Stop Eating Samosas, Jalebi, Vada Pav, Pani Puri, Burgers and More at 6 PM, Says Dr Pal; Suggests Healthier Options
Evening snack cravings are often hard to control, and that’s when many of us turn to fried and sugary foods that taste good but harm the body in the long run. American health expert Dr Pal recently addressed this issue in an Instagram video, advising people to avoid popular options like samosas, jalebi, pani puri, vada pav, kachoris, fried momos, namkeen mixtures, burgers, and butter-heavy pav bhaji.
He explained that while these snacks may feel comforting, they are loaded with excess oil, sugar, and calories that contribute to weight gain, poor heart health, and other health risks.
Instead, Dr Pal suggested a range of healthier alternatives that are both tasty and filling. His list included egg bhurji with whole wheat toast, roasted makhana with spices, steamed wheat momos, lettuce wraps with chicken and vegetables, chana chaat, steamed corn with masala, sprouts salad, grilled paneer tikka without oil, homemade vegetable soup, and stuffed besan cheela with paneer or vegetables. With a little planning, he said, evening snacks can be made both healthy and satisfying.
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What Research Says About Fried and Sugary Foods
Scientific studies back up these concerns. A 2014 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine and cited by Harvard Health found that people who got 17–21% of their daily calories from added sugar had a 38% higher risk of dying from heart disease compared to those who limited intake to around 8%. High sugar consumption can lead to fatty liver disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, inflammation, and weight gain, especially when it comes from sugary drinks that don’t provide a sense of fullness.
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Similarly, the Cleveland Clinic has highlighted that frying increases the calorie content of foods significantly. Since oil is calorie-dense, fried items absorb it during cooking, making even otherwise healthy foods far less nutritious. Regular consumption of such snacks, the report noted, can undermine overall health.
