What are the two key factors that the foods cardiologists advise avoiding primarily target for reduction in the diet?

Sources of inflammation and metabolic stress.

The overarching principle guiding the advice from cardiology professionals regarding food avoidance is the goal of minimizing two critical physiological burdens on the body: inflammation and metabolic stress. Foods listed as high-risk—such as those high in unhealthy fats, excess sodium, and refined sugars—are flagged because they consistently deliver these negative elements while offering poor nutritional density. By shifting the plate composition toward whole foods like vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, the individual actively works to reduce systemic inflammation and alleviate the metabolic stress associated with processing large loads of nutritionally sparse, processed ingredients.