Prevent Heart Disease Before It Starts: A Cardiologist’s Guide to Heart-Healthy Eating

Heart disease remains one of the deadliest health threats worldwide, and many people don’t realize the extent that daily diet choices contribute to its development. Dr. Philip Ovadia, a renowned cardiologist and author of the international bestseller Stay Off My Operating Table, believes that simple but powerful dietary changes can dramatically shift your health future.

“The problem is, we wait for symptoms instead of preventing them,” says Dr. Ovadia. He explains that common eating habits such as consuming processed sugars, refined oils, packaged pastries, and sugary drinks, can create chronic inflammation in the body. Over time, this inflammation damages blood vessels and leads to heart disease.

According to Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics, over 13,000 people die each year in Israel alone from heart disease and stroke. What is especially troubling is that many of these individuals had no genetic predisposition- they simply followed unhealthy eating habits for too long.

What does Dr. Ovadia recommend instead? A shift to a whole-food, unprocessed diet focused on fresh vegetables, nuts, legumes, extra virgin olive oil, and fatty fish like salmon and sardines. These foods are rich in essential omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation and support heart function.

“Rather than ending up on the operating table for bypass surgery, people can make a small, accessible change,” Dr. Ovadia concludes. “It’s not just possible- it’s within reach for everyone.”