India, Oct. 15 -- Many of us begin Navratri believing that cutting out grains, onion and garlic automatically makes our meals healthier. When it comes to heart health, however, this is only part of the picture. While fasting can offer certain health benefits, what you choose to put on your plate matters just as much, if not more, than what you leave out.

In a conversation with HT Lifestyle, Dr Sunil Kumar Mandal - senior consultant interventional cardiologist at Kailash Hospital, Greater Noida - breaks down how a conventional Navratri fasting platter can affect heart health and shares practical ways to make it more heart-friendly.

Many popular fasting snacks use ingredients that have been deep fried and starchy. Dr Mandal points out, "T...