Kentucky grilled chicken and your heart!

A few weeks ago, I was passing by a KFC. I was surprised to find an advertisement right next to the shop that said," We now have Kentucky grilled chicken". I was so thrilled when I saw that. As a practicing Cardiologist, I have seen the horrors of unhealthy eating habits. We have lost many precious lives due to such trends. On the other hand, not everything about the fast food chains is unhealthy. They do represent our spirit of entrepreneurship. They stand as a monument as to what a free society can do. A place on earth where one Col.Sander's can go on to build one of the most successful chain Restaurants ever. The story is quite inspiring.

"What a great decision!", I thought to myself. Initiatives such as these must come from all sections of the food industry. Other fast food places should learn from these kinds of innovative ideas. Mayor Bloomberg's initiative to ban transfat in the city is a legislative masterpiece. It goes on to prove what our public servants can do to help us in our quest for a healthier lifestyle. However, legislative initiatives alone are not enough. Suing a few fast food places is not the solution either. The ultimate responsibility is on the consumer. After all, these places are just catering to our taste.


After passing by the shop a few times, I finally decided to try it out. And I ordered a grilled chicken and eagerly took a bite "Hum.... Not the usual taste!..." I mumbled to myself. I remembered the occasional visits and the unforgettable taste of the good old KFC. However, it is different now! "May be not all that great , but this is the way to go". This is one big step forward for me, the Cardiologist. As time goes by, my taste buds will adapt to the change. We need to take decisions like these almost daily. After all, everything new and worthwhile will be a bit uncomfortable in the beginning. However, in the end, the dividends will be huge.


Obesity epidemic is engulfing America as never before. It is our invisible Katrina. Too many levies have been broken in our eating habits. The rising tide of type 2 diabetes among our teenagers pursuant to such dangerous choices need our urgent attention. We need radical interventions and we need them "right now". If I may borrow a phrase from Dr Martin Luther King Jr, there is a "fierce urgency of now" about the situation.


As we cope with a painful recession, it is time for us to make some new resolutions. The time is here to tame our taste buds and make resolute changes in our eating habits. The fast food restaurants will eventually catch up with us. Some will do it early, like the KFC. Others may never...But we can always change things from our end.


As stated in my previous blog, heart disease does not occur in a vacuum. Hypertension, Diabetes, high cholesterol, tobacco use and a family history of premature heart disease are considered as the major risk factors. Obesity, sedentary lifestyle, stress and many such factors add to it.


Our journey towards better dietary habits may start with a small step like replacing a massive cheeseburger or another fried item soaked in extremely high levels of saturated fat. Subway sandwiches are good ones too, if you are careful about the cheese content. Will you take your first step towards a healthier lifestyle today? Cut down the carbs, chose a grilled burger over a fried one and start trimming that big belly. You can do it. One step at a time! Slowly, but steadily, you will win this marathon!