“Wait—No Oil At All? Not Even One Drop?” “Aise kaise chalega?”
It’s with this question that every patient reacts when they first get to know about a heart-healthy diet that involves Zero-oil cooking, a revolutionary concept advocated by the pioneer in non-invasive heart treatment in India, Dr. Bimal Chhajer. The idea feels extreme to people; they even question its possibility, and why not? We all love to eat, right?. While food has its own language, and culinary arts are one of the finest in all art forms, being conscious of what you consume and how it directly affects your heart and overall health remains non-negotiable, especially when metabolic disorders and lifestyle diseases are at an all-time high and have raised mortality rates upto 62%. At SAAOL Heartcare Delhi, led by Dr. Bimal Chhajer, we’ve dedicated our practice to helping patients avoid and reverse heart disease through non-surgical heart treatment options like a heart-healthy diet with zero-oil cooking, EECP in Delhi/NCR, Detox therapy, which in combination is a clear-cut way to avoid bypass surgery, with over 6 lakhs of lives changed. And guess what? There’s a strong emphasis on zero-oil cooking behind that success.
What is the Zero-oil cooking by Dr. Bimal Chhajer?
The Zero-Oil cooking method, developed by Dr. Bimal Chhajer, is a scientifically backed, heart-healthy method that eliminates all visible oils from cooking, yes, even “healthy oils.” Instead, it focuses on whole, plant-based foods cooked without a single drop of oil, helping patients reduce cholesterol, control diabetes, and reverse heart disease naturally. It’s a key pillar of the SAAOL heart program, empowering people to avoid bypass surgery and heal the heart through lifestyle change, not just medicine.
Okay, let’s have a wild guess: when you hear zero-oil heart-healthy diet, you imagine dry chapatis. Bland sabzi. A lifetime of tasteless food. Right? Not Shocking! You’re left with this question: “Doesn’t my body need healthy fats?”
So what does it actually feel like to ditch oil completely in those first 30 days? We’re going to break down that emotional, physical, and psychological rollercoaster, with some no-nonsense advice that you won’t get from influencers trying to sell you gimmicks or even that YouTube aunty who puts olive oil in her “diet” pulao.
Oil Withdrawl
There’s nothing like oil withdrawal at all. But, god, the things we have heard from our patients like “ I feel
- More CRAVINGS for BHAJIAS
- Being a bit irritable
- Altered bowel habits
All of this just because they got the Zero-oil heart-healthy diet plan.
Oils are triglycerides and not drugs but the truth is it’s kind of like a drug, well of course not for all but for some people who can die for fried food like pakoras and what not, you know some people like to eat sweet but not fried food at all and some people eat a lot of fried food but no sweet at all…and they think they somehow are doing good for the body…but NOOOOOO they are not! Guess what, you are fine, in fact getting towards being more than fine, and because you can’t have your favourite food anymore, you think something’s not right with your body, and then you give up. Believe us, it’s all in your head!
You might think, “Why would I go zero-oil if I love oil?” because now you have reached the point where your heart just cannot take it anymore! So if you love living life more than your favourite food, then read ahead.
Will My Food Taste Like Cardboard?
No — if you learn to do it right. It’s just that oil doesn’t have any taste. The only taste to your food is coming from:
- Spices
- Herbs
- Proper roasting & layering
- Vegetables or lentils used with tomato, onion, methi, etc
You’ll never miss oil in food. Dal will feel creamier. Cabbage will have depth. Even bhindi will surprise you.
The Unexpected Problem? Your Family.
Before you come after us, just read it out first! Maybe you are ready. But your family won’t be. And it’s often where zero-oil plans go awry. You’re over there making your own “healthy bhaji”; they’re still munching on aloo-tikki, and now we have emotional stress meeting physical withdrawals. This is a real struggle; we witness it every day.
What works?
Batch cooking: Make large portions of your zero-oil food with strong seasoning so others want to try it.
Not exclusion, inclusion: Don’t guilt-trip someone. Just be an example.
Keep chutneys, raw onions, and lemons; they transform every bite.
How Zero-Oil Heart-Healthy Diet Helps Avoid Bypass Surgery?
Here’s what you can expect biologically after 30 days of strict zero oil:
Lipid Profile Improvement:
- LDL (bad cholesterol) reduces by 15–25%
- Triglycerides can be reduced dramatically, esp. in diabetics
Improved Liver Function:
- Fatty liver grades (Grade I) often show reversal on ultrasound
- ALT/AST values start to normalize
Improved Endothelial Function:
There is more flexibility in the lining of your arteries, which leads to better blood flow, and that is a critical piece for reversing heart disease.
We have recorded patients at SAAOL whose angina stopped in 4 weeks, whose blood pressure became constant, and whose ejection fraction increased 5-10% only by Zero-oil cooking-based heart-healthy diet + EECP + detox therapy.
“But Don’t We Need Some Fat While Having Heart Disease Treatment?”
Yes. And you’ll still get it from natural, whole food sources. Because every food contains fat in its natural form, like how they make oils…they extract it from plants, seeds, and nuts only. So, you will not be fat deficient in any manner.
What you’re cutting out is:
- Reheated oils (major cancer risk)
- Deep-fried snacks
- “Heart-healthy” olive oil or mustard oil (nope, it’s 100% fat still)
- Ghee, I’m sorry, bilkul bhi nahi for heart patients.
While we are at it, many people tend to think that as long as they are cooking in ghee or mustard oil and use ghee instead of oil anywhere with food…they will be fine, but sorry to burst your bubble, that’s completely wrong! Mustard oil and ghee are completely saturated fats and they are doing no good when you already have heart blockages.
Benefits of a Zero-Oil Heart-Healthy Diet in 30 Days
Three to four weeks into your zero-oil life, you’ll find yourself all of a sudden:
- More in control over your plate (and health)
- Less trapped by cravings
- Proud to make food that nourishes, not numbs
- Increased energy – no more post-lunch slumps
- Improved skin clarity – less oil means fewer breakouts
- Weight loss – natural drop without starving or calorie counting
- Reduced angina symptoms, especially when combined with EECP
And that’s when your inspiration moves from “doctor ne bola” to “I can actually feel the difference”. This shift is everything.
Psychology Hack: Don’t Say “Zero Oil” — Say “Heart Healthy Food”
We’ve discovered that language alters behavior. If you’re constantly telling yourself, “I can’t eat that,” your brain feels tortured. But say, “I eat heart-healing food,” and you’ll feel something different. This isn’t a diet. This is you reclaiming your life, your heart, and your legacy.
One Last Thing, Did you Know?
1 tablespoon of oil = 120 “unnoticed” calories. Indians as on average, use 3–4 tbsp of oil per person per day. That’s a surplus of 3000 empty calories a week. In a month? That’s the same number of calories as 3 kgs of weight gain, approx. So when people ask, “How do I lower my BP and cholesterol in 30 days?” — it’s not magic. It’s math + discipline + SAAOL’s non-invasive strategy.
Final Thoughts: 30 Days Is Just the Start — But It Changes Heart Disease Treatment
You don’t have to take this blog’s word for it. Experience the transformation in 4 weeks. If you’re reading this and you’re thinking I’ll never be able to quit my paratha or samosa…”
That’s fine. Begin by reducing the oil by 10 percent and work up.
If you’re thinking: “Will I feel weak?”
No. Your body will adapt — and thank you later.
If you’re thinking: “Will I be able to avoid bypass surgery with this?”
It’s the first pillar. Throw in EECP treatment, lifestyle modification, and yes, many of our patients reverse their heart disease entirely. Because healing starts in the kitchen.
Ready to Start?
Be a part of the zero-oil cooking with SAAOL Heartcare Delhi, where food and science come together, and recovery meets reality. Under the guidance of Dr. Bimal Chhajer, we plan a Zero-oil heart-healthy diet along with EECP treatment in Delhi/NCR to save you from bypass surgery and give you non-surgical heart disease treatment.