A diet high in salt, added sugar, saturated fat, trans fat, and ultra-processed foods may increase cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, abnormal blood lipids, and excess body weight. Therefore, in addition to choosing beneficial foods, recognizing foods that are bad for heart health and proactively limiting them is also important.
It is worth noting that a single food does not immediately cause heart disease. Risk is mainly associated with long-term dietary patterns, portion sizes, and the total amount of nutrients consumed each day. The American Heart Association (AHA) currently recommends prioritizing minimally processed foods and reducing added sugar, sodium, and saturated fat as part of a heart-healthy diet.
What Are Foods That Are Bad for Heart Health?
Foods that are bad for heart health is a commonly used term for foods or food groups that, when consumed frequently or in large amounts, may make a diet higher in sodium, added sugar, saturated fat, trans fat, or calories than needed.
Groups that deserve particular attention include:
- Foods high in salt and sodium.
- Foods high in saturated fat.
- Foods containing trans fat.
- Foods and drinks high in added sugar.
- Processed and ultra-processed foods.
- Processed meats and certain fried foods.
- Alcohol and stimulants that should be consumed cautiously.
The World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends limiting foods high in unhealthy fats, free sugars, and sodium while prioritizing minimally processed and unprocessed foods.
Read more: Heart-Healthy Foods: What Should You Eat to Protect Your Heart?
1. Foods High in Salt and Sodium
This is a group that deserves particular attention, especially for people with high blood pressure or cardiovascular risk.
Common foods that may contain high amounts of sodium include:
- Processed meats such as sausages, deli meats, and bacon.
- Canned foods, instant noodles, and ready-made meals.
- Salty snacks and crackers.
- Packaged broths, ready-made seasonings, and sauces.
- Soy sauce, fish sauce, and other sauces when used excessively.
High dietary sodium intake can increase blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The WHO recommends that adults consume less than 2 g of sodium per day, equivalent to less than 5 g of salt per day.
It is not only the salt added at the table that matters. A significant amount of sodium may come from processed foods and seasonings used during cooking.
2. Foods High in Saturated Fat
Not all fats are harmful. The important issue is the type and amount of fat consumed.
Saturated fat is commonly found in:
- Fatty cuts of meat.
- Animal fat and skin.
- Butter, lard, and cream.
- Some full-fat dairy products.
- Certain pastries, cookies, and processed foods.
High intake of saturated fat can contribute to a less heart-healthy dietary pattern and adversely affect cardiovascular risk factors. The AHA recommends replacing sources of saturated fat with unsaturated fats whenever possible.
Therefore, rather than simply focusing on “eating less fat,” it is more useful to consider where the fat comes from and how it fits into the overall diet.
3. Foods Containing Trans Fat
Industrial trans fat is a type of fat that should be particularly limited.
It may be found in some:
- Fried foods.
- Commercially produced pastries.
- Packaged cookies and crackers.
- Certain baked or processed foods.
- Products made with partially hydrogenated fats.
The WHO recommends eliminating industrially produced trans fat from the diet because it is not necessary for a healthy diet.
When buying packaged foods, check the ingredient list rather than relying only on the product name or marketing claims on the package.
4. Foods and Drinks High in Added Sugar
Added sugar is commonly found in:
- Sugar-sweetened soft drinks.
- Milk tea and other sweetened beverages.
- Energy drinks.
- Cakes and pastries.
- Candy and high-sugar chocolate.
- Certain breakfast cereals, milk products, and sweetened beverages.
High intake of added sugar can increase total calorie intake and contribute to weight gain, obesity, and metabolic problems associated with cardiovascular risk.
The WHO recommends that free sugars account for less than 10% of total daily energy intake, while reducing intake to around 5% or less may provide additional health benefits.
One important point is that fruit juice can also contain significant amounts of free sugars, so not every fruit-based beverage should automatically be considered equivalent to eating whole fruit.
5. Ultra-Processed Foods
Ultra-processed foods often contain numerous ingredients added during manufacturing and may simultaneously be high in sodium, added sugar, or saturated fat.
Common examples include:
- Instant noodles.
- Ready-to-eat frozen meals.
- Packaged snacks.
- Commercial cookies and pastries.
- Certain processed meats.
- Sugar-sweetened beverages.
The AHA notes that many ultra-processed foods are high in saturated fat, added sugar, and salt. High consumption of ultra-processed foods has also been associated with a higher risk of heart disease in observational studies. However, not all processed foods are the same, and not every processed food needs to be completely eliminated.
The key is to prioritize less processed foods and carefully read nutrition and ingredient labels.
6. Processed Meats and Fried Foods
Sausages, deli meats, bacon, and certain other processed meat products may contain both high amounts of salt and fat.
Meanwhile, fried foods are often energy-dense and may contain substantial amounts of fat, particularly when inappropriate oils are used or oil is reused repeatedly.
The WHO recommends limiting processed foods, fried foods, and products containing industrial trans fats.
This does not mean that every fried food or processed product must be completely eliminated. What matters is not allowing them to become frequent foods or make up a large proportion of the overall diet.
Stimulants That May Not Be Beneficial for Heart Health
When learning about stimulants that may not be beneficial for heart health, many people think only of tobacco. However, the use of stimulants or stimulating beverages should be considered based on the amount consumed and each person’s health status.
In particular, people with cardiovascular disease or arrhythmias should discuss the use of caffeine, nicotine, and other stimulant products with a healthcare professional.
Regarding alcohol, the 2026 AHA dietary guidance does not recommend that people who do not drink alcohol start drinking for health purposes; people who do drink should limit their intake.
What Should People With Heart Disease Avoid Eating?
If you have heart disease, the question “What should people with heart disease avoid eating?” does not have one universal list of foods that everyone must completely avoid.
However, it is particularly important to limit:
- Foods high in salt and sodium.
- Foods high in saturated fat or trans fat.
- Foods and drinks high in added sugar.
- Ultra-processed foods.
- Processed meats.
- Frequently consumed fried foods.
- Alcohol or stimulants that are inappropriate for an individual’s health condition.
If a person also has high blood pressure, diabetes, abnormal blood lipids, kidney disease, or heart failure, the diet may need to be adjusted individually. Therefore, avoid adopting a strict elimination diet without considering nutritional needs or medical treatment recommendations.
What Should People With Cardiovascular Disease Avoid Eating, and How Should They Make Changes?
Instead of simply creating a list of “forbidden foods,” a more practical approach is to reduce frequency, reduce portions, and make substitutions.
For example:
- Reduce salty foods → use less salt when cooking and limit dipping sauces.
- Reduce fatty meats → choose more appropriate protein sources.
- Reduce sugary drinks → choose water or unsweetened beverages.
- Reduce fried foods → switch to steaming, boiling, baking, grilling, or cooking with less oil.
- Reduce ultra-processed foods → increase the proportion of whole or minimally processed foods.
In this way, the goal of determining what people with cardiovascular disease should avoid eating is not to eliminate as many foods as possible, but to build a higher-quality dietary pattern.
Read more: Causes of Heart Disease: Key Risk Factors to Know
Do Heart-Healthy Foods and Blood Pressure-Friendly Foods Need to Replace Them?
Yes. When reducing foods that are less beneficial, they should also be replaced with appropriate choices so that the diet does not become nutritionally inadequate.
A heart-healthy dietary pattern generally emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, appropriate protein sources, and unsaturated fats. The AHA’s 2026 guidance also emphasizes minimally processed foods, vegetables and fruits, whole grains, healthy protein sources, and unsaturated fats.
This also helps distinguish between two issues: “foods that are bad for heart health” are foods or food groups that should be limited, while specific replacement choices should be determined based on the overall diet and an individual’s health status.
When Should You Have a Cardiovascular Health Checkup?
Nutrition is an important factor, but it cannot replace assessment of cardiovascular risk factors.
You should consider a health checkup if you have factors such as:
- High blood pressure.
- Abnormal blood glucose or blood lipid levels.
- Overweight or obesity.
- Smoking.
- A family history of cardiovascular disease.
- Symptoms such as chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, or fainting.
In particular, if you experience severe chest pain, significant shortness of breath, fainting, or other symptoms suggestive of an acute cardiovascular emergency, seek urgent medical evaluation rather than relying only on dietary changes at home.
Foods that are bad for heart health should not necessarily be understood as foods that are “strictly forbidden.” More importantly, control their frequency and quantity, especially foods high in salt, added sugar, saturated fat, trans fat, and ultra-processed foods.
If you are wondering what people with heart disease should avoid eating or what foods should be limited in cardiovascular disease, focus on reducing unfavorable nutritional factors and replacing them with more appropriate choices.
A heart-healthy diet should be considered as part of overall health, together with blood pressure, blood glucose, blood lipid management, physical activity, and cardiovascular function assessment when necessary.
