The New Year is finally here, and if one of your resolutions for 2024 was to eat better, here are a few things you should avoid for a healthier diet.

Sugary Drinks

Sodas, sports drinks, and extra sweet beverages can have a negative effect on your heart. Consuming too much can lead to high cholesterol and blood pressure. Water or tea are much healthier alternatives. If you’re craving something sweet, go for 100% juice, not a “juice drink” which only has anywhere from 5% – 10% juice. You can even add a little juice to some water to give it a sweeter taste.

Salt

Eating too much salt increases the risk of stroke and heart attack. Sometimes you don’t even know the amount you’re consuming. You might be careful about adding salt to what you prepare at home, but if you’re dining out, especially fast food, you have to watch what you eat. Look at labels when you’re out shopping and you would be surprised how much sodium is in certain foods, like condiments, bread, or dressings. Find the items that say “no salt added” or “low sodium” to help protect your heart.

High-fat Dairy

Butter and cream cheese might taste great, but they can do a number on your heart if you’re not careful. Consuming high fat dairy products can increase your risk of heart disease. This doesn’t mean you have to cut dairy out of your diet completely. There are low-fat and no-fat options when it comes to milk and cheeses. There are also other options to cook with besides butter, like different vegetable or seed oils.

Your heart health is very important, but so is your financial health. SeaComm’s partnership with GreenPath Financial Wellness can help you reach a brighter financial future. GreenPath provides SeaComm members with access to free one-on-one financial counseling, student loan counseling, debt management services and more. To learn more about how SeaComm’s partnership with GreenPath can help you, click here or call (877) 337-3399.