There are some popular foods and drinks that you should avoid or reduce if you want to maintain a healthy heart.

Dr. Lott, a New York-based acupuncturist with over 300,000 followers on TikTokhas listed 12 things that threaten our cardiovascular health, in a video titled: “Foods that can damage your heart”.

The first was “canned vegetables,” which can contain high levels of added salt and sugar. Fresh fruits and vegetables are always the best solution.

Dr. Lott also mentioned “canned soup” because of its sodium content, which can increase the risk of heart disease, hypertension and stroke.

Dr. Lott takes a critical look at “white rice,” a refined grain. Our bodies convert refined grains into sugar, which is then stored as fat. He also mentioned “syrup” and “cake frosting,” both of which obviously contain a lot of sugar.

Unfortunately for many of us, “beer” is also on the list and can impact heart health in several ways. Alcohol is directly linked to the development of cardiovascular disease, and drinking too much alcohol can damage the heart muscle itself.

Excessive consumption of beer also leads to high blood pressure and weight gain due to its high calorie content. The NHS advises men and women to limit their alcohol consumption to no more than 14 units per week, spread over at least three days.

Dr Lott then highlighted “processed meat”, often loaded with salt and saturated fat, alongside “white bread”, which, being a refined carbohydrate, is as harmful to the heart as white rice. .

“Energy drinks” were also on Dr. Lott’s list: their caffeine content can cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.

Even seemingly harmless “condiments” like ketchup pose risks due to their high sugar and salt content. Salt, specifically pointed out by Dr. Lott, is bad for the heart because it increases blood pressure.

Finally, Dr. Lott warned against “baked goods,” which are typically high in calories and fat due to their butter and sugar content.