Certain foods and hidden ingredients prevalent in our diets may contribute to heart disease—avoiding them can add up to much more than an ounce of prevention.

Recently, Li Keqiang, the former Chinese Premier, unexpectedly passed away due to cardiovascular disease, sparking public concern about cardiovascular health. What precisely constitutes cardiovascular diseases? How do they develop? How can we prevent their onset through our diet? In this article, we will delve into these questions in detail.

Types and Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases stand as the leading cause of death globally, claiming approximately 18 million lives each year—nearly twice the toll of cancer. Cardiovascular diseases typically fall into two major categories: those manifesting in the heart, such as myocardial infarction (heart attack), and those affecting the brain, like ischemic or hemorrhagic strokes.