Wellstar Health Highlights
Read the stories that make Wellstar more than healthcare. PeopleCare.
Every beat of your heart helps you do the things you love—it's vital to take care of your cardiovascular health. However, it can be challenging to know where to start and where to find informative, trustworthy resources, especially online.
Wellstar Cardiovascular Disease Specialist Dr. Eddie Hackler examined five trending heart health topics to help you separate fact from fiction.
1. Good fats
You may have heard that fatty foods can actually boost your heart health, and that can be true—with some foods.
“Some fats are good for your heart. And my apologies to all the bacon-lovers out there, but the fats I’m talking about don’t come from red meat,” Dr. Hackler said.
Monosaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids can support a healthy heart and lower your cholesterol. You’ll find these fats in foods such as olive oil, sunflower seeds, fatty fish like salmon and avocados.
2. Juicing
We've all heard about fad juice cleanses and how they can “flush out toxins,” but the truth is they can do more harm than good.
“Most people who do juice cleanses frankly aren’t eating enough solid food to meet their nutritional needs,” Dr. Hackler said. “This quickly leads to tiredness, headaches and irritability.”
Dr. Hackler recommends that you just eat the whole fruit rather than making juice.
“You’ll get the vitamins without sacrificing the fiber and set yourself up for a healthier day.”
3. Power walking
It may be easier than you think to incorporate exercise into your routine. You can walk your way to a healthier heart.
“A recent study shows that only 10 minutes a day improves your sleep, metabolism, mood, cognitive health and obesity risk,” Dr. Hackler said. “Look, it’s quick, affordable and completely worth it. Think about it as just a few songs’ worth of walking per day for a longer, healthier life. I’d take that deal.”
4. Eggs
Eggs can still be enjoyed in moderation as part of a heart-healthy diet.
“Egg yolks have high cholesterol levels, but for generally healthy people, a modest intake of no more than one large egg per day has not been found to increase your risk of heart attack, stroke or any type of cardiovascular disease,” Dr. Hackler said.
Most of the cholesterol in our bodies doesn’t come from the cholesterol we eat, but from foods high in trans and saturated fats, according to Dr. Hackler.
“Cholesterol levels can still increase with egg consumption, so you can eat eggs, but try not to eat more than one a day. And if you’re looking for a healthy alternative, try egg whites.”
5. Sleep
Most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Without it, the body releases chemicals that make it harder to keep your heart rate and blood pressure low. Both are factors that contribute to heart disease.
“If you commit to meeting that seven- to eight-hour mark, you could lower your risk for heart disease by 20% compared to short sleepers,” Dr. Hackler said.
To learn more about how you can take charge of your heart health, find a cardiologist near you and schedule an appointment today.
We use cookies for booking and general analytics. Learn more about or internet privacy policy.