Review of Stress Diet and Your Heart: A Lifetime Program for Healing Your Heart Without Drugs or Surgery (Paperback)

Right after a massive heart attack, my cardiologist put me on the Ornish Program.Yes, my total cholesterol dropped, but so did my HDL (good cholesterol).My LDL (bad cholesterol) increased.Most alarmingly, in less than a month, my triglycerides more than doubled!My cardiologist had no explanation for this phenomenon.So, I ate even less fat (down to 5% of total calories).My blood chemistry did not improve.
Fortunately, I changed cardiologists and found that for about 25% of the population the low-fat diet of Ornish's approach actually triggers worse heart disease.This group has an inherited condition that causes small-particle LDL syndrome, a deadly condition that at least triples heart attack risk.(Patients with this condition are said to have Pattern B LDL subclass.)Even the staid American Heart Association last year recognized that for these patients, it is better to change the types of fat a patient eats (switching from saturated fats to monounsaturated fats) rather than drastically reducing fat intake.
Ornish ignores this phenomenon with the comment that some patients don't respond to his treatment.Not responding and getting worse are very different things.I would think that Ornish would at least avail himself of the advanced cholesterol testing that would identify patients who have genetically-caused small-particle LDL syndrome BEFORE treating them with a low-fat diet.
The rabid, no-fat-low-fat mantra may work for some patients, but for those who "don't respond", it is deadly, as proven by several scientific studies.In fact, two recent studies by the University of California at Berkeley showed that even normal men (who did not have heart disease and who did not have small-particle LDL syndrome) began producing large amounts of small LDL particles when put on a low-fat diet.41% of the test group converted to the deadly disease state in six weeks, thus tripling their heart attack risk.
For those with these inherited killer genes, a completely different approach is necessary.But most important, it's necessary to first use advanced cholesterol testing (sometimes called cholesterol subclass testing) to find out if a patient has the genetically-induced form of heart disease that responds badly to a low-fat diet.This testing is different than the oft-given cholesterol panel that shows HDL and LDL.Such panels are highly inaccurate in determining the presence of small-particle LDL syndrome.
Without advanced cholesterol testing, both heart patients and normal individuals who adopt a low-fat diet are playing Russian Roulette.The good news is that for those who have small-particle LDL syndrome, proper treatment can reverse coronary blockage without drugs or surgery.I know.I have this disease and after I got worse with Ornish's diet, my cardiologist and I watched my coronary blockage melt away with an approach that is totally different from what Ornish recommends.



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Review of Becoming Vegetarian: The Complete Guide to Adopting a Healthy Vegetarian Diet (Paperback)

If you're considering vegetarianism but are wondering how or where to start (or even if it's a good idea) look no further than this excellent book by Canadian dietitians Vesanto Melina and Brenda Davis.This is a wonderful primer on nutrition (and would even be good for anyone who's simply looking to improve one's diet).
Published in 2003, this is a revised and extensively updated version of the 1994 original, and it is definitely the edition to get.The book is 454 pages and contains an absolute wealth of current research that has taken place over the past decade.As the authors state, "Much of what was considered mere speculation 10 years ago is now accepted fact.We...provide more thorough guidance for readers.Several issues that were not dealt with in the original book are addressed" and the recipes are refined.The chapter headings are:
1.Why Be Vegetarian.They cover the gamut of reasons people cite for making the switch--from concerns over health and disease to concerns for the environment, economy, and rights of animals.The latter issues are briefly but powerfully addressed, but it's very tactfully done--they're not at all judgemental or abrasive.

2.Maximizing the Vegetarian Advantage.A very powerful chapter dealing with the health of vegetarians and the impact of diet on diseases, including cancer, gall stones, diabetes (type 2), arthritis, and diseases of the heart, kidneys, and the GI system.Includes nutritional recommendations for good health & prevention of disease.
3.Power from Plants...legumes, nuts, and seeds.All you need to know about protein, iron and zinc in the veg diet. (One tip: Vitamin C greatly increases absorption of iron.)
4.Bone Boosters...milk, greens, and other calcium champions.How to maximize our bodies absorption and use of calcium.(Sodium & excess protein actually rob us of calcium).
5.Energy Plus...goodness from grains.A wealth of info about grains, fibre, and how to maximize nutrient absorption from grains.(One tip:Soak whole grains, legumes, nuts & seeds overnight in lots of cold water (discard soaking water)).
6.Perfect Protectors...vegetables and fuits.Vitamin and mineral content is the focus.
7.Fat Feuds...who's winning?All you need to know about types/amounts of fat--including essential fatty acids and how to ensure we're getting them.
8.Fine-tuning the Vegetarian Diet...vitamin B12
9.Designing the Diet...the vegetarian food guide.Covers food groups, recommended number of servings, serving sizes, number of calories per serving,and how to keep a diet log (important initially to determine areas where one may be having problems).
10.Vegetarian for Life.Deals with special situations (pregnancy/lactation, infancy, childhood, teen years, and those aged 50 and over).
11.Vegetarian Victory Over Weight
12.Vegetarian Diplomacy
13.From Markets to Meals.Tips on where to shop, what to buy, food storage, how to make the transition to vegetarianism, and travel.Includes substitutions for chicken broth, ground beef, gelatin, or egg for those who want to adapt non-veg recipes.
14.Recipes...simple treasures.You'll eventually want a proper veg cookbook or two, but included are a good variety of recipes to get one started plus tips on cooking grains and legumes.The few recipes I've tried so far have been super (My favourite is Hot Tofu and Cool Greens--who'd have thought tofu could taste so yummy!).(Tip: When cooking dry (pre-soaked) beans, do not add salt, tomato, or other highly acidic ingredients until after the beans have become tender or they'll be hard to digest!)
In conclusion, this is a comprehensive, incredibly informative (not to mention interesting) guide for the person interested in learning how to become a healthy vegetarian.Whatever your motivation--be it a desire to improve your health & nutrition, to lower your risk for many diseases, to lose weight, to be more environmentally-responsible, or something else, you won't find a better (or at the time of writing a more current) resource than this fantastic book.It's the perfect place to start.In short, I simply cannot praise highly enough, and I recommend it unconditionally!

Product Description
The evidence is in- millions of people are moving toward a vegetarian diet because it offers a healthful and environmentally sound alternative to the standard diet. Becoming Vegetarian is the ultimate source for making this valuable and beneficial life change. Packed with authoritative vegetarian and vegan nutrition information from established and savvy experts, this powerful book takes the worry out of making an important, healthy transition.
Here' what's inside:

• Vegetarian food guide for optimal nutrition and easy meal planning
• Delicious, easy recipes
• Helpful guidelines for those who are just starting out
• Cutting edge scientific information for experienced vegetarians
• Nutrition essentials from infancy through our senior years
• Practical tips for weight control
• Much, much more

This comprehensive update of an international bestseller is the one resource that contains everything you need to know about becoming a vegetarian or fine-tuning a vegetarian diet. From dealing with awkward social situations to making sure you're getting all the necessary nutrients, let Vesanto Melina and Brenda Davis give you the information you need to achieve a healthful vegetarian life with ease. Change the way you look at food and your health forever- start following the dynamic, easy-to-implement advice in Becoming Vegetarian today.

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