Heart Surgeon Who Survived a Heart Attack Shares His Rules
Dr. Jeremy London, a cardiovascular surgeon with over 25 years of experience, shares simple shopping and eating rules he follows after his own heart attack.
Dr. Jeremy London, a cardiovascular surgeon with over 25 years of experience, shares simple shopping and eating rules he follows after his own heart attack.
Cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Jeremy London, who has been in the field for over 25 years, experienced a heart attack himself about four years ago. He says this experience prompted him to pay special attention to his diet and food choices for his family.
"Choosing foods for every meal directly affects how much energy you'll have during the day," Dr. London told CNBC. His advice is based on simple rules that anyone can apply when going to the store.
One of the key principles he follows is how he navigates the store. He spends about 80% of his time on the perimeter, where fresh foods are located, and no more than a fifth of his time in the central aisles with processed foods. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of choosing foods with shorter shelf lives. "The longer the shelf life of a food, the shorter your life," Dr. London warns.
Dr. London divides his shopping list into five key categories: fruits, vegetables, fiber, protein, and healthy fats. For vegetables, he regularly buys broccoli, bell peppers, spinach, carrots, sweet potatoes, and cucumbers. For fruits, he chooses berries, bananas, apples, mangoes, and oranges.
For fiber intake, his list includes oats, quinoa, lentils, beans, and chia seeds. He gets his protein from turkey, chicken, salmon, cod, Greek yogurt, and eggs. "Protein is crucial because it maintains muscle mass and provides satiety, which prevents the need for snacks between meals," he explains.
He uses extra virgin olive oil, avocado, and various nuts as sources of healthy fats. According to him, these foods strengthen the heart, reduce inflammation, and allow for better absorption of certain vitamins.
Dr. London warns against a diet high in ultra-processed foods and notes that his family almost never buys hot dogs, cured meats, sodas, white bread, pastries, donuts, cakes, or alcohol. He also advises checking labels rather than relying on marketing claims on the front of the package. "My rule is simple: the shorter the ingredient list, the better," Dr. London concludes.
