If you are a lover of fried and heavy food then this is the time to stop consuming them. A new research has found that people who follow Southern diet that is rich in fried and heavy food are at an increased risk of heart attack.

In the study, the researchers compared dietary habits of more than 17,000 white and African-American adults from different areas of America. After assessing them, the researchers have found that those who regularly consume fried foods, fatty foods, eggs, processed meats and sugary drinks have higher risk to suffer from heart attack or heart-related death during the next 5.8 years.

The researchers said those who regularly followed the Southern dietary pattern had a 56% increased risk of heart disease when compared with those who do not follow it on regular basis. Amongst all, men, African-American, people who have not graduated from high school and residents of southern states were the ones who largely followed the Southern diet.

Lead researcher James M. Shikany of the University of Alabama said that people should be aware of risks associated with regular consumption of Southern-style diet. James suggested that people should try and reduce the number of times they eat fried foods or processed meats. People can start reducing having chicken from every day to three days a week.

The research paper was part of the national observational Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study that was started in 2003.