{"id":599523,"date":"2026-04-22T12:11:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T12:11:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/599523\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T12:11:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T12:11:08","slug":"7-foods-cardiologists-love-that-wont-bore-you-to-tears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/599523\/","title":{"rendered":"7 foods\u00a0cardiologists\u00a0love that won’t\u00a0bore\u00a0you to tears"},"content":{"rendered":"

French fries and bacon are the two stubborn cravings that Dr. Evan Shlofmitz<\/a>, an interventional\u00a0cardiologist with Catholic Health<\/a>, hears about most often from patients struggling to kick unhealthy habits.<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s a big problem because both foods have high levels of saturated fat, sodium and trans fats, which increase LDL (\u201cbad\u201d) cholesterol, raise blood pressure and contribute to plaque buildup in arteries.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t have to give up bacon and fries entirely, Shlofmitz said, but occasionally swapping them for healthier foods or changing the way you prepare them can benefit your heart.<\/p>\n

Go for plantain chips instead of potato chips, advises Dr. Evan Shlofmitz, an interventional\u00a0cardiologist with Catholic Health.<\/p>\n

\u201cAir frying still [allows for] foods that taste good and [are] enjoyable to snack on, [but] in a much healthier way,\u201d Shlofmitz, director of intravascular imaging at St. Francis Hospital<\/a>, told The Post.<\/p>\n

Here are Shlofmitz\u2019s seven simple but not bland swaps that can collectively make a big difference in your cholesterol, blood sugar, weight and blood pressure \u2014 especially if you pair them with at least 20 minutes of activity three or four times a week.<\/p>\n

Plantain chips<\/p>\n

You love potato chips \u2014 but have you tried going bananas instead?<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you want chips, just replacing the fried potato chips with plantain chips is a very simple swap,\u201d Shlofmitz advised.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey tend to be less processed,\u201d he added. \u201cThere\u2019s also a much higher fiber content compared with potato chips, and that will help with feeling full [more quickly].\u201d<\/p>\n

Other options are air-popped popcorn or chips cooked in healthier oils.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re unsure of the healthfulness of a food, Shlofmitz recommends carefully reading the label and choosing the product with the ingredients you understand.<\/p>\n

Cinnamon coffee<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of my patients start their morning with coffee and [add] cream, sugar and all sorts of nutrient-poor additives that are really just to improve the flavor,\u201d Shlofmitz said. \u201cJust adding something like cinnamon will give you the flavor without having to add as much cream, sugar [or] other additives.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said it could make a \u201csignificant impact\u201d over the course of a year.<\/p>\n

Seasoned olive oil<\/p>\n

Creamy dressings are out \u2014 and olive oil topped with herbs is in.<\/p>\n

You can \u201cstill get all the benefit of the flavor,\u201d Shlofmitz said, while \u201csignificantly cutting down on the saturated fat as well as sodium.\u201d<\/p>\n

Olive oil is generally healthier than creamy dressings because of its heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and antioxidants. Kerim \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

And flavored olive oil isn\u2019t just good on salads. It can be drizzled over soups, roasted vegetables, pasta and bread.<\/p>\n

Miso paste<\/p>\n

A lot of cardiac patients are advised to avoid salt, Shlofmitz said, especially those with high blood pressure or heart failure.<\/p>\n

He suggests swapping with miso paste, which has a \u201cgood, strong flavor\u201d and less sodium, when cooking.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s versatile and can be used on pasta, salmon, veggies, in soups and even in butter.<\/p>\n

Frozen fruit pops<\/p>\n

If you love dessert, it\u2019s important not to dismiss those cravings because that\u2019s not sustainable. Instead, focus on portion control and healthier alternatives.<\/p>\n

For example, find a chocolate bar with less sugar and processing. Select one that contains five or six ingredients instead of 25. Choose cookies where you can pronounce all the ingredients.<\/p>\n

And if you love ice cream, consider a frozen fruit pop that is all-natural, with no artificial colors or flavors and little to no sugar.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s something that my kids love, and I enjoy at home,\u201d Shlofmitz said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t be eating a box of it a day, but when you\u2019re having that craving, it makes a big difference compared to the traditional ice cream.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rainbow trout<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m vegan, but I never push plant-based diets on my patients,\u201d Shlofmitz said. \u201cI think plant-based is very healthy, but there are a lot of ways to have a heart-healthy diet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carnivores should consider subbing \u201cunsung\u201d fish like sardines, wild salmon, Atlantic mackerel and rainbow trout in place of bacon, sausage, steak and red meat. Red or\u00a0processed\u00a0meats\u00a0are linked to higher cardiovascular risk.<\/p>\n

Rainbow trout is a satisfying substitute for red and processed meats, which can increase cardiovascular risk. Getty Creative<\/p>\n

If fish makes you crabby, go for beans, lentils or tofu.<\/p>\n

If you can\u2019t give up steak, just try not to eat it every night and remember to make smart pairings.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou want to make sure it\u2019s not in isolation, and you\u2019re adding green vegetables,\u201d Shlofmitz said.<\/p>\n

Multi-grain bread<\/p>\n

Carbs don\u2019t need to be banished from your plate to maintain a healthy diet. Certain breads provide essential fiber, nutrients and sustained energy.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne hundred percent whole-grain or sprouted multi-grain options are superior because they provide more fiber, which helps lower cholesterol, stabilize blood sugar and promote satiety \u2014 key for heart health and weight management,\u201d said Shlofmitz, who suggests toasting it with avocado, nut butter or hummus.<\/p>\n

\u201cRefined breads can spike blood sugar and offer little nutritional value,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

To confirm a bread\u2019s nutritional power, check if enriched flour is the first ingredient on the label. If it is, put the bag back on the shelf.<\/p>\n

If you struggle to make these swaps or have trouble meeting your nutritional goals, Shlofmitz advises meeting with a registered dietitian to devise a long-term plan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"French fries and bacon are the two stubborn cravings that Dr. Evan Shlofmitz, an interventional\u00a0cardiologist with Catholic Health,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":599524,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[22368,17112,155328,168127,18211,3286,222612,97,8982,28508,269,195799,27501,195800,673],"class_list":["post-599523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-bacon","tag-coffee","tag-dessert","tag-desserts","tag-fish","tag-food-drink","tag-french-fries","tag-health","tag-heart","tag-meat","tag-nutrition","tag-presented-by-catholic-health","tag-salt","tag-the-pursuit-of-wellness","tag-wellness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/599523","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=599523"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/599523\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/599524"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=599523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=599523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=599523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}