The last thing that anyone wants to do is to get a blood test, but in order for you to know about your overall health, you need to get them each year if you are healthy. And if you are not healthy, you may need to get them more often. And the foods you eat can have a significant impact on your health, next to genetics. There are certain foods that you may be eating regularly that warrant getting your blood checked to see if you have high levels of LDL cholesterol, which is bad cholesterol. That will increase your blood pressure and can strain your heart which increases your chances of poor heart health. Let’s go over four foods that you may be eating regularly which will warrant you getting bloodwork done to check your health.
Red Meat
Do you eat a lot of red meat? If you don’t eat it too often, then you are okay, because anything in moderation is always the key. However, if you do eat red meat regularly, then you are increasing the Trimethylamine N-oxide or TMAO levels as that is a chemical that happens while digesting red meat which can increase your chances of heart disease. And it also means you can increase your chance of premature death. Therefore, you will increase your chances of ending up with a heart attack and stroke if you keep eating red meat in addition to kidney disease.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying a steak once in a while, but perhaps it is best to swap the steak or burger for a plant-based type of mock meat such as lentils or tofu. There are many nutrients in plant-based foods that can help lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. There is another food that you will want to limit which you may be eating at breakfast often.
Eggs
If you are eating more than two eggs daily, then you are putting yourself at risk for heart disease and stroke as eggs can increase TMAO levels. Yes, eggs have many health benefits too, but you know the saying that too much of a good thing is not good for you at all. Eggs do contain an essential nutrient which is choline which is important for your brain health. However, eggs are also not ideal to eat all of the time because they can raise your chances of ending up with heart disease. There are many plant-based egg products that you may want to start eating that will lower your chances of heart disease. There is another food that you will want to limit that you may eat for dinner often.
Saltwater Fish
Do you like cod, tuna, or salmon? If you do, then you may be happy about that being the case since fish like salmon is high in Omega 3 fatty acids which are essential for your brain health and hormone production. However, at the same time, saltwater fish can cause high levels of TMAO in your blood which increases your chances of heart disease and stroke. Fish have high levels of TMAO in their muscles to keep them protected from water pressure and cold temperatures. But it is not good for you so you will want to limit how much fish you eat.
Dairy
Last but not least, you will want to limit how much milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, and ice cream you consume as a high dairy diet can increase TMAO levels which is bad for your heart health. There are a lot of dairy replacement foods that you may like such as nut milk, and other cheese and butter replacements. However, if you need your diary, then you will need to get your TMAO levels checked.
Remember that no foods are off-limits, but you need to be aware of what you are putting into yourself. And remember to get your blood drawn regularly to check on your heart health.
