Reversing Heart Disease

[txdon]

I got atherosclerosis and don't want it. Has anyone been successful in reversing the plaque buildup without medications. I have been successful in getting off statins (because the statin side effects were awful) with diet but want to go to the next step to reverse heart disease.

Don't want to wear out before my tractor.....

I have read material from T. Colin Campbell, Dr. Caldwell B Esselstyn, Dean Ornish, M. D., Rip Esselstyn, and selected Material from PCRM.

I'm thinking of starting the "Engine 2 Diet" - by Austin Texas Firefighter Rip Esselstyn, for a year and then get another heart scan.

I'm starting this thread here because there seems to be several TBNers with the same problem.

[sellercreek]

Originally Posted by txdon

I got atherosclerosis and don't want it. Has anyone been successful in reversing the plaque buildup without medications. I have been successful in getting off statins (because the statin side effects were awful) with diet but want to go to the next step to reverse heart disease.

Don't want to wear out before my tractor.....

I have read material from T. Colin Campbell, Dr. Caldwell B Esselstyn, Dean Ornish, M. D., Rip Esselstyn, and selected Material from PCRM.

I'm thinking of starting the "Engine 2 Diet" - by Austin Texas Firefighter Rip Esselstyn, for a year and then get another heart scan.

I'm starting this thread here because there seems to be several TBNers with the same problem.

I know a couple of folks who swear by this product: https://straussheartdrops.com/

There may be other similar products. You can Google it to get more info.

Sounds like you are already making the lifestyle and dietary changes that would be helpful.

My issue is weight loss. I have a hard time losing and I need to drop 40 lbs. or so. I am not positive but think some of the meds I am taking may be affecting my metabolism.

Good thread idea and hope you do well!!

[txdon]

The Tech Data on that website indicated one study with 14 people. The web site does not tell what is in it or the mechanisms of how it works but it tells a lot of what it cures. Thanks, sellercreek, I wish there was more info on it.

[Egon]

I'd suggest you get a "CERTIFIED DIETITIAN" to draw up some food guidelines. A regime you follow that equates to lifestyle change.

Also get your "DOCTOR" to give you a set of exercise guidelines. This regime will also equate as a lifestyle change.

[blueriver]

Originally Posted by Egon

I'd suggest you get a "CERTIFIED DIETITIAN" to draw up some food guidelines. A regime you follow that equates to lifestyle change.

Also get your "DOCTOR" to give you a set of exercise guidelines. This regime will also equate as a lifestyle change.

I second that .. I am not a meds person. I hate a pill, seems like all the side effects are severe and then all of a sudden theres an ad that an attorney has a suit going after the drug mfg ... I may be wrong and may be forced one day to use drugs. In the mean time ... diet and exercise.

[20 20]

I agree with the ole saying "you are what you eat". In these times it's easy not to eat healthy. I even wonder if our younger generations know what healthy food is? The sad part is that some have eatin so unhealthy for many years that it may have takin it's toll? I'm with the others find a dietitian, but along with that find a REAL doc, not one that is pill happy. I have been lucky with my Doc she only uses pills as a last resort and is VERY well informed about proper diets. She also pratices what she preaches, so I feel confident she knows what she's doing.

[txdon]

Doctor is on board! A Dietitian recommended the Engine 2 Diet and exercise plan.

This is the NUMBER ONE killer in America, surly someone here has tried a simple plant based diet modification. Medications help the symptoms but none cure the cause.

[Egon]

Diet and exercise may only go so far. Genetics play a big role too and those you can't change. Thats where medication may come in.
No scientific founding on my part.

[charlz]

Originally Posted by Egon

Diet and exercise may only go so far. Genetics play a big role too and those you can't change. Thats where medication may come in.
No scientific founding on my part.

I was pretty much going to say the same thing... genetics. My FIL was on a fat-free diet and exercise program to lower his cholesterol for about 14 years. Amazing discipline. Lowered his cholesterol some but 'not enough'. Now he takes two different cholesterol medications and eats what he wants. I have read that diet and exercise can really only lower your cholesterol about 5 points... genetics is the main driver of your cholesterol levels.

Hardest thing with weight loss is that it is a life-style change... you can't just do it for a while and then go back to what you were eating before. I am making my 3rd or so attempt at following a low carb lifestyle. I find my energy is so much better and even through the whole day when I follow this lifestyle. I used to get a big Starbucks in the morning and by 230 in the afternoon I would need another one.... I was simply exhausted. Following a low-carb diet I am still going strong at 930 at night yet have no problems going to bed and falling right asleep.

What led me to low-carb is my wife wanted to do the South Beach Diet and wanted me to do it with her.. so I did. So we bought the book and religiously followed the first two weeks. I was pretty amazed, some days I lost 2.5 lbs in a single day in the first week to week and a half. My energy leveled off and got better after the first week or so. However, we eventually slid back to our 'evil ways' and slowly gained the weight back but did adopt some of the things... like not eating white bread, potatoes etc.

The next time I did it for longer and lost more... but eventually fell off the wagon. This time around I am trying for a less strict and hopefully more sustainable approach. I have lost about 13 pounds over the last 2 months and feel like I can continue. I try to keep a strict diet and exercise routine during the week (easier because I go to work and we have a gym) and on the weekends I give myself some slack. I find it is easier to control any cravings during the week if I know I can have it on the coming weekend

I'd recommend someone try at least the first two weeks of the South Beach diet just as a learning experience.

[Chuck52]

I wasn't sure about the concept of reversing atherosclerosis, so I googled "reversing atherosclerosis", and got a hit on a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Reversing Atherosclerosis?
Linda K. Curtiss, Ph.D.

New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 360:1144-1146, Number 11

It's obviously technical, but also short. May be available in your library. Doesn't really give practical plans for an individual to work with, except citing the value of resveratrol, the component in grapes which seems to work by scavenging active oxygen species, but just the fact that the answer to the question is positive is nice. It helps that I like both grapes and red wine.

Chuck


Sorry...I didn't actually "google" it, I used a search of journal articles available in our library.