A new study from Spain has dropped a bombshell: the way you prepare your breakfast could be putting your heart at risk.
The research, published in the medical journal Nutrients, reveals some alarming facts about popular breakfast foods like toast and coffee.
The Culprit: Acrylamide
It all comes down to a chemical called acrylamide, which forms when starchy foods like bread, potatoes, and coffee are heated during cooking or brewing. Burning these foods results in even higher levels of this chemical. And, unfortunately, acrylamide has been linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and death from heart attacks or strokes.
The Alarming Statistics
The study found that exposure to acrylamide increases your risk of heart disease over the next decade by a staggering 47% to 67%. After analyzing numerous studies involving over 100,000 participants, the researchers concluded that this increased risk also leads to a higher chance of experiencing medical emergencies like heart attacks and strokes.
The Breakfast Foods to Watch Out For
Toast, coffee, and even burnt toast are all guilty of containing high levels of acrylamide. A single slice of toast can pack around 4.8 micrograms of the chemical, and that number doubles if it’s burnt. The average daily intake is estimated to be between 32.6 and 57 micrograms.
How Acrylamide Affects the Heart
Scientists are still trying to understand how acrylamide wreaks havoc on the heart, but one theory suggests that it encourages fat to gather in tissues, increasing the risk of heart issues.
What You Can Do to Reduce Your Risk
The good news is that there are ways to reduce your exposure to acrylamide. The NHS recommends cooking starchy foods to a “golden yellow colour” rather than brown, and opting for boiling or steaming over baking, toasting, roasting, or frying.
The Bottom Line
It’s time to rethink our breakfast habits and take our heart health seriously. By being aware of the risks and taking simple steps to reduce our exposure to acrylamide, we can lower our risk of heart disease and live healthier lives.