Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
What you eat certainly plays a role in your health, as eating the right foods can help reduce your risk. Yet most people forget that the drinks you drink also play a role in increasing or decreasing your risk of heart disease.
Here are 3 drinking habits to avoid if you have heart disease, plus what to eat instead.
High-calorie juices
Smoothies and shakes can certainly be part of a healthy diet, but adding a lot of high-calorie ingredients can make these seemingly healthy drinks “bombs” of calories.
One risk factor for heart disease is being overweight or obese, so drinking smoothies or smoothies with 600 or 800 calories can definitely increase your risk of weight gain.
Instead, consider the volume of a smoothie or shake (a 12-fluid ounce volume is usually fine). Add low-calorie ingredients like spinach, fruit, and low-fat or fat-free milk, and if you choose high-fat ingredients like nut butter or avocado, use small portions.
coconut drink
And if you like to drink coconut milk (coconut milk) or add it to your coffee or dishes, it can increase your risk of heart disease.
According to the Dietary Guidelines 2020-2025 for Americans, coconut (as in oil or as a drink) is a saturated fat that has been shown to increase levels of bad LDL cholesterol.
Instead choose skim or low-fat milk or a variety of plant-based drinks such as almonds, oats, and rice that don’t contain much, if any, saturated fat.
Canned vegetable drinks
In addition, many canned vegetable drinks (such as tomato juice) provide a fair share of sodium.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), eating too much sodium (salt) can increase blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease.
Instead, choose 100% low-sodium vegetable juices that count toward your daily vegetable intake, and pay attention to how much you drink.