Just as bigger isn’t always better; more doesn’t always trump less.
Especially when it comes to medication.
In fact, new criticism was voiced by a number of leading heart doctors at the annual scientific sessions of the American College of Cardiology earlier this week.
They said that too many drug types to combat
heart disease could actually be compromising your heart health.
Especially because the most common type of heart medication, statins, are often prescribed without good evidence, says
Reuters.
So eliminating certain drugs could even improve your heart health prognosis – but you’ll need your doctor to decide which of the pills to eliminate.
Boost your heart health the natural way
If this has scared you slightly, there are some natural remedies you can implement today, before you’re even at risk of heart disease.
“By eating well, quitting smoking and keeping active, you can help to protect your heart [from heart disease],” explains the
BBC News.
Cut the red meat to boost your heart health
One way to ‘eat well’ is to switch to a plant-based diet, says
WebMD.
This doesn’t mean you need to cut meat from your diet completely, but you should definitely increase the amount of meat substitutes such as soy or tofu in your diet.
One of the basic tenets of the
Mediterranean diet, which allows small amounts of poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products, is that it relies on almost no red meat.
You should also make sure that your diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains.
WebMD confirms that eating a healthy combination diet, which is a traditional vegetarian diet combined with nuts, soy, and fibre is all it takes to decrease your total cholesterol and LDL "bad" cholesterol by up to 35%.
So make this simple diet switch and you could kiss your heart medication goodbye!
Just remember that’s it’s not about the food alone, as a true Mediterranean diet is focused on leisurely dining and regular physical activity, reminds
FSP Health.
Your doctor should be suitably impressed the next time you go for a check -up and may cut some of the heart medication from your bedside table.