US cardiologist Dr. Dara Lee Lewis notes that cooking at home is generally much healthier and cheaper than eating in cafes or ordering food delivery. According to the specialist, it is best to always have healthy products in the freezer and pantry.
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Of course, cooking at home does not necessarily mean healthy eating. For example, fatty pork fried in a pan and heavily salted is not good for the heart. According to the doctor, the right path is taken when the diet is based on leaner protein sources such as poultry and seafood, as well as plant-based products like beans, chickpeas, lentils, and tofu. It is also important to remember that salt should be used very sparingly.
What is in the cardiologist’s pantry?
Being a cardiologist and a mother, the doctor always looks for nutritious, tasty, and quick-to-prepare dishes. Since she cannot always go to the store, her freezer always contains chicken breasts or shrimp. Products that can be easily prepared for lunch or dinner, writes “Postimees”.
For morning smoothies, she always has spinach and berries in the fridge. Freezing berries is a natural habit. It is commendable because frozen berries are just as nutritious.
The cardiologist emphasizes that regular consumption of berries is scientifically linked to lower cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and a reduced risk of heart disease.
You will always find cottage cheese, natural yogurt, and tofu in the doctor’s fridge. On the dry goods shelf, there are many fiber-rich products – nuts, seeds, etc. The doctor’s menu also includes pasta, but mostly those made from legumes, such as beans or lentils. They contain significantly more protein than regular pasta.
For those moments when you want a snack, the cardiologist prepares popcorn, and when satisfying a sweet tooth, she chooses healthier options – dark chocolate or almonds coated with it.
Frozen foods you should not have at home
Although the cardiologist’s kitchen is full of healthy choices, there is one very popular food product she never buys for her home freezer – ice cream.
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Although ice cream is a popular summer treat, the doctor draws attention to its drawbacks. Classic ice cream contains a lot of saturated fats, which increase blood cholesterol levels and can contribute to plaque buildup in the coronary arteries. It also contains a lot of sugar and calories, which can lead to weight gain and trigger inflammatory processes in the body.
A 2021 study also confirmed that a diet high in saturated fats is directly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases because it raises the bad cholesterol levels.
How to enjoy ice cream without harming heart health?
The fact that ice cream is not healthy food probably surprises no one. But does that mean you have to give up sweet, cold treats forever to maintain heart health? According to the cardiologist, definitely not – the key is moderation, writes “Parade”.
The biggest mistake is buying a large tub of ice cream and putting it in the freezer because the temptation to eat it will be constant. The doctor recommends turning ice cream eating into a social event: go for a walk with family or friends and buy ice cream at a café or store. This way, it becomes a special occasion rather than a daily habit.
However, if you really want to enjoy a cold treat at home, the doctor thinks it is worth looking around store shelves to find healthier alternatives. Nowadays, you can find many ice creams with lower fat and sugar content, which may not be as rich in flavor as real cream ice cream but are still a good alternative.
Healthy eating does not mean an ascetic life or constant self-restriction. It is perfectly acceptable to occasionally give in to temptation. It is just important to ensure that exceptions do not become the daily rule.
