Will Junk Food Kill You ?

Live Longer by Avoiding Junk Food

Dr. Salim Yusuf of McMaster University (Ontario, Canada) reported in Circulation, the Journal of the American Heart Association, results of the InterHeart study of 16,000 patients in 52 countries, which surveyed patients about dietary food choices. It was found that “Diets high in fried foods, salty snacks, and meat account for about 35% of heart attacks globally.” Additionally, Dr. Yusuf reported, “An unhealthy dietary intake, assessed by a simple dietary risk score, accounts for nearly one-third of the world population’s attributable risk of heart attacks.”

Thus, it seems quite simple that avoiding fast food and junk food is a must for a healthy life. Paul McCartney is a vegetarian, and he has urged a boycott of McDonalds. Perhaps people around the world would be far healthier if they took his advice. The Johns Hopkins White Paper 2008 states that “Women are six times more likely to die of a heart attack than breast cancer.” Heart attack risk increases for women after menopause.

Improve Heart Health

Some basic tips to help heart health include the following: exercise 30 minutes a day, stop smoking, lower salt intake, eat more fiber and less fat, floss your teeth, make fruits and vegetables the focus of your menu, eat organic foods when possible, avoid products with too many chemicals as ingredients, and utilize stress reduction techniques such as meditation, walking, building friendships, and simplifying your life. It is also helpful to add fish to your diet, particularly salmon, eat more grains and beans, and reduce cholesterol via a healthy diet. Fish oil supplements may also provide some protection against heart disease.

Most importantly, avoid fast food and salty snacks, which are loaded with fat, chemicals, and unnatural ingredients. Is that meal from McDonalds or that bag of potato chips really worth the loss of decades of life due to a heart attack? Eliminating fast food and processed snacks from your diet may help you dramatically increase your health and your longevity.

Warning Signs of a Heart Attack

• Fatigue, chest pain, or left arm pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Blue tinge to skin
• Swollen legs

Seek help immediately if you have any of the warning signs of a heart attack. Do not delay; call an ambulance to take you to the Emergency Room.

Foods that Help Heart Health

Some foods are believed to help heart health. Add a few of the following foods to your diet to optimize heart health:

• Salmon, apples, walnuts, apricots, blueberries
• Artichokes, avocado, spinach, oatmeal
• Beans, kiwi, tea, ground flaxseed, almonds
• Tuna, red peppers, ginger, red grapes
• Tomatoes, raisins, prunes, papaya

Check with your doctor before you make any changes to your diet. Contact your doctor at once if you think you may be having a heart attack.