Choice of Food and Heart Diseases

Heart disease is a major cause of death in developedand some monounsaturated fatty acids. For example,
as well as under developed countries. In Europe,the poly-unsaturated fatty acids in oily fish (e.g. sardine,
especially England, approximately more than 27 % ofmackerel, herring, and pilchards) seem to reduce the
all deaths are due to coronary heart disease (CHD).amount of cholesterol made by the liver.
Coronary heart disease is the most common type ofResearch has shown that when oils are processed to
heart disease and can eventually lead to heart attack.make them into margarine and other cooking fats, the
High blood pressure, stress, lack of exercise, beingpolyunsaturated fatty acids in the oil may change to
overweight, smoking cigarettes, increasing age, beingtrans-fatty acids. These may increase the amount of
male, heredity and choice of foods are the risk factorscholesterol made by the liver.
that ultimately result in heart diseases.Prevention of heart disease should begin in early
Research has shown that our diet, especially thechildhood. Research has shown that fatty steaks have
amount and type of fat we eat, can increase the riskappeared in the arteries of some children as young as
of CHD. Diets that are high in saturated fatty acids10 years old. To prevent later problems, parents should
may raise the level of cholesterol in the blood. Highencourage their children and adults to:
blood cholesterol levels are linked to the development- Eat a variety of foods; eat fresh fruits, vegetables
of CHD.and salads.
Cholesterol is found in some foods, and also made in- Regular exercise also strengthens the heart and
the body by the liver, mainly from saturated fatty acidsreduces the risk of CHD
in foods. If cholesterol is oxidized (picks up oxygen- Eat less high-fat food.
circulating in the body), it can be deposited in the linings- Eat less sweet food, as excess sugar is converted
of coronary arteries, which starts to become block.into fat in the body causing weight gain and therefore
Antioxidants found naturally in foods, especially vitamina strain on the heart.
A, vitamin C, B-carotene and selenium help to stop- Eat less salty food, as too much can lead to high
cholesterol picking up oxygen, so that it is depositedblood pressure and therefore a strain on the heart.
less readily in the coronary arteries.- CHD patients are usually given dietary advice and
Cholesterol is not made so easily by liver if a personare encouraged to stop smoking and limit the amount
eats foods that contain poly-unsaturated fatty acidsof alcohol they drink.