food for thought???

The Worst Foods For Your Heart

 

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You know about the foods that can help protect you from heart problems. They lower cholesterol and blood pressure, fight plaque build up and reduce inflammation.

But more than 2,150 Americans die from heart disease every day, making it the leading cause of death for both women and men, according to the American Heart Association. So even if your daily diet contains some heart-healthy fare like salmon and oatmeal, your heart could still be at risk.

In honor of American Heart Month, we've rounded up some of the worst foods for your heart. Click through the slideshow of cardiovascular no-nos below to find out how to make them healthier parts of your daily diet.

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Worst Foods For Your Heart

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Processed Meat

Hot dogs, bacon, sausage and deli meats -- even lean ones like turkey -- are made with loads of sodium and preservatives, often including nitrates and nitrites, both of which have been linked to heart problems. "With processing, you lose control over the quality of the ingredients," says Cynthia Thaik, M.D., a Los Angeles-based cardiologist.

Processed meats are also higher in saturated fat and lower in protein than any red meat you could prepare yourself, writes director of the Yale Prevention Research Center and HuffPost blogger, David Katz.

Not convinced to stay away? Processed meats have also been linked to a higher risk of diabetes and pancreatic cancer.