13 Foods Cardiologists Try to Never Eat



Lisa Marie Conklin




Day in and day out cardiologists see the effects of what a poor diet can do to your heart. And while an occasional indulgence is fine—a glass of red wine here, a piece of chocolate there—there are certain foods they will never let pass their lips.


Processed meats
Bacon, ham, hot dogs, and sausages are a part of many Americans’ daily diets but Jennifer Haythe, MD, a cardiologist and assistant professor of medicine at Columbia Presbyterian in New York City won’t go near them. “These products are literally dripping with saturated fats. And we know that sausage and processed meats have been linked to heart failure and cancer,” says Dr. Haythe. What exactly is in processed meat? Processed meat refers to meat that has been salted, cured, fermented or smoked to improve its shelf life. While these foods are quick and convenient, the chemicals and sodium used in processed foods are harmful for our hearts, especially when eaten in larger quantities. Hot dogs also make an appearance on our must-read list of foods to never, ever eat raw