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Reduce Red Meat to Improve Heart Health

Reduce Red Meat to Improve Heart Health

March is National Nutrition Month, which makes it a great time to talk about the role diet plays in encouraging heart health. It’s important to understand that consuming high quantities of red meat can put you at an increased risk for serious heart health problems.

Red Meat, TMAO, and Heart Disease

We have long suspected that red meat was linked to heart disease, but we haven’t known exactly how. Recent research points to a chemical produced during red meat digestion called trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) as either a mechanism or an important indicator of heart disease risk. Some research suggests an elevated level of TMAO might be associated with double the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious cardiovascular problems.

TMAO develops when your gut bacteria process chemicals in meat. A 2019 study shows that eating higher amounts of processed and red meat can triple your TMAO levels.

In this study, subjects were put on three controlled diets for a month each. All diets were 25% protein, but in some cases, the protein came from red meat, while in the other diets, it came from white meat or plant-based sources. When subjects were on the diet where protein came from red meat, their TMAO levels increased by an average of three times. Also, half of the subjects were put on a diet with significantly higher quantities of saturated fat. However, the saturated fat didn’t lead to increased TMAO levels.

Reduce Your Need for Interventional Cardiology

Let cutting down on red meat be the ounce of prevention that is worth a pound of cure in the form of interventional cardiology. Interventional cardiology is the name for procedures where we employ catheter-based treatments to repair arteries, other blood vessels, heart valves, and other cardiovascular system structures.

We often see people who experience angina, heart attack, heart failure, or irregular heart rate. Depending on the extent of your problem, interventional cardiology might deploy many different minimally invasive therapies. However, it’s even better if you can avoid the need for this type of treatment simply by changing your diet.

Pritikin ICR: A Comprehensive Path to Recovery

Reduce Red Meat to Improve Heart HealthIt’s never too late to make a change in your diet for the better. Even if you’ve already experienced a heart attack, stroke, or other condition, a healthy diet can still be an important part of your recovery process.

This is the premise behind the Pritikin Intensive Cardiac Rehab, a program that many cardiovascular practices across the country, like our rehabilitation clinic, have adopted.

Pritikin ICR is built on three pillars that can support healthy heart function. Safe, effective exercise helps condition your heart. A stronger, healthier heart reduces the risk of readmission for related conditions. The program also emphasizes the role that a positive attitude plays in helping you stay healthy. You can potentially reduce your risk of death from stroke or heart attack by about 40% with a positive attitude. As a combination, the three pillars help you avoid an additional heart attack, stroke, or other dangerous cardiac conditions.

Please Take Advantage of Our Comprehensive Healing and Wellness Programs.

At South Denver Cardiology Associates, we are dedicated to helping patients at all health levels get the care and attention they need to maintain or improve their overall health. That’s why we’ve integrated such a wide range of health and wellness programs into our facility. This makes us the most comprehensive healing and wellness cardiac facility in the region. Also, our diagnostic testing lets you monitor your heart health to avoid surprises.

If you want to learn how our diverse programs can help you, please call 303-744-1065 or contact us online today.

South Denver Cardiology
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As with any health concerns, your specific treatment program should be discussed thoroughly with your primary care physician as well as any specialists who may need to be consulted – like a cardiologist.

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