The Worst Heart-clogging Foods

When it comes to your heart's health, several foods can clog and block your arteries. This keeps critical nutrients and oxygen from getting transported into the heart, which can lead to various problems like heart disease and heart pain. While specific nutritional guidelines vary depending on your personal health and age, several specific foods come ranked by nutritionists as the worst heart-clogging villains.

Processed Red Meats

In a 2011 meta-study published in the American Heart Association's "Circulation" medical journal, researchers analyzed the results of 1,600 different studies that covered more than 1.2 million people. The researchers noted that eating just 1.8 oz. of processed red meats -- that equals just one hot dog or a couple slices of cold cuts -- a day is associated with a 42 percent increased risk of heart disease. Processed red meats commonly include high levels of cholesterol, sodium and fat.

Foods Containing Trans Fats

Dr. Joey Shulman, a nutritionist often featured in national publications and TV shows, places baked and fried foods containing trans fats at the number 2 spot on her list of the top 10 worst foods for your heart's health. She says that trans fats can not only cause heart disease, but are also associated with constricted arteries and inflammation. Foods that commonly have trans fats include potato chips, packaged baked goods and some margarine products.

Soft Drinks

Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook ranks soda as the number 2 worst food for your general health, even worse than doughnuts and bacon. She notes that soda has been linked not only to heart disease, but also to general poor health conditions like osteoporosis and dental problems. Plus, many soft drinks contain high amounts of calories that you can consume much more easily than eating the equivalent amount of solid foods, making them an easy source of calories that can lead to excessive weight gains.

Fast Food

Fast food may be a convenient choice for breakfast, lunch or dinner, saving you time in the short term. However, in the long term, it can shave time off of your life, because many fast foods contain ingredients that promote heart disease -- they are high in saturated fats, cholesterol and sodium. For example, french fries are a rich source of both trans fats and carcinogens, and the common cheeseburger landed on "Forbes" magazine's list of America's top 10 most unhealthy meals.