
Sugar, Salt, Fat
Over time, high amounts of salt, sugar, saturated fat, and refined carbs raise your risk for a
heart attack or stroke. If you’re worried about your heart, you’ll want to keep these out of
regular rotation.
But rather than fixate on any one bad food, it’s wise to focus on your overall diet. You can
still have these things if you mostly eat heart-healthy fruits and vegetables, whole grains,
lean protein, and low-fat dairy.

2. Bacon
More than half of bacon’s calories come from saturated fat, which can raise your low-
density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol, and boost your chance of a heart attack or
stroke. It’s full of salt, which bumps up your blood pressure and makes your heart work
harder. High amounts of sodium (the main part of salt) can lead to stroke, heart disease,
and heart failure. Bacon’s added preservatives are linked to these issues as well.

3. Red Meat
Eating too much beef, lamb, and pork may raise your odds for heart disease and diabetes.
It may be because they’re high in saturated fat, which can boost cholesterol. More recent
studies point to how gut bacteria process a part of the meat called L-carnitine. Limit your
portions. Also, look for lean cuts like round, sirloin, and extra-lean ground beef

4. Soda
Having small amounts of added sugar isn’t harmful, but a can of soda has more added sugar
than experts recommend for a whole day. Soda drinkers tend to gain more weight and are
more likely to be obese and have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
And while the science is still fuzzy on diet drinks, some research links them to weight gain
and strokes. Your best bet is plain, carbonated, or unsweetened flavoured water.

5. Baked Goods
Cookies, cakes, and muffins should be rare treats. They’re typically loaded with added
sugar, which leads to weight gain. They’re also linked to higher triglyceride levels, which
can lead to heart disease. Their main ingredient is usually white flour, which may spike your
blood sugar and make you hungrier. Make healthier treats: Swap in whole-wheat flour, trim
the sugar, and use liquid plant oils instead of butter or shortening.

6. Processed Meats
Hot dogs, sausage, salami, and lunch meat are the worst types of meats for your heart. They
have high amounts of salt, and most are high in saturated fat. When it comes to deli meats,
turkey is better for you than salami because it doesn’t have the saturated fat. But it still has
a fair amount of sodium, so it isn’t as heart-healthy as fresh sliced turkey breast.

7. White Rice, Bread, and Pasta
Rice, bread, pasta, and snacks made from white flour are missing their healthy fibre,
vitamins, and minerals. Refined grains quickly convert to sugar, which your body stores as
fat. A diet high in refined grains can cause belly fat, which studies link to heart disease and
type 2 diabetes. Try to get at least half your grains from whole grains like brown rice, oats,
and whole wheat. When you shop, look for the words "100% whole grain."

8. Pizza
Pizza can be healthy if you make it the right way, but most take-out pizza and frozen pies
have staggering amounts of sodium, fat, and calories, all of which can raise your risk of a
heart attack. When you order out, opt for a thin crust (whole wheat if possible), ask for less
cheese, pile on the veggies, and skip the pepperoni or sausage, which are loaded with salt.
For the most heart-healthy pizza, make it yourself.

9. Alcohol
Moderate drinking won’t harm your heart unless you have high blood pressure or high
triglycerides, a type of fat in your blood that can boost your odds of heart disease. Heavy
drinking, on the other hand, can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure, strokes, and
weight gain. So if you don’t already drink, don’t start.

10. Butter
Butter is high in saturated fat, which can raise your bad cholesterol and make heart disease
more likely. You're better off replacing butter with olive oil or vegetable oil-based spreads,
which contain heart-healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats. If you have high cholesterol,
a spread with stanol is even better. Regular use can help lower your LDL cholesterol levels.

11. Flavoured, Full-Fat Yogurt
Yogurt can be a super source of nutrition. Eating it regularly might protect you from high
blood pressure. But watch the kind you buy. Flavoured yogurts are full of added sugar, with
its linked to weight gain, high blood pressure, inflammation, and heart disease. For the
healthiest choice, get plain low-fat yogurt and addyour own fresh fruit, cinnamon, or vanilla
for flavor.

12. French Fries
The deep-fried potatoes from restaurants and fast-food places have lots of fat and salt,
which is bad news for your heart. One study found that people who ate French fries or hash
browns 2 to 3 times a week were more likely to die early. If you indulge, get the smallest
portion possible or split your order. Even better: Make your own oven-baked fries with
heart-healthy olive oil. They’ll be even better for you if you use sweet potatoes.

13. Fried Chicken
Deep-frying chicken adds calories, fat, and sodium to an otherwise healthy food. Studies
have linked fried food with type 2 diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure -- all of which
raise your odds of heart failure. For a crispy but healthier choice, bread skinless chicken
breasts in whole-wheat flour and bake instead of frying.

14. Canned Soup
Soup can be an easy way to get more vegetables, protein, and fiber. But watch out for
unhealthy ingredients. Canned soup often has lots of sodium, which can cause high blood
pressure, heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. And any cream-based soup has unhealthy
saturated fat. The healthiest way to enjoy soup is to make it from scratch with a low-sodium
broth. If you do buy prepared soup, check the label for the least salt and fat.

15. Ranch Dressing
The main ingredients of this popular dressing are typically buttermilk, salt, and sugar. This
makes it high in fat, sodium, and calories. None of that’s good for your heart. You can make
a healthier version of your favourite creamy dressings by blending low-fat sour cream or
cottage cheese with low-fat buttermilk and fresh herbs like dill, tarragon, or chives.

16. Ice Cream
Ice cream is high in sugar, calories, and saturated fat, so save it for a special treat. Eating
foods loaded with fat and sugar leads to weight gain. It can also drive up your triglycerides
and lead to a heart attack. Cut your calories and fat by choosing sorbet, low-fat or non-fat
frozen yogurt, or frozen fruit bars. Check the label for the least amount of sugar and
saturated fat.

17. Potato Chip
Potato chips are one of the foods that contribute most to weight gain. And not only are they
loadedwith saturated fat, they’re also covered in salt -- which is alsolinked to heart disease.
Skip the lower-sodium or low-fatpotato chips. They’ll just leaveyou hungry again. The most
nutritious snacks combine healthy proteins, carbs, and fats, like whole-grain crackers with
low-fat cheese or homemade popcorn tossed with olive oil.