Reversing Heart Disease

[piller]

I drink a glass of red wine every night, there has been a lot of information suggesting that resveratrol is good for you. I also take a baby aspirin and garlic pill every day. In addition I try to follow a low carb diet. Olive oil is good and also fish. I am definitely not a vegetarian, I eat a lot of eggs and meat and fat. I also am active, mostly hiking and walking. I think this is a good approach for heart health.

I read the Atkins diet books a few years ago and it made sense to me. I had my blood levels tested before and after doing low carb and found that my cholesterol levels improved some but the triglyceride levels improved dramatically.

My brother and his family took a trip to Africa a couple of years ago. They were very impressed with the Massai (sp?) tribe. The Massai people were very healthy and lived basically on meat and blood from cattle.

The key is to avoid some of the staples of the Western diet; processed foods, sugar, processed white flour products.

This is what I do and what I believe in, I don't know if it will slow the progression of heart disease or if it will reverse it. I feel good, don't take any medications, and have no physical problems (knock on wood!).

[dmccarty]

I read a book years ago written by an MD about the Mediterranean diet. What she said made lots of sense and she was backing it up with studies. "Eskimos" in Alaska and Canada did not have Western health problems until they started eating Western processed food yet they ate tons of meat and literally FAT.

I did Atkins years ago and lost 20 or so pounds but had not quite got my regular diet under control so I gained back 10-15 pounds over time. It only takes 200 extra calories a day to get you 10,20, or 30 extra pounds at the end of the year.

200 extra calories is a beer, soda, or can of OJ.

I stopped drinking OJ at work years ago because of the calories. For lunch I went from the traditional meat, veggies, salad, desert to hamburgers/sandwich and fries to a sandwich. Now its dried fruit and no salt added nuts. This works most of the time until someone brings something to eat that smells sooooooo good!

This time last year I had was worst case maintaining weight and most likely loosing a bit. I bought a new belt and was using the second hole in the belt.

We then stopped eating pasta and rice. Which we love. And the weight started to drop a bit. Then I really did it. I limited my beer! Horrible thing to do. But I like beer that has lots of calories and worse carbs. So I drink wine during the week and maybe touch the beer on the weekend.

I dropped between 12-15 pounds. The belt now had to use the 4-5th hole! Woo Hoo!

This was without extra excercise. Just cutting carbs and the amount of calories eaten.

Once upon a time I ate lots of cereals to try to keep the calories down. I was ALWAYS tired. The up and down with the blood sugar from the carbs kills ya. And simple carbs dont fill you up like complex carbs, fat, and protein. Learned that with Atkins.

I really think the high fructose corn syrup is bad bad bad. When I was a kid you might 1-3 fat kids in a class of 30-33. Now I see 3-6 fat kids in a class of 15. And far more fat adults. Going to Disney is a real eye opener with all of the overweight people. Kids and adults. I did not see this 30 years ago. We always had soda in the house but back then it was made with real sugar. My friends and I were not fat but we sure drank lots of sodas.

You can still get real sugar sodas but they are not the main brands. Mexico Coke is still made with cane sugar. The rest are high fructose corn syrup.

What is funny is that my granny was eating "health" foods in the 60s/70s and telling me to stay away from the processed foods. She also had problems keeping on weight towards the end of her life so she started drinking beer. Guess granny had it right all along. Sure miss her.

Later,
Dan

[Bird]

Don, my doctor says I'm on the lightest dose of cholesterol medicine and the lightest dose of blood pressure medicine he can prescribe; one little pill of each a day. And he says that's controlling those two things just fine. Of course, he does think I need to lose weight and I told him I don't have the will power. He said, "Of course you do. You had the will power to quit smoking, didn't you?"

[MossRoad]

Originally Posted by txdon

I found an interesting 10 year study, concluded in March 09, conducted by The National Institute of Health and AARP. There was an increase of cancer for people who eat red meat (31-36%) and an increase of HEART DISEASE for people who eat white meat (20-24%).

I always look who conducted the study to see if the backers would benefit from the results.

What about dark meat? I love chicken quarters on the BBQ! (I don't eat the skin).

[Bird]

Originally Posted by MossRoad

What about dark meat? I love chicken quarters on the BBQ! (I don't eat the skin).

Me, too, but now Sam's Club has the boneless, skinles thigh meat in the freezer. And some of that is what my wife has in the crockpot, with a little BBQ sauce for our supper tonight.

[txdon]

There was a study with the Atkins diet and the cholesterol levels dropped only 5%, but they dropped, which surprised me.

When I retired I did the Sonoma Diet which is very close to the Medediterian diet I did lose weight and cholesterol levels dropped but not enough. I still was advised to stay on statins.

I am not a vegetarian (no meat) or a Vegan (no meat or dairy or animal products). The E2 is a Vegan/low fat diet which seems impossible to me. But since My Doctor is monitoring my results this is giving me the incentive. Sometimes KFC would be sooo good but I know how I would feel after.

The E2 and other books have tons of good recipes and many studies with facts and references to back-up what they say.


Bird I have to agree with your Doctor, I know several people that can go on a diet and loose 20 pounds easy but they can never quit smoking.

Good question Mossroad on the dark chicken meat. I would think they would label all chicken and fish as white.

The Doctor talks about the study on the first part of this video:

http://www.pcrmvideo.org/ipodweblivecast/mstudy.mov


I have listened to Dr. Barnard speak at different seminars. He has sound backing.

[Raw Dodge]

High fructose corn syrup,refined sugars and carbs,are big no no's,IMO.Also part of the reason diabetes is out of control along with a (lack of vigorous activity,or any physical activity).
Heart disease runs in my family,my dad had a heart attack at 40,he is now 63,hes had several heart attacks,and angioplastys proceedures done as well as a quadruple bypass in 93. I am now 39 and see a cardiologist,and get periodical full cardio workups and stress tests as a precaution.So far so good for me.One thing I started taking 10 yrs ago or so is Grape seed extract,Im not a big drinker,and dont like wine,but there is quite a bit of evidence to support claims that wine drinking in moderation keeps arterys pliable and clean.There are only 2 brands of grape seed worth taking,they are the ones that contain the extract of both white and red wine grapes....It is very cheap to take these,I buy mine in bulk i have most of my family taking it now.I take 2 a day,and i get the 200 capsules 6 at a time,so it costs me about $70 a year to take it.I have my fiance taking it as well,along with omega 3 and olive leaf extract.I dont think it can hurt besides the cost,I have missed maybe a months doses in 10 yrs....

OPC Grape Seed Extract, 180mg blend (90 capsules)

[charlz]

I read this article a while back and thought I might post it here. Diet, not exercise, plays key role in weight loss - Diet and nutrition- msnbc.com

Some are starting to think that exercise 'sharpens' the appetite and may actually make you eat more calories than you are burning. I would think exercise is still good for "Reversing Heart Disease" but for those looking strictly to loose weight it's 'Food for Thought!'

[txdon]

Raw Dodge, do you know if there have been any human studies that show a reduction in heart disease? The only reference I have found is studies with animals (strengthens animal blood vessels 1948) or studies at a cellular level and the word "speculation" when it comes to humans.

Charz, interesting article thanks. We can control health and weight by dietary constraints. Sounds so easy.......

[txdon]

Originally Posted by serviceman

Txdon,
PM me and I will send you information on a product that has really helped my family and friends.
serviceman

This thread is like a peer review thread just throw it out here and we will research and evaluate it.