06\ HEART DISEASE!

CVD is a killer, but few of us will seriously have to worry about it. Common sense, and a new breakfast special, can save the day

The Fear Opting to stay in on a Saturday night can’t save you now – not with steak dinners and TV binges raising your risk of heart disease. Feeling down about that? Don’t. A study in the European Heart Journal found that depression doubles your odds of dying from CVD. You’ve one foot in the grave without leaving the house.

The Truth Although clogged arteries still see off a quarter of Brits annually, CVD’S morbid grip on your heart is loosening. “The UK death rate from CVD has declined by more than three quarters since the ’60s,” says Lucy Martin, senior nurse at the British Heart Foundation. But this still amounts to 530 heart attacks and 435 Cvd-related deaths a day. And while a heart attack is no longer the one-way ticket it used to be, it’s far from a smooth journey. “More people are surviving, which means more are living with aftereffects,” says Martin. But such a fate is far from nailed on. In fact, a morning indulgence could help stave off your demise.

The Plan Doctors spent decades vilifying cholesterol, but new research has found that the cholesterol we eat barely impacts the levels in our blood. Eggs, then, are back on the menu, especially since Tufts University found the lutein in yolks decreases heart attack and stroke risk. When eaten with vegetables, they also increase carotenoid absorption, which further protects against CVD. Harley Street nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert advises adding avocado (rich in cardiocurative oleic acid), wilted kale and balsamic vinegar to your hearty scramble.

“Heart attacks are no longer the one-way ticket they used to be”