Causes of heart disease include high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity. In some cases, people are born with congenital heart disease. You can inherit genetic factors for heart disease that result in such disorders as high cholesterol levels or obesity. The foods you eat often lead to heart disease if you consume excess amounts of unhealthy fats. These fats contribute to narrowing of the arteries, which blocks blood flow to the heart to trigger heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease.
Cholesterol Buildup
Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol can clog the arteries by forming plaque in the inner arterial walls. This cholesterol buildup can cause atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. The blockage of blood flow to the heart leads to heart disease. If the plaques burst and completely block flood flow, it causes heart attack or stroke. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, cholesterol cleans the bloodstream of excess cholesterol and has been called the "good" cholesterol.
Unhealthy Fat
Saturated fats from foods raise LDL cholesterol levels. Trans fats, found in many processed foods, increase LDL levels and also lower healthy HDL cholesterol. The body naturally produces cholesterol for its needs, such as manufacturing cells and hormones. Extra cholesterol comes from certain foods. You need to readjust your diet to help with your cholesterol concerns, keeping your LDL levels low and your HDL levels high.
Animal Protein
Saturated fats mainly come from meat, poultry and dairy products. Because these foods also contain proteins necessary for energy and muscle buildup, you can reduce your intake to decrease your risk of high cholesterol and heart disease. Choose lean beef with all visible fat trimmed off, skinless chicken or turkey, low-fat or nonfat dairy products, egg whites or egg substitutes. Fish contains saturated fat, but usually less than meat or poultry. Fish containing omega-3 fatty acids, including tuna, salmon, mackerel, halibut and herring, have heart healthy benefits. Omega-3 fatty acids may help improve cholesterol levels. Limit your meat, poultry and fish intake to 5 oz. or less per day, according to the National Cholesterol Education Program.
Processed Foods
Manufacturers make trans fats with heated liquid vegetable oils in a process called hydrogenation. The process helps foods last longer. You may find trans fats in hard margarines or commercially baked cookies, snack cakes and crackers. Fried fast foods also contain trans fats. MayoClinic.com recommends eliminating trans fats from your diet to lower your risk of high cholesterol because these fats raise LDL and lower protective HDL. When buying packaged products, look on the food labels to make sure the items contain no trans fats.
