Heart surgeon warns

A veteran heart surgeon, Dr. Philip Ovadia, has warned that refined carbohydrates may play a major role in chronic inflammation and plaque buildup in arteries, both of which are strongly linked to heart attacks.

He explained that these foods can contribute to insulin resistance and a long-term inflammatory response in the body, which may gradually damage cardiovascular health.

According to Ovadia, doctors often see the consequences directly in surgery, where unstable arterial plaque can suddenly block blood flow and trigger serious or fatal heart events.

He emphasized that the danger is not always obvious, since many foods marketed as “healthy” still contain high levels of refined carbohydrates.

Examples he highlighted include items such as breakfast cereals, bagels, rice cakes, flavored yogurts, instant oatmeal, fruit juice, crackers, granola, and potato chips, all of which can raise blood sugar quickly.

Refined carbohydrates are heavily processed foods stripped of fiber, causing faster digestion and repeated spikes in insulin, which over time may increase inflammation and the risk of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

As an alternative, he recommends focusing on whole, minimally processed foods such as vegetables, fish, nuts, olive oil, legumes, and quality proteins, similar to a Mediterranean-style diet, which is widely associated with better heart health outcomes.

He also stresses that heart disease is not caused by a single food alone, but rather a combination of diet, lifestyle, genetics, and habits such as exercise, stress management, and sleep quality.