5 Products with the Worst Impact on the Heart

Processed red meat, according to the available scientific literature, is a food that promotes cancer. However, it is important to note that this is not its only drawback. It may also increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Interestingly, this dependence has not been shown for moderate consumption of unprocessed meat and poultry. This is confirmed by a large international study involving American scientists (R. Iqbal et al. 2021).

The misuse of spirits beverages results in a multitude of negative consequences for the human body. According to numerous studies, it increases the risk of cancer, stomach, pancreas, and liver diseases. It can even be asserted that it has detrimental effects on all systems of the body, the circulatory system being no exception. Although some studies point to positive effects of moderate alcohol consumption on the heart, the World Health Organization and other reputable scientific organizations maintain that there is no safe, minimal dose of pure alcohol that the human body can tolerate without health risks.

There is no necessity to introduce these products to society. The documented discussion about the positive and negative effects of consuming eggs and the permissible quantity of eggs consumed per week has been ongoing for a long time. However, the impact of eggs on cardiovascular health has been known for years. It turns out that consuming merely 3 eggs a week increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. For individuals with type 2 diabetes who consume 4 eggs a week, the risk significantly increases up to 69%. For healthy individuals who consume eggs, the risk of heart diseases is at most moderate and can increase by 6% per egg per day. In the context of heart disease prevention, this is worth considering. Eggs also contain carotenoids (lutein and zeaxanthin) – these are antioxidants, i.e., health-promoting components, but in comparison to other products, the content of carotenoids in eggs is very low.

Enthusiasts of butter accentuate a handful of principal merits of this commodity, such as CLA content, fat-soluble vitamins, or organic origin. Alas, butter is an animal fat, signifying it is rich in saturated fatty acids. These, in turn, have demonstrated deleterious effects on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, anemia, or hypertension, consequently being harmful to the heart and blood vessels. The advantages of butter consumption are not in accordance with the escalated risk of diet-related illnesses. A more wholesome alternative is superior quality plant-based soft margarines, which incorporate neither a surplus of saturated fats nor harmful trans fatty acids.

This is a category of products that has appeared relatively recently in this review. According to the EFSA's 2015 opinion, moderate consumption of energy drinks does not pose a health risk for healthy adults. However, studies show that this type of beverage is most commonly consumed by young adults and adolescents (up to 12% in the EU), and more than half of them admit to having consumed an excess of energy in combination with alcohol (A. Ehlers et al. 2019). Excessive intake of energy drinks is associated with an increase in blood pressure, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, anxiety, paresthesia, and in combination with alcohol, it enhances its effect and affects heart rhythm disturbances. Additionally, the combination of energy drinks with intense physical activity can affect blood pressure. Further research is required as the relationship between the dose and the expected body response has not yet been established. An interesting observation is that 10% of adolescents experiencing erectile dysfunction declare that they consume 3 or more cans of energy drinks per day. Therefore, it is advisable to conduct educational campaigns to reduce the consumption of energy drinks in the particularly vulnerable group of children and adolescents.