‘If you want to never have a sudden heart attack,’ a diabetolog recommends removing ‘these five makes from your diet’ | Health News

4 min readNew DelhiMar 13, 2026 06:00 AM Heart disease has become increasingly common in India. According to a 2020 study published in the National Library of Medicine, “Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) strike Indians a decade earlier than the Western population.2 For us Indians, particular causes of concern in CVD are early age of onset, rapid progression and high mortality rate. Indians are known to have the highest coronary artery disease (CAD) rates, and the conventional risk factors fail to explain this increased risk.”
The roots are planted years earlier, often through daily dietary habits. Small, repeated food choices can gradually influence inflammation, insulin resance, visceral fat accumulation, and arterial health, sometimes without obvious warning signs. As such, Dr Brijmohan Arora, a diabetolog from New Delhi, recently highlighted five major dietary makes that may silently increase the risk of heart attacks. In an Instagram video, he stated, “If you want to never have a sudden heart attack, you must remove these five makes from your diet. These five makes silently damage your heart from within, and symptoms often appear only at the time of a heart attack.”
In the caption accompanying his post, he wrote:
“Most heart attacks don’t start in the heart.
They start in your kitchen.
❌ Seed oils
❌ Ultra-processed / packet food
❌ Sugary drinks
❌ Refined grains (bread, pasta, white flour)
❌ Processed meats
These silently drive insulin resance, inflammation, visceral fat and arterial damage.
If you fix metabolism, you reduce risk.”
While the message is direct and urgent, it also raises important questions about nutritional nuance, portion size, overall dietary patterns, and individual risk factors.
So, how strong is the scientific evidence linking the led foods directly to heart attack risk?
Dr Jagadish Hiremath, a public health intellectual, tells , “The scientific evidence linking diet to cardiovascular disease is strong, but it is important to understand that risk comes from overall dietary patterns rather than single foods in isolation. Large population studies and meta-analyses consently show that high intake of processed meats and refined carbohydrates is associated with increased risk of heart disease due to higher levels of saturated fats, sodium, preservatives, and rapid blood sugar spikes that promote metabolic dysfunction.”

When it comes to seed oils, he notes that the evidence is more nuanced. “Most clinical data suggest that replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats, including those found in commonly used vegetable oils, can actually reduce LDL cholesterol and cardiovascular risk when consumed in moderation. Problems arise when these oils are repeatedly reheated or consumed primarily through ultra-processed foods.”
Quantity, cooking method, and overall dietary balance matter significantly. Dr Hiremath says that occasional consumption within an otherwise balanced diet “is unlikely to meaningfully increase heart attack risk, whereas frequent intake combined with a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and obesity substantially raises risk over time.”
Role of insulin resance and chronic inflammation in the development of heart disease 
Insulin resance and chronic low-grade inflammation are central drivers of modern cardiovascular disease. “When the body becomes resant to insulin, blood glucose and insulin levels remain persently elevated, which damages the blood vessel lining, promotes plaque formation, and accelerates atherosclerosis. At the same time, chronic inflammation destabilises exing plaques, making them more likely to rupture and trigger heart attacks,” states Dr Hiremath. Story continues below this ad
The encouraging aspect is that both processes are highly modifiable. Dr Hiremath mentions that dietary improvements “such as reducing refined sugars, limiting ultra-processed foods, increasing fibre intake, and incorporating healthy fats from nuts, seeds, and fatty fish can significantly improve insulin sensitivity within weeks to months.” Weight reduction, regular physical activity, and adequate sleep further amplify these benefits.
DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.