Food is one of the most important parts of life. Every human needs food intake every day to get the energy to do various activities. Food is also one of the factors that can help maintain your body's health. An unhealthy diet can certainly increase the risk of various diseases such as obesity, diabetes, to heart failure.

In several studies, it has been discovered that consuming processed foods, fast food, or foods containing saturated fats such as red meat can increase the risk of heart-related diseases. According to a recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, foods such as eggs, sweet drinks, fried foods, and processed meats can increase the risk of heart failure by 72%. These types of foods are known to increase abdominal fat which leads to a high risk of heart failure.

The opposite is found in those who prefer to consume healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, and fish. The diet that is often referred to as “plant-based diet” is known to reduce the risk of heart failure by 41%.

Given the importance of diet for body health, it's time for you to change your diet for the better. All types of food can be eaten with reasonable portions and not excessive. Maintaining a balanced diet and increasing consumption of vegetables and fruits can be the key to your health.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Pixabay

Source(s):

• Lara, K.M., Levitan, E.B., Gutierrez, O.M., et all (2019). Dietary Patterns and Incident Heart Failure in U.S. Adults Without Known Coronary Disease. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2019.01.067.
• Medical News Today - Plant-based diet cuts heart failure risk by over 40 percent (2019). https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325011.php, May 7, 2019.