Heart surgeon Dr Philip Ovadia says that making one key change to your diet could help you avoid ending up on the operating table. And his advice makes a lot of sense
A top heart surgeon has revealed the one thing he advises people to cut from their diets to avoid ending up on his operating table. The British Heart Foundation reports that around 480 individuals die from heart or circulatory diseases daily, with 130 of them being under the age of 75.
More than 7.6 million Brits are living with heart and circulatory diseases, a figure predicted to rise by approximately one million in the next five years. This is partly due to our ageing population and improved survival rates from these conditions.
While factors like age and genetics significantly influence our risk of developing heart issues, lifestyle choices also play a crucial role.
In a snippet from Steven Bartlett’s podcast, Diary of a CEO, shared on TikTok, Dr Philip Ovadia – author of the health guide Stay off My Operating Table – highlighted that consuming a specific type of food can increase your chances of falling ill.
“What I really tried to look at [while writing my book] was, what are the common things amongst all those diets that will keep people metabolically healthy or make people metabolically healthy?” he said.
“It comes down to eating whole, real food. Elimination of processed food, I think, is the most important step if you want to get metabolically healthy.”
Dr Philip further explained that “within that framework” there are numerous ways to eat, whether that involves incorporating more meat into your meals or adopting a plant-based diet.
“When you really look at, what is the one commonality that we can point to that will predict the best success of being metabolically healthy, it’s eating real food,” he revealed.
“Eat the things that grow in the ground, and eat the things that eat the things that grow in the ground.”
What do health experts say about processed food?
A widely cited 2019 study published in Cell Metabolism found that people who ate ultra-processed foods consumed about 500 more calories per day and gained more weight compared to those on a minimally processed diet. The highly palatable nature and low satiety of UPFs contribute to overeating.
Meanwhile, research published in BMJ in 2019 linked diets high in ultra-processed foods to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
To head off conditions such as coronary heart disease, the NHS urges following healthy, balanced diet. That’s one that’s full to the brim with fresh fruit, veggies and whole grains.
You should also aim to limit your salt intake to six grams per day – roughly a teaspoonful – as overindulging can hike up your blood pressure. Likewise, keep an eye on your saturated fat consumption.
If you’re worried about your heart health, contact your GP immediately. There are no miracle ways to stay off the operating table, but hopefully Dr Philip Ovadia’s advice helps you.
