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Common Myths
Hyper people are more likely to have hypertension.
While stress causes a temporary rise in blood pressure, many calm, mellow people have high blood pressure while many "hyper" or jittery people do not. The "hyper" in hypertension (high blood pressure) refers not to personality but to excessive pressure placed on artery walls.
Beef is higher in cholesterol than fowl or seafood.
It all depends on the type and cut. Fish is generally a heart-healthier alternative to meats because it tends to be lower in overall and saturated fat and higher in heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats; but shellfish such as shrimp is high in cholesterol but low in saturated fat. And while most parts of chicken and turkey tend to have somewhat less cholesterol than beef, the real advantage of fowl is that they have a lower content of saturated fat than beef. Some beef cuts are actually lower in fat and cholesterol than others. If you want to eat beef, choose leaner cuts such as tenderloin, flank, top round, eye of round and top sirloin.
All fiber helps to prevent heart disease.
There are two types of fiber, but only one helps to lower cholesterol. Soluble fiber forms a gel in the intestines that binds bile acids so they are excreted through bowel movements instead of being absorbed into the bloodstream. Since bile acids are formed in the liver from cholesterol, the loss of bile acids in the stools forces the liver to convert more cholesterol to bile acids, thus lowering cholesterol levels. Good sources of soluble fiber are oat products, dried beans and peas, lentils, apples and citrus fruits; you should have at least 6.5 grams of soluble fiber each day. But insoluble fiber, found in whole-grain foods, cereals and wheat bran, soaks up water like a sponge, adding bulk and preventing constipation by making it easier for the intestine to move waste matter along your digestive tract. While it's also part of a healthy diet, insoluble fiber doesn't lower cholesterol levels.
Sex is not recommended for people who have heart disease.
Sexual intercourse exerts about as much strain on the heart as walking briskly up a couple flights of stairs. So within a month or so after a heart attack or uncomplicated heart surgery, you should feel free to resume the same forms of lovemaking that you found pleasing before. Remember to take your time, however, and not feel pressured.
Vegetable oils are heart-healthy.
It all depends on how they are processed and the type of oil. When you see the words "hydrogenated vegetable oil" or "partially hydrogenated vegetable oil" on food labels, it means that hydrogen is added to liquid, heart-healthier unsaturated fats to give them the firm texture of margarines. The bottom line: Unmodified vegetable oils lower cholesterol more than hydrogenated ones. Choose a tub margarine rather than a stick margarine, because tub margarines are less hydrogenated. Monounsaturated vegetable oils, such as olive and canola oils, are recommended in preference to polyunsaturated oils, like corn or safflower oils.
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