Maybe we should put the bacon down.
An eye-opening new study finds that we insist on overeating bad foods that endanger our health.
The red-flag foods we can't resist include bacon, bologna and other processed meats; salt-laden foods; and red meat.
The study says too much, or not enough, of 10 key foods leads to nearly half the deaths of Americans from heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
It’s an avoidable fate.
Dr. John Higgins of Houston says to get off the junk food – starting with switching to lean protein, like chicken and fish -- and to get off the couch, adding to some exercise.
"Good" foods that were under-eaten include: nuts and seeds, seafood rich in omega-3 fats including salmon and sardines; fruits and vegetables; and whole grains.
Higgins, a sports cardiologist at McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), also says to check for surprises in sugar content – such as fruit juices that seem healthy choices but have extra sweetener added.
U.S. government data shows at least 700,000 people died in 2012 from heart disease, strokes and diabetes. The 10 good foods that are skipped, and the bad foods we gobble up, combined to contribute to about 45 percent of those deaths, according to the study.
An analysis of national health surveys on eating habits found that most Americans didn't eat the recommended amounts of the foods studied.