If you want to lower your cholesterol and improve your heart health, take a look at the following five foods that you should avoid if at all possible.

Farmed Salmon:

I am sure you have heard about Omega-3 fatty acids and how we get too few in our diet. Omega-3’s are essential for heart health and emotional and mental well-being. You may not be aware, however, that farmed salmon contains a lot fewer Omega-3 fatty acids compared to wild salmon. Also, farmed salmon is much more likely to contain PCBs and dioxins if care is not taken at the facility where the salmon is raised.

Instant Oatmeal:

Oatmeal has been touted as a heart-healthy food because it can help lower cholesterol; however, instant oatmeal is not the best oatmeal choice. If you want to have a healthy heart, it is important to keep your blood sugar levels relatively stable. Instant oatmeal is high on the glycemic scale and will raise blood sugar levels very quickly. If you want to eat oats, opt for steel-cut oats instead. They are not as processed and will spike blood sugar levels less. Steel-cut oats do take longer to cook so if you are short of time, choose old-fashioned rolled oats which are also better than instant.

Food with Added Trans Fats:

Surveys show that most people know they should not be eating trans fats; however, most people do not know how to identify trans fat on an ingredient label. Look for the words hydrogenated, partially hydrogenated, or shortening on the ingredient label to determine if the food contains added trans fats. If the food contains added trans fats, do not purchase it. Trans fats raise LDL (bad cholesterol), lower HDL (good cholesterol), and raise triglycerides.

Canned Tomatoes:

Tomatoes are thought to be a heart-healthy … Read more