Two meals or six foods a day for heart health? Which is better and what experts say
Reducing the number of food can help stabilize insulin levels and improve fat metabolism. But the relationship is even more complicated, the cardiologist Dr. Sanjeeva decodes Kumar Gupta.

In short
- Dr. Alok Chopra recommends limiting daily food to reduce fat storage
- Many foods can cause insulin spikes to damage heart health.
- However, the quality of food at frequency is a better tool to see the benefits of the heart
Taking care of your heart is not just about eating more greens and going for regular workouts. This also means that making smart lifestyle options and cutting the habits that can quietly harm your heart.
Functional medical expert and cardiologist Dr. Alok Chopra shared an Instagram post with five tips to preserve heart health. In his advice, avoiding vepping, clear steering for cooking in non-stick pan, and something that can surprise many people, can eat only two meals a day.
Many people visiting the gym believe that eating six times a day is the only way. But Dr. Chopra has a different view. “If I eats 100 times a day or three or six times a day, I am storing fat six times a day. That is why we say don’t eat more than twice,” he said.
See this post on InstagramPost shared by impact stories (@impactstories_podcast)
Science behind the frequency of food
Let’s decode it. Their thing is that every time we eat, our body releases insulin (a hormone) to process glucose, and persistent insulin spikes can encourage fat storage over time.
Originally, whenever we eat, our body forms a hormone called insulin to help the energy move from food to the food from food. If we eat frequently, insulin is frequently released, and it can make the body shop more fat over time.
Reducing the number of food can help stabilize insulin levels and improve fat metabolism.
Dr. Vishal Rastogi, Director and HOD, Heart Felure Clinic, Fortis Escorts Okhla, New Delhi, states that this claim comes from the idea that each food episode triggers insulin release, which promotes nutrient storage (including fat). Low food means low insulin spikes, which is potentially leading to low fat accumulation and better metabolic profiles.
Benefits depend on total calorie intake, food quality and personal metabolism.
“In some, less food may be higher than the balance of later or bad nutrients. In addition, long -term evidence on the frequency of food alone for heart health is still mixed,” Dr. Rastogi says.
However, the relationship between frequency of food and heart health is not so simple. In fact, it is quite complex, Dr. Sanjeeva Kumar Gupta, CK Birla Hospital says Consultant Cardiologist.
He explains that frequent food can affect insulin levels and fat storage, other factors.
“The health of the heart matters more to what you eat, how much you eat, and your overall lifestyle, only instead of the number of food. For some people, for some people, works well to eat two balanced food in a day, but for others, it can lead to later fatigue, or nutrient deficiency,” he explains indivationoday.in.
Dr. Gupta explains that high, heavy food, especially sophisticated carbohydrates, salt and unhealthy fats can cause sudden spikes in blood sugar, blood pressure and heart work.
Over time, they can cause obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
On the other hand, small, balanced food with lean protein, fiber and healthy fats are easy on digestion and heart. The key is to keep the total calorie intake in the check, choose heart-friendly foods and avoid continuous snacking on high-sugar or high-fat foods.
A study by the American Heart Association states that various food patterns such as leaving food, frequent snacking and irregular times, are often associated with poor heart and metabolic health, which affect factors such as obesity, cholesterol, insulin resistance and blood pressure. They throw light on the fact that the natural rhythm of the body can be disrupted from the time of eating late and inconsistent food.
While some evidence is touched by fasting and more frequent food, the results are mixed, and the definitions (eg “food” versus snack “) lacks stability.
The study concludes that intentional and arbitrary meal time, instead of consistently eating, intake from thought, can help improve cardio-chilli health.
A heart -friendly plate
So, how many food do we really need? Dr. Rastogi says that there is no “magic number”.
If you are not exercising too much, 2-3 meals a day without snacking “Each food can be effective for metabolic health when it is balanced and calorie-appropriate.”
Having 5-6 food can help athletes, especially those who have high calorie needs. “More than the strict frequency for heart health, food quality, calorie control, and regularity,” Dr. Rastogi is the conclusion.
Some people do good with three small food a day, while the other two feel better with food or five small people.
It depends on your metabolism, activity level and medical history.
What is most important is stability, part control, and ensure that every food is nutrient-toe.
Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, lean proteins, nuts and seeds form the foundation of a heart-healthy diet. Cutting on hydrating and sugars drinks well also leads to a long way in supporting heart health.
Avoid big food late at night; When possible, allow 12-14 hours an overnight. Regular patterns support metabolic stability.
Finally, whether you eat two food or three, it is the quality of your food and your lifestyle that will create the biggest difference in your heart.