Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Well-known cardiologist Dr RK Singh, professor at Gandhi Medical College (GMC), Bhopal, said eating at frequent intervals was not good for healthy people. Faulty eating habit is responsible for many diseases. So is over exercise. Free Press talked to Dr RK Singh on heart problems. Excerpts How should people keep heart healthy in winter?

They should give time to acclimatise with change. People should avoid direct or sudden exposure to intense chill, otherwise, they may face cardiac arrest. They should venture out for exposure gradually not suddenly. Do food habits play a role in causing heart problem?

Now, people eat at frequent intervals from morning to 11 pm. This is not good for healthy people. Earlier, people used to observe fast, which was quite healthy. Fasting kills dead cells even cancerous cell. In fact, there must be window between two diets. People have included uncontrolled consumption of proteins, raw salad- veg, gym to stay fit in their life style.

How safe are they? Processed food like pizza, burger, use of refined oil are not good. Desi ghee, raw (ghani) oil are good for health. Fish is healthy in comparison to mutton and chicken. Exercise is good but it should be according to age. Excess of everything is bad. Over exercise is not good for health. Youths also suffer from cardiac problems.

Changed lifestyle is responsible for it. We have to avoid processed food, which have flooded the market and people are now dependent on it. We have to maintain proper life style. Use of alcohol is now prominent part of lifestyle. Comment. WHO recommendations say alcohol is not good for heart and health.

But red wine up to 50 ml is good for heart. However, its regular consumption makes people addict. There are two types of stents, metallic and dissolving. Which is better? Stents are normally made of metal, but dissolving heart stents are also made. Now, dissolving heart stents have been withdrawn. Stents are similar to what is used in dissolving stitches. But later on it was found that it is causing heart attack.