Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. It causes roughly one in five deaths. Unfortunately, the risk of heart disease is even more worrisome. About one in three adults have metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions that can increase the risk of heart disease.

While many things can lead to increased risks, your diet plays a substantial role in heart health. If you want to lower your risks and get healthy, here are some foods you need to avoid.

Trans and Saturated Fats

Fatty foods can lead to high blood cholesterol and cause plaque buildup in your arteries. Some fat is okay, but it's essential to limit your intake and focus on healthier alternatives to trans and saturated fats.

Consider cutting off fat from meat cuts and limiting your consumption of processed foods with high trans fat content. Instead of cooking with butter, lard and other similar fats, turn to healthy fats like olive oil, avocado oil, trans-fat-free products and more.

Sodium

Salt is a popular seasoning that many people love. Unfortunately, eating too much of it can lead to metabolic syndrome and increase the risk of coronary heart disease. Healthy adults should have no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day. That's about a teaspoon of salt.

Ease up on the salt shaker and opt for low-sodium foods when grocery shopping.

Commercially Processed Snacks

It's not always possible to ditch processed foods entirely, but making a concerted effort to stick with wholesome foods can make a dramatic difference. Processed snacks and meals offer convenience. However, they're usually chock-full of trans fats, sodium and refined grains.

Even the healthy ingredients utilized can contain unnecessary additives while being nutritionally sparse.

Try to introduce more whole foods into your diet. Increase your intake of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Avoid snacking on junk food and focus on home-cooked meals you completely control. When you cook meals at home, you can choose healthier ingredients that make it easier to manage your heart health.

Author Resource:-

Alester Brown is a certified physician. She advises people on an online weight loss program for men at home. You can find her thoughts at weight loss guide blog.