What is the suggested grocery strategy replacement for relying on pre-packaged deli turkey slices for heart-conscious eating?

Look for chicken or turkey breasts that have been roasted whole and sliced in-house.

Cardiovascular specialists advise a strategic shift away from highly processed deli slices because, even when made from poultry like turkey or chicken, they often retain the same high sodium load used for preservation purposes as red meat counterparts. The recommended alternative involves purchasing the protein source in its least processed form—whole roasted chicken or turkey breasts—and then slicing them freshly in-house. This approach allows the shopper to completely bypass the added sodium, nitrates, and other processing chemicals inherent in pre-packaged slices, aligning better with the goal of consuming fresh, unprocessed protein sources like fish or plain poultry.