More than 600,000 people die of cardiovascular disease in the U.S. every year — the leading cause of death for both men and women, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Would you like to lower your risk?
Unfortunately, there's no magic cure-all, but there are definitely ways you can improve your heart health. "There isn't a food that will save your life … And there isn't one that's going to kill you. It is about balance," said Dr. Sharonne Hayes, professor of cardiovascular medicine and founder of the Women's Heart Clinic at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
One of her hot tips? Don't eat processed meat. Hayes stopped eating animal protein some 25 years ago, but even before that she avoided processed meats because they're high in calories, saturated fat, salt and have added ingredients like nitrates.
And it's not only heart health that may be affected by overindulging in hot dogs, salami, bacon, ham and jerky: The World Health Organization has determined that eating processed meats can increase your risk of developing cancer. So, you might want to skip the hot dogs at this summer's barbecues and opt for grilled corn instead.
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