Sorting Nutrition Fact from Fiction with a Cardiologist

Low-fat, fat-free, sugar-free, low-carb, good carbs, trans-fat, paleo, gluten, kale, quinoa, juicing, and coconut oil are just a few of the many dietary trends and buzzwords we hear while trying to make sound nutritional decisions. It seems like every day a new food is made a scapegoat for weight gain, high cholesterol, diabetes, or even autism, while a new food is touted as the next “super-food” with the power to lower blood pressure, aid weight loss or build muscle. Additionally, foods such as eggs or red wine are alternatively promoted as heart-healthy or contributory to high cholesterol, depending on who you ask. Even the most discerning consumer can have a difficult time separating nutritional fact from fiction. What does a cardiologist have to say about what we should be eating?

Consider the much vilified egg. For years, conventional wisdom was that eggs were high in cholesterol and should be avoided. However, new research shows that eating one egg per day, including the yolk, is safe for your heart. The American Heart Association’s advice for a heart healthy diet is simple: Eat a variety of foods. Enjoy an egg with fruit and foods rich in protein, such as cheese, and vitamin C, like spinach. Neither is red meat the scoundrel it has been made out to be. Red meat is an excellent source of protein and saturated fats, and is a healthy component of a diet that also includes fish and chicken.

 Additionally, any regimen approved by a cardiologist will involve exercise. After all, our ancestors managed to live long, productive lives while eating a hearty diet of farm-fresh butter, eggs, cheese, red meat, bread, and even our beloved bacon. In fact, the Amish eat this way today, and obesity among them is a fraction of the rest of the population. Exercise is what sets the Amish, and our ancestors, apart from the rest of us. For thousands of years, humans foraged for food, hunted, or grew crops. As the world became mechanized and, eventually, digitalized, the amount of physical activity required for work and even survival declined drastically. Today, chasing your next meal is an option, not a requirement. The American Heart Association recommends a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week.
Finally, any cardiologist worth his salt would recommend keeping the amount of processed foods consumed to a minimum. Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock famously gained 25 pounds over 30 days in the name of science in order to assess the toll a fast-food only diet took on his body for his award-winning documentary, “Super Size Me.” Our ancestors might not have eaten fancy grains like quinoa, but they certainly did not eat anything out of a box engineered to withstand years in a bomb shelter, either. Try sticking to food items with an expiration date sometime in the next few weeks. Better yet, try buying fruits and vegetables from the farmers market, or using lemons and limes to flavor your dishes. Save room for dessert, too, because ice cream, in moderation, can be part of a heart-healthy diet.

Make smart decisions about what you eat. Learn more about proper nutrition from a trusted cardiologist Metairie LA. Here