'Grandmother ate ghee daily till 95': Cardiologist explains why that excuse won’t work for your 'little ghee' today

We all love leaning on the classic “my grandmother lived long, eating ghee, so I can too” excuse. But Delhi cardiologist Dr Shailesh Singh is here to set the record straight. He points out that grandma’s lifestyle was a whole different ballgame. She woke at 4 AM, worked physically till sunset, and never knew what online food delivery was, nor were such services available at her time. Longevity wasn’t just about one habit—it was the sum of daily routines, discipline, and physical activity. Comparing her endpoint to your midpoint is a recipe for disappointment, according to the cardiologist.

Dr Singh vs patient's excuses

Dr Singh also tackles the common complaint, “I’ve tried everything.” According to him, most people haven’t actually tried the basics. Walking 20 minutes daily, stopping post-dinner snacking, taking prescribed medicines regularly, and checking your waist instead of obsessing over weight are often ignored. Until you do these consistently, you haven’t really tried anything—excuses don’t count as effort, he says.

The cardiologist also reveals the hidden math behind metabolism. Many underestimate what they eat and overestimate what they burn. For instance, undercounting food by 30% and overcounting calories burned by 50% can make weight management seem impossible. Those “little indulgences”—two spoons of sugar in tea six times a day, a touch of ghee on every roti, or a late “light” dinner—quickly add up to hundreds of calories. What seems harmless now can later translate into real health problems.


Dr Singh’s blunt message is simple: your metabolism isn’t broken, your measuring is. Honest tracking, realistic portion control, and small lifestyle adjustments are what really make the difference. Stop leaning on excuses or comparing yourself to grandma’s era—balance, consistency, and mindful habits matter far more than a single indulgence or shortcut. The small choices you make every day, not occasional extremes, are what shape your health, your energy, and ultimately your longevity.