India is one of the leading countries when it comes to heart-related ailments. More than 1.7 million cases of heart ailments are reported in just India alone and the deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases have risen by around 34% in the last 26 years according to a report by American College of Cardiology in 2018. All thanks to the excess oily food and excess sweets engrained in the Indian delicacies that are the primary cause to this.
Angioplasty has become a second chance for those who got diagnosed with the cardiovascular issues in the earlier stages, all thanks to the new ongoing medical researches. It’s a wakeup call for all that heart health should not be taken lightly, and one should have a healthy diet after angioplasty along with a healthy lifestyle. In this post, we will be going through some of the Indian food to eat and to avoid to maintain a healthy lifestyle and great diet after angioplasty.
Indian Foods to avoid for a healthier diet after angioplasty
- Red Meat
As Ironic as it might seem, Red Meat can be harmful to the better functioning of the heart. It primarily comprises of Pork, Lamb and Beef meat. Its consumption leads to increased levels of Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), which is known to modify calcium in the blood, thus affecting the platelets which further lead to the formation of clots. Red Meat contains heme iron, homocysteine and high saturated fat content which are known to be linked with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Chicken, Fish and Turkey Meat are known to be healthier alternatives diet after angioplasty as they contain less TMAO.
- High Sugar Content food
Sugar has always been linked with diabetes and obesity, but it also reduces the efficiency of the heart. It is a known fact that sugar damages the pancreas which produces insulin, thus leading in increasing the sugar content in the blood, leading to hardening of the blood vessels leading to blood clotting also known as atherosclerosis. According to a recent study by Harvard Medical Group, high sugar content causes the liver to dump fats into the bloodstream thus causing further clots in the bloodstream and increased blood pressure. Instead of glucose sugar, add sugar with Saccharin, Aspartame to your diet after angioplasty or after diabetes diagnosis.
- Fried/Oily Foods
It is simply hard to resist those Pakoras, Puris and Parathas (fried Indian food) fresh off the stove. Fried food is known to have very high calorific content, as they absorb the fat from the oil. Consuming this can skyrocket the Bad Cholesterol levels (LDL) in the body and further lead to high blood pressure. Also consuming such food generates trans fats in the body, which are again linked with higher levels of bad cholesterol, diabetes and obesity. It is strongly recommended to avoid fried foods and especially if you have a heart condition. Instead, you can use olive oil for part roasting and frying to make it a perfect diet after angioplasty surgery.
- Processed Food
Processed food is one of the greatest known enemies for a healthy heart. The tastier the food gets the more harmful it becomes, even for the overall health. Since the food revolution, processed food has become convenient and has let the food manufacturers alert the food quality to increase their shelf life, thus compromising the food we take. These foods are overloaded with Sodium, Glucose, Fats and Sugar. These substances can cause serious heart inflammations which can lead to heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases. Recent reports also show that the manufacturers’ chemicals that manipulate our taste receptors thus making us overeat and crave for more. Go for healthier alternatives such as fresh fruits and veggies and organic food so as to build and consume a good diet after angioplasty.
- Food with High spice content
An interesting fun fact: Humans are the only mammals on the planet that eat spicy food, researchers still haven’t figured out how did we get introduced to it. We, Indians are naturally born spice consumers and many of us eat 10 chilies without breaking a sweat. Though Spicy food has been seen to bring down the Bad Cholesterol LDL levels but eating too much spicy food can be dangerous as it causes heart inflammation, nausea and gastric related issues. Such food can also cause inflammation in the arteries which can later lead to heart attacks. If possible, try to minimize spice content in your diet after angioplasty and go for healthier alternatives.
- High Trans-fat vegetable oils and Egg (including Butter)
Vegetable oils are usually very healthy food and some doctors recommend cooking with such oils. Ironically few vegetable oils such as Dalda is one of the highest content trans-fat oils in the market even when compared with dairy oils and ghee. It is oxidized and hydrogenated and is often used alternatively with ghee as it is cheaper. As we saw above trans-fats are not healthy rather get accumulated in the arteries causing these blockages and lead to cardiac arrests. Simultaneously, eggs are very nutritious for a healthy body, but the egg yolk is known to contain abundant amounts of cholesterol which increases the LDL levels of the body, thus affecting your heart health. Try to add egg whites and alternatively try dairy oils (ghee) in your diet after angioplasty to lead a healthier life.
Indian Foods to eat for a healthier diet after angioplasty
Apart from raw vegetables and fruits as sald and custard…
- Ghee, also known as Clarified butter
Ghee is one of the oldest food ingredient ingrained in Indian food since the beginning of Ayurveda. It has abundant amounts of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) a healthy fatty acid which is known to keep carcinogens at bay and combat diabetes and artery plaque. It also helps in bringing down the weight due to its CLA content. A quick reminder, the consumption of ghee should also be in minimal amounts, as excess can lead to accumulation of fat in the arteries or/and liver dysfunction. Try to have at least 10 mg of ghee a week for a healthier diet after angioplasty.
- Go the Indian Bread way
Indian Flatbread, also known as Rotis and Parathas are one of the healthiest alternatives as compared to rice or Naan. This is due to the fact that they contain very low amounts of fats and calories making it a perfect ingredient for your diet after angioplasty. These flatbreads are rustic and have low or no oil when they are prepared. Also, they contain carbohydrates, Riboflavin, dietary fiber and thiamine which are good for the heart and also for the overall health. Try to minimize your daily intake of rice and try Rotis or Parathas instead.
- Turmeric (Haldi)
Curcumin, also known as turmeric is one of the oldest known medicines in the Ayurveda. This is due to the fact that it contains anti-oxidants such as polyphenol which prevent fat deposits in the arteries and thus reducing blood pressure and improving the overall heart health. In many research centers, Turmeric-based food has also been promoted as potential treatments for Alzheimer’s, arthritis, and breast cancer.
- Lentils or Dal
Lentils contain folate and magnesium which are known to be the biggest contributors to heart health. Apart from this, they are low on calorific content, rich in iron, excellent source of protein and reduce low cholesterol due to its high soluble fiber content. They contain healthy polyphenols and may reduce several cardiovascular disease risk factors, making it an excellent ingredient for the Indian healthy diet after Angioplasty
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[Also Read: Angioplasty vs Open Heart Surgery]
