What Foods Can Cause Plaque Build Up in Arteries?

Clogged arteries are the number one cause of heart disease in the United States. The foods you eat can cause your arteries to become clogged with plaque, a dreadful mix of cholesterol, calcium, fat, cellular waste products and fibrin, which aids in blood clotting.

Animal Fats

• Cuts of meat that are high in fat are often high in unhealthy saturated fat and cholesterol that can clog arteries with plaque. Bacon, sausage, high-fat steak cuts like rib eye and chicken (with skin on) are big offenders.

Dairy

• Cheeses, cream, butter, whole milk and ice cream contain unhealthy doses of saturated fat and cholesterol, which can also clog arteries.

Baked Goods

• Baked goods are often made with partially-hydrogenated vegetable oils, which are high in artery-clogging trans-fats. Trans-fats are used to keep baked goods moist; they also cause arteries to clog and can contribute to heart attacks and strokes.

Fried Foods

• Many foods are fried in trans-fats and fats that are highly saturated because these types of fats last longer than more heart-healthy liquid varieties.

Cigarettes

• While not a food item, cigarette smoke has been shown to have a direct link to the degree in which arteries become plaque-lined and clogged, a condition known as atherosclerosis.