Medical doctors of all types, whether they are general practitioners or specialists, receive very little, if any, training in nutrition.
This is not a statement against doctors, it is merely fact.
It is unfortunate, however, that people not trained in nutrition...
Think they can or should be giving nutritional advice.
I am not trained in prescribing pharmaceuticals or chiropractic adjustments...
So I don't do either.
Medical doctors not trained in nutrition could be referring their clients to people that are.
If you're an MD, and you're reading this and screaming, "I refer my patients to a nutritionist!"...I don't doubt for a second that you do.
I am not painting every MD with the same brush here, just the MDs that have no business giving nutritional advice based on something they read in the news.
I'm talking about recommendations like margarine over butter, eating a vegan only diet, or avoiding fats.
These recommendations are dangerous and deadly, and to suggest that the same thing will work for every single person is equally treacherous.
This, however, blew my mind.
I saw an article on CNBC in early October 2025 that came from a cardiologist that has clearly learned from his experiences.
He's kept an open mind, and his observations have trumped the brain washing malarkey out there that "fats are bad" and "red meat will cause cardiovascular disease", and the rest of it.
When I went to read his article, "Cardiologist: 9 American Foods you 'couldn't pay me to eat' - after 20 years of treating heart attacks", I went in with the idea he would be talking about avoiding butter and red meat.
Instead, I had one of those experiences that always remind me that there are some really, really great doctors out there...and if you're an MD and reading this, you're probably one of them.
Let's take a look at the nine foods you couldn't pay Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj to eat along with his thoughts on each and what he chooses instead:
Quotes from Dr. Bhojraj are in italics with notes from myself as well.
1. Sugary Breakfast Cereals
"They look harmless. They're marketed with smiling cartoon mascots and sometimes even carry health claims. But most are essentially desserts in disguise. You might as well eat a glazed donut for breakfast"
He couldn't be more correct. These cereals cause a spike in your blood sugar, causing cardiovascular damage and the potential for insulin resistance, meaning your cells become resistant to insulin, leaving high blood sugar as the result.
"Eat this instead: Steel cut oats with berries and cinnamon. Real fiber, antioxidants, and stable energy"
2. Processed Deli Meats
"They're portable and convenient, but this sandwich staple comes with a dark side. Deli meats are often preserved with nitrates and nitrites, which can convert into carcinogenic compounds inside the body.
These substances don't just raise your cancer risk - they also elevate blood pressure and promote long term arterial damage. If your "meat" has a longer shelf life than your dog, your arteries are paying the price"
Nitrates and nitrites are converted into nitrosamines in cooking and the digestive process inside the human body. These are found in foods like corned beef and bacon, and a 2011 study linked hot dogs to a carcinogenic load similar to a pack of cigarettes!
This is why we process our milk fed pastured pork bacon without nitrates or nitrites, and I make corned beef from our 100% grass fed beef brisket the same way. Naturally brined with grey sea salt and no curing salts.
"Eat this instead: Roast your own turkey or chicken breast and slice it fresh."
3. Soda and energy drinks
"These beverages deliver a double blow to your system: spiking blood sugar, overworking your adrenal glands, and flooding your body with inflammatory compounds.
And the diet versions? Often worse. Artificial sweeteners can disrupt your gut microbiome, which plays a huge role in both metabolism and heart health. Not only do they age you faster, but they can make you feel worse while doing it."
A couple things I want to touch on here
Diet beverages (and artificial sweeteners) also cause weight gain and obesity, contrary to what they're names imply.
This is because the body tastes sweet, but there are no carbohydrates included. This causes the body to crave the carbs it didn't get when you had your diet whatever...this is why you might find yourself eating a bag of potato chips while you drink your diet soda.
And I would also add fruit juices to this list, particularly highly processed juices.
Fruit juice lacks fibre, and fibre slows the absorption of sugar in the body.
Fruit juices are just liquid sugar and can have detrimental effects on the cardiovascular system and can contribute to obesity.
"Eat this instead: Sparkling water* with lemon or iced herbal tea"
*I disagree with Dr. Sanjay on this one - carbonated drinks can be detrimental to bone health, so swapping one carbonated drink for another will have no positive benefit.
Whatever happened to good old fashioned water?
4. Deep-fried fast foods (and carnival snacks)
"Yes, they're delicious. But deep-fried foods like corn dogs, funnel cake, and French fries are cooked in industrial seed oils that oxidize at high temperatures, forming potentially toxic byproducts.
Those byproducts embed in your artery walls, promote plaque buildup, and raise your risk of hypertension, stroke, and heart attacks. I tell patients to imagine each fried bite as sandpaper on your arteries. It's not an exaggeration"
And don't forget deep fried fast foods like chicken (I'm looking at you KFC, Popeye's and Chick-Fil-A), donuts, taquitos, chimichangas, tortilla chips , onion rings, deep fried pickles, almost every North American "Chinese Food" like chicken balls and egg rolls...the list is seemingly endless.
I realize I've listed some very delicious foods here...sorry to be a party pooper, but do you trade your health and longevity for a few bites of harmful foods?
You can make some very delicious foods at home and you can render healthier cooking fat from our 100% grass fed beef (tallow) and our milk fed pastured pork (lard).
"Eat this instead: Oven baked options using olive oil and avocado oil"
5. White bread and refined carbs
"When you strip a food of its fiber, minerals and nutrients, you're left with a food that acts like sugar in the body. That includes white bread, crackers, and even many "multi-grain" imposters.
They break down quickly, leading to crashes, fat storage, and insulin resistance. Over time, that means higher risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease"
Simply put, white bread scores 100 on the glycemic index. That is the highest possible score, and is equivalent to white sugar and corn syrup!
"Eat this instead: 100% whole grain or sprouted grain bread*"
*Sprouted grain bread is really the best option here...whole grain breads can also be imposters and contain enriched white flour
6. Margarine and fake butter spreads
"Once marketed as a heart-healthy butter alternative, margarine turned out to be one of the biggest nutrition myths of the last century. Many versions still contain trans fats, which are chemically engineered to extend shelf life, but do real damage to your body.
Trans fats...cause arterial stiffness. Even in small doses, they harm the endothelial lining of your blood vessels"
I've been talking about this for the past 25 years - margarine is dangerous and deadly, even the brands that claim to be free of trans fats. Butter is cardioprotective and part of a healthy diet.
My brother is a medical doctor (more on him another time) and about 20 years ago I told him he was making bad diet recommendations, telling his patients to avoid eggs and to eat margarine instead of butter.
He was recommending "I Can't Believe it's Not Butter" to his patients (and our parents), and told me I was a f***ing idiot and would be lucky to work for him one day. I never accepted that offer of employment...haha!
"Eat this instead: Grass fed butter* or extra-virgin olive oil."
*Admittedly I nearly fell over when I saw this recommendation from a cardiologist. I have never seen a cardiologist or any other medical doctor recommend butter.
I am absolutely thrilled with this first in my life
7. Highly processed plant-based 'meats'
""Plant-based" doesn't always mean heart-healthy. Many meat substitutes are ultra-processed, filled with sodium, inflammatory oils, and synthetic additives like methylcellulose and soy protein isolate.
Just because something doesn't contain meat doesn't mean it's good for you. If it takes a chemistry degree to decode the label, it probably doesn't belong in your body."
This reiterates my position on the vegan diet - it could be called the "Sugar Addict's Diet", and I will go into this in another blog.
It is a diet made up primarily of carbohydrates.
Even quinoa, that is held up by vegan diet proponents as a protein rich food is high in carbs. To get 15 grams of protein from quinoa, you're also eating 45 grams of carbohydrates.
"Eat this instead: Lentils, beans, or minimally processed tofu"
Why not real meat, Doc? Eat meat, and if you're eating tofu, make sure it is organic only to avoid the glut of GMO soy in the food supply.
8. Canned soups with high sodium
"A single cup of canned soup can contain 80 to 100% of your daily sodium limit. Excess sodium raises blood pressure, strains the kidneys, and increases the risk of heart failure.
If you wouldn't drink a glass of seawater, think twice before sipping that overly salty soup"
Okay, maybe not the best analogy here, because sea salt is good for you, and nobody would drink a glass of seawater. It's more about the type of salt, mainly "food grade" or table salt and it's ingredients, and more on that in another blog.
I guess what I don't like is his using sea water - the exact place sea salt is derived from - as the devil in blood pressure and that is not the case.
He clearly agrees with me because he adds this...
"Eat this instead: homemade soup with fresh vegetables, herbs, and sea salt"
9. Flavoured Coffee Creamers
"That morning splash of creamer is often a chemical cocktail: hydrogenated oils, artificial flavours, and added sugars. It may seem small, but day after day, it adds up - promoting inflammation and arterial plaque before you've even left the house"
Anything hydrogenated is to be avoided at all costs! I'll write more about this in another blog, but consuming hydrogenated foods is a death wish through cardiovascular disease. Check your labels to make sure you're not eating any hydrogenated foods.
"Eat this instead: Unsweetened almond or oat milk with cinnamon or vanilla extract"
How about avoiding coffee altogether?
Dr. Sanjay concludes with (emphasis mine)...
"I'll never touch any of these foods, but you don't need to overhaul you entire diet overnight. Small swaps add up, and your bloodwork will prove it. And of course, consult your healthcare provider before making any drastic changes"
Making small changes is the way my clients succeed. If you attempt to make drastic changes all at once, your chances of success decrease significantly. The body gets addicted to things like coffee, sugar, and even your daily routine.
Baby steps to success!
For more information on how you can make baby steps to success, don't hesitate to contact me on how we can work together to help you live a longer, healthier life!
All the best!
Tim - CNP, OHP