How Indian Street Food Is Slowly Damaging Your Heart – Expert View by Dr. Rakesh Jain
India is famous across the world for its colorful, flavorful, and affordable street food. From pani puri and samosas to vada pav and pav bhaji, these snacks are part of our daily lifestyle. But what many people don’t realize is that indian street food can quietly damage the heart when consumed regularly. As heart patients are increasing at a young age, understanding this link has become more important than ever.
According to Dr. Rakesh Jain, Heart Specialist in Indore, unhealthy eating habits are one of the biggest reasons behind rising heart attacks in India.
What Makes Indian Street Food Harmful for the Heart?
The problem is not one dish—it is the way street food is prepared.
Most street foods are:
- Deep fried
- Cooked in reused oil
- High in salt
- Loaded with refined flour
- Full of hidden trans fats
These ingredients may taste good, but they are extremely stressful for the heart.
Reused oil forms toxic trans fats that increase bad cholesterol (LDL) and reduce good cholesterol (HDL). Over time, this leads to blocked arteries, which is the main cause of heart attacks.
How Does Indian Street Food Increase Cholesterol?
One of the most common Google questions is:
“Does street food increase cholesterol?”
The answer is yes.
Most indian street food items like samosa, pakora, kachori, bhature, and fried noodles absorb large amounts of oil. This oil enters your blood and raises LDL cholesterol. When LDL increases, fatty layers get deposited inside arteries, making them narrow and hard.
Dr. Rakesh Jain explains that this process is slow and silent. People may feel fine for years, but suddenly one day, a heart attack occurs.
Why Is Street Food More Dangerous Than Home Food?
Another common question people ask is:
“Is street food worse than homemade food for heart health?”
Street food is much worse because:
- Vendors reuse oil many times
- There is no quality control
- Excess salt is added to enhance taste
- Artificial colors and preservatives are used
Homemade food uses fresh oil, controlled salt, and cleaner ingredients. But street food is designed for profit and taste, not for health.
Salt in Street Food Raises Blood Pressure
Most Indian snacks are extremely salty.
Chaat, pani puri, pav bhaji, momos, and Chinese street food contain 3 to 4 times more salt than your daily limit.
High salt causes:
- High blood pressure
- Water retention
- Increased strain on the heart
High BP is one of the biggest silent killers of heart patients.
Does Street Food Cause Heart Attacks?
Many people search:
“Can Indian street food cause heart attack?”
Heart Specialist in Indore Dr. Rakesh Jain says:
“Eating indian street food daily increases obesity, diabetes, high BP, and cholesterol — all major risk factors for heart attack.”
Heart attacks don’t happen overnight. They develop slowly due to unhealthy eating, and street food plays a major role.
Hidden Sugar and Refined Carbs
Items like jalebi, gulab jamun, kulfi, and cold drinks spike blood sugar instantly. High sugar levels damage blood vessels and increase inflammation.
Refined carbs in burgers, pizza, noodles, pav, and bread also cause:
- Weight gain
- Insulin resistance
- Fat storage around the heart
This combination is deadly for cardiac health.
Young Indians Are at High Risk
Today, even 25–35-year-olds are getting heart attacks. One major reason is frequent consumption of street food along with:
- No exercise
- Stress
- Smoking
- Lack of sleep
Dr. Rakesh Jain warns that a bad diet in youth shows its effect in the form of heart disease at an early age.
Is Occasional Street Food Safe?
People often ask:
“Can I eat street food once in a while?”
Yes, occasionally is okay if you are healthy. But eating indian street food daily or multiple times a week is harmful. Heart patients, diabetics, and people with high BP should avoid it as much as possible.
Healthy Alternatives Suggested by Dr. Rakesh Jain
Instead of unhealthy street food, choose:
- Roasted chana or makhana
- Fruit chaat
- Home-made sandwiches
- Vegetable soups
- Sprouts and salads
These foods satisfy hunger without harming the heart.
Final Words
street food may be delicious, but it comes at the cost of your heart health. High oil, excess salt, refined carbs, and reused fats slowly poison the arteries. As Dr. Rakesh Jain, Heart Specialist in Indore, strongly advises — protecting your heart today will save your life tomorrow.
Your heart deserves care, not deep-fried danger.