What does renowned heart surgeon Mehmet Oz do to keep his own weight and heart in check? Here is Dr. Oz’s diet plan:
Dr. Oz’s diet “I don’t really eat big meals, but I eat continually,” he says.
His mainstays are heart-healthy and fiber-rich foods that help keep him full all day.
For grazing, Oz lives on nuts (an Iowa Nurses Study found that eating 1 ounce a day cut the incidence of heart disease by up to 60 percent), bananas (potassium has been shown to slow the aging of your arteries and help regulate blood pressure), and baby carrots (they’re packed with nutrients, and the high crunch factor makes a good snack).
Dr. Oz’s other favorite foods: The Magical Breakfast Blaster Oz and his family love this smoothie for breakfast – as a way to deliver nutrients and long-lasting power. The psyllium helps fill you up, while the flaxseed contains omega-3 fatty acids that are beneficial to your heart.
- 1/2 Large banana, peeled and cut
- 1 Scoop (1/2 cup) soy protein
- 1/2 Cup frozen blueberries
- 1/2 Tbsp apple juice or honey
- 1 Tbsp psyllium seed husks
- 8 oz water
Peel banana; break into chunks. Combine all ingredients in a blender, with a few cubes of ice if desired. Cover; blend until fairly smooth.
Steel-cut oatmeal: It’s loaded with heart-healthy fiber, which keeps you full for hours. Oz often eats a bowl for breakfast.
Dried soups: Every day, he stuffs a handful of chilled almonds and walnuts into his mouth on his way to surgery, and eats three or four dried soups when he returns famished 5 hours later. He opts for black bean, chick pea, and couscous for the protein and low salt.
Best, since he makes them one at a time while doing paperwork (the glamorous life of a cardiac surgeon), he has a break of 20 minutes between each one so he feels himself fill up and avoids overeating.
Tuna or swordfish: Cajun style, rare as possible inside. Fish makes up the majority of Dr. Oz’s diet, due to its bounty of omega-3 fatty acids and its lack of saturated fat – both of which keep the heart clean.
“I don’t spend a lot of time scaring people [with heart-disease horror stories],” says Dr. Oz. “I don’t think fear works.” What does work: exercise and eating will. Ball tag, anyone? [source: You24]