Cardiologist reveals the five ‘healthy’ foods he would never eat

A top cardiologist has revealed five seemingly healthy foods he avoids due to potential negative health effects; some of them surprisingly made it onto his list.

California-based Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj said many people assume that seed oils, ‘diet’ products, flavored yoghurts, protein bars and vegetable chips are healthier alternatives to conventional oils or full-fat products.

But the health expert argues that these products are not always better, and in some cases they may actually be worse, despite lower calories.

Dr Bhojraj points out this is because some diet products contain synthetic additives, which have been linked to a range of health problems, including digestive difficulties, heart problems and even cancer.

This means that these products fall into the category of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) as they have been significantly modified from their original form and contain added artificial ingredients, sweeteners, preservatives, emulsifiers and sweeteners instead of all natural ingredients.

seed oils

Dr Bhojraj said that seed oils were first on the ‘won’t eat’ list.

Refined seed oils such as canola, soybean and corn oil can oxidize when heated, potentially causing inflammation in arteries and cells, according to the heart specialist.

This can cause arteries to narrow, plaques to rupture, and blood vessels to weaken, leading to a number of serious conditions such as heart attack, stroke, and aneurysm.

Therefore Dr Bhojraj in question On her Instagram account, she replaced processed seed oils with healthier options like olive oil, avocado oil, beef tallow and grass-fed ghee.

The debate about seed oils has been plagued by conflicting scientific studies and the controversy of Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. It intensified with well-known people such as contributing to the discussion.

Organizations such as the American Heart Association and researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital emphasize that replacing saturated fats with polyunsaturated fats from seed oils can lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and potentially reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Experts argue that omega-6 fatty acids, commonly found in seed oils, do not significantly increase inflammation. A meta-analysis of 30 randomized controlled trials concluded that increasing dietary omega-6 intake did not have a significant effect on inflammation.

However, some studies suggest that high omega-6/omega-3 ratios may increase inflammation and potentially contribute to chronic diseases.

RFK Jr has been vocal in his criticism of seed oils. He says they ‘poison us’ and advocates removing them from food products.

Diet and zero sugar foods and drinks

The cardiologist warned that in so-called “diet” or “zero sugar” foods, artificial sweeteners are added to remove calories from real sugar but retain the sweet taste of the product.

These artificial sweeteners, which include aspartame (sold as Equal) and sucralose (sold as Stevia), can mess with the body’s insulin response and increase sugar cravings.

This can lead to a number of health problems, including weight gain, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

A 2023 study in Nature Medicine linked the artificial sweetener erythritol to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke and showed that it may increase the risk of blood clot formation.

Meanwhile, a 2022 review published in the BMJ found that consuming artificial sweeteners was associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

The study found a 9 percent increase in the risk of all cardiovascular disease events and an 18 percent increase in the risk of stroke, especially among high-density consumers.

Dr Bhojraj recommended opting for natural sweeteners like fruit, dates or raw honey instead.

Flavored yoghurts

In some cases more sugar is added to ‘low-fat’ yoghurts to compensate for the loss of taste and texture resulting from the removal of fat (stock image)

Flavored yoghurts often contain more sugar than desserts, despite their health-conscious promotion, Dr Bhojraj said.

A typical 150-gram (five-ounce) serving of flavored yogurt can contain 15 to 25 grams of sugar, which equals about four to six teaspoons.

In some cases, more sugar is added to ‘low-fat’ yoghurts to compensate for the loss of taste and texture caused by the removal of fat.

By comparison, a half cup of vanilla ice cream typically contains 14 to 17 grams of sugar.

Yogurts also contain an ingredient that researchers believe is becoming increasingly concerning: emulsifiers.

Additives such as xanthan gum and soy lecithin are used in foods to hold ingredients together and give foods a smooth texture.

But growing studies show they can harm the gut microbiome, causing gas, bloating, gut changes, and cancer-related inflammation.

President of the American Gastroenterological Association, Dr. ‘Chronic inflammation leads to colon cancer, and I suspect this is transformative in this new rise in young people getting colon cancer,’ Maria Abreu previously told the Daily Mail.

‘One of the things that has changed so dramatically in our food supply is the addition of emulsifiers.’

Dr Bhojraj said he prefers authentic or plain Greek yoghurt (without emulsifiers) topped with berries and cinnamon.

protein bars

California-based Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj said that seed oils are at the top of his list

Protein bars are loved by tens of millions of Americans, who reach for them post-workout or as a snack.

However, Dr Bhojraj called them ‘sweets in disguise’ and pointed out that most of them were high in sugar.

It’s also often made with seed oils and syrups, which can cause bloating and digestive problems, he said.

A 2019 survey by the group Safefood found that many ‘high protein’ bars sold in Ireland were highly processed, with almost 40 per cent listing chocolate as the main ingredient and many containing high levels of saturated fat, salt or added sugar.

There is no consistent evidence that healthy people benefit from consuming protein above recommended levels through these bars, the report said.

Meanwhile, a 2024 report from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) warned that many protein bars in the US market are overly processed and contain significant amounts of added sugar and artificial sweeteners.

The report advised consumers to be skeptical of ‘healthy food’ claims on packaging and to read ingredient labels carefully.

For a healthier alternative, Dr Bhojraj recommended naturally protein-rich snacks such as nuts or boiled eggs.

vegetable chips

He added that even ‘vegetable chips’ may not be as healthy as they seem because they are often fried in the same refined oils as conventional chips, including seed oils, which he warns against.

Instead, she suggested baking sweet potato wedges or roasting chickpeas at home for a nutritious crunch.

Dr Bhojraj emphasized that dietary choices are about long-term health, not ‘perfection’.

He explained that years of medical experience have shown him the effects of chronic inflammation on the heart, metabolism, and brain.

‘Functional medicine is about awareness,’ he said in his post.

‘When you understand how foods signal your biology, your choices become much clearer.’