Foods for heart health

[Pierce]

Nuts and raw veggies foods are more effective for the heart health because these foods control the cholesterol level, burn the extra fat and prevent from the heart stroke.
The more beneficial foods for the heart health are apple, grapefruit, orange, berries, carrot, broccoli, cabbage, almond, honey, fish, fish oil, green tea, and coffee.

[madhusudan]

Taking responsibility for your health

Supporting your local farmers

Starving the corporations threatening the world

Not supporting the war machine

Not eating Frankenstein laboratory creations (GMO)

Not eating rat poo, fingernail clippings, ****roach legs and etc (factories)

Resisting mind control (making your own decisions)

These are some of my reasons to eat natural whole foods.

In direct response to the OP: I agree with your post, but find it very conventionally modern to think of certain foods benefitting certain organs of the body. Perhaps a more holistic approach is healthier? I say this because at times I feel that the information overload is, in itself, detrimental to health (by adding to stress).

[MightyB]

The Corporations are EVERYWHERE!

BWAHAHAHAHA

http://out4s.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Whole-Foods-Market-792x523.jpg

[madhusudan]

Mighty B, that post will now be in your permanent dossier. Whole Foods is watching...

[GoldenBrain]

The more beneficial foods for the heart health are apple, grapefruit, orange, berries, carrot, broccoli, cabbage, almond, honey, fish, fish oil, green tea, and coffee.

I'd like to add some of my favorites to this list. Avocado, spinach, kale, asparagus, chia seed, hemp seed, sunflower seed, pecans and walnuts. For the berries, I grow huckleberries, blue berries, goji berries and mulberries so I'm kind of partial to those.

I'd recommend staying away from store bought apples because they top the list for pesticide contamination. Try to stick to local organic farms if possible.

[GoldenBrain]

Taking responsibility for your health

Supporting your local farmers

Starving the corporations threatening the world

Not supporting the war machine

Not eating Frankenstein laboratory creations (GMO)

Not eating rat poo, fingernail clippings, ****roach legs and etc (factories)

Resisting mind control (making your own decisions)

These are some of my reasons to eat natural whole foods.

In direct response to the OP: I agree with your post, but find it very conventionally modern to think of certain foods benefitting certain organs of the body. Perhaps a more holistic approach is healthier? I say this because at times I feel that the information overload is, in itself, detrimental to health (by adding to stress).


You sound like one of them **** hippies! Hahahahaha! Just kidding! ;) I agree with everything you said. :D

[Raipizo]

Taking responsibility for your health

Supporting your local farmers

Starving the corporations threatening the world

Not supporting the war machine

Not eating Frankenstein laboratory creations (GMO)

Not eating rat poo, fingernail clippings, ****roach legs and etc (factories)

Resisting mind control (making your own decisions)

These are some of my reasons to eat natural whole foods.

In direct response to the OP: I agree with your post, but find it very conventionally modern to think of certain foods benefitting certain organs of the body. Perhaps a more holistic approach is healthier? I say this because at times I feel that the information overload is, in itself, detrimental to health (by adding to stress).

Don't forget a water purifier/filter there are nasty chemicals in tap water.

[Kymus]

Chris Kresser did a great series of articles on heart disease (http://chriskresser.com/specialreports/heartdisease), talking about:

High cholesterol is not the primary cause of heart disease.
Diets high in saturated fat and cholesterol don’t cause heart disease.
Consumption of so-called “heart healthy” vegetable oils is linked to heart disease, cancer and many other conditions.
Statin drugs don’t reduce the risk of death for most people, and have dangerous side effects and complications


I think point #2 is especially important. Saturated fat does not correlate with heart disease. The old belief that fatty foods correlate with heart disease has never been true; it's just bad science.

I'd also read through Dr. Chris Masterjohn's blog (http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/). Dr. Masterjohn is a biochemist who specializes in lipid research.

[lance]

Nuts and raw veggies foods are more effective for the heart health because these foods control the cholesterol level, burn the extra fat and prevent from the heart stroke.
The more beneficial foods for the heart health are apple, grapefruit, orange, berries, carrot, broccoli, cabbage, almond, honey, fish, fish oil, green tea, and coffee. Pierce , while everyone on this topic thread has their own individual food for the heart ideas , to me eating alot of oatmeals everyday and excercises like jogging or walking is good too . But check with your doctor too . I take lipitor to bring down my choleterol too . But limit yourself on eating meat , but eat more veggies , fish is even better than meat . I walk in my subdivision 6 -
days a week for a 30 minutes , the last time I checked on my own cholesterol it went down , so my docotor was happy . I ' m not really sure if this regimine will work for anyone or not ? But eating less meat , but moderate amounts of fish , and eating more veggies and oatmeals , excercise , it worked for me . But I ' m not sure for you people though , because everyone is different right ?

[SavvySavage]

Chris Kresser did a great series of articles on heart disease (http://chriskresser.com/specialreports/heartdisease), talking about:

High cholesterol is not the primary cause of heart disease.
Diets high in saturated fat and cholesterol don’t cause heart disease.
Consumption of so-called “heart healthy” vegetable oils is linked to heart disease, cancer and many other conditions.
Statin drugs don’t reduce the risk of death for most people, and have dangerous side effects and complications


I think point #2 is especially important. Saturated fat does not correlate with heart disease. The old belief that fatty foods correlate with heart disease has never been true; it's just bad science.

I'd also read through Dr. Chris Masterjohn's blog (http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/). Dr. Masterjohn is a biochemist who specializes in lipid research.

I agree 100% with kymus and respectfully disagree with the hippie Whole Foods crowd that tries to tell me eating kale and almonds is as nutritious as eating a pile of bacon.

I'll add bacon to the list as it provides your body with the energy and protein needed to heal. All the stuff you guys listed gets crapped out with little of it actually getting absorbed by the body due to the cell walls of plants. We can't break down raw veggies as well as a cow.
Gorillas have to eat about 100 pounds of vegetables a day to get enough nutrition. Since they are close to us on the evolutionary scale they make for a good comparison. Lets compare the gorilla to the female who eats a small salad for lunch and doesn't even finish the whole thing. She isn't getting nearly enough of what she needs which might explain why some women are so b!tchy. They're hungry!

[Kymus]

I agree 100% with kymus

Dude, I'm glad you quoted me because I didn't even realize my comment went through (for some reason, I thought it got eaten :eek:). I wasn't finished with my comment; I'll have to make a follow-up later.


and respectfully disagree with the hippie Whole Foods crowd that tries to tell me eating kale and almonds is as nutritious as eating a pile of bacon.

To be fair, it's not just the "Whole Foods crowd" (I shop there too :p). Most Americans these days have a strange idea of nutrition where:


Animal products = protein
Plants = all your vitamins and minerals
Grains = carbs


This is so wrong it hurts my brain and I'm not sure how we come to this conclusion.

Animal products have of course been feathered and tarred either due to industrial processing (preservatives, poor living conditions, sh!t for food (sometimes literally)) or due to the cholesterol and fat scares. This has scared people in to consuming more boneless, skinless, chicken breast than the more nutritious fatty beef. *facepalm*

Meat (well, grass-fed meat) is really quite nutritious; much more than people would expect. It takes ~5lbs of fruit to get the same nutrition from 1/4lb of liver (http://freetheanimal.com/2011/04/nutrition-density-challenge-fruit-vs-beef-liver.html).

Here's another interesting analysis that will surprise people:


http://ckresser.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/liver.jpeg

It's important to note that this isn't a full comparison of every single nutrient found in these foods. I advocate having all of them in your diet, personally. I just want to try to illustrate for people how animal products are very nutritious.


I'll add bacon to the list as it provides your body with the energy and protein needed to heal. All the stuff you guys listed gets crapped out with little of it actually getting absorbed by the body due to the cell walls of plants. We can't break down raw veggies as well as a cow.

I agree that we can't process raw plants as well as an herbivorous animal, but it is good to have a mixture of raw and cooked foods in the diet since this supplies necessary enzymes. Of course, I think that an all-raw diet is not a good idea and can weaken the digestion (I think TCM talks about this too).

Two really good books that talk about enzymes are Dr. Howell's book Enzyme Nutrition (http://www.amazon.com/Enzyme-Nutrition-Dr-Edward-Howell/dp/0895292211/) and Dr. Pottenger's book Pottenger's Cats (http://www.amazon.com/Pottengers-Cats-A-Study-Nutrition/dp/0916764060) (pretty sure the book was written by Pottenger's son).

[Kymus]

While we're talking about Whole Foods.... I just thought I'd give everyone a PSA and say: do not listen to Whole Foods' dietary advice. It's horrible. I wrote a long article about it (http://behealthynow.wordpress.com/2012/05/27/health-starts-where-a-critical-review-of-whole-foods-nutrition-education-program/)here.

Here's the short version: John Mackey, the CEO, is real buddy buddy with Rip Esselstyn. Esselstyn's dad is a big famous doctor that's a member of the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine. They're vegan doctors who promote healthy eating (which is great) but they also have a moral agenda in what they preach and continually promote unscientific FUD (rather dishonestly).

Whole Foods is a good company (I've worked there), but their idea of good nutrition stinks and it is not very scientific. :mad:

[wenshu]

Chris Kresser did a great series of articles on heart disease (http://chriskresser.com/specialreports/heartdisease), talking about:

High cholesterol is not the primary cause of heart disease.
Diets high in saturated fat and cholesterol don’t cause heart disease.
Consumption of so-called “heart healthy” vegetable oils is linked to heart disease, cancer and many other conditions.
Statin drugs don’t reduce the risk of death for most people, and have dangerous side effects and complications


I think point #2 is especially important. Saturated fat does not correlate with heart disease. The old belief that fatty foods correlate with heart disease has never been true; it's just bad science.


I don't necessarily agree with the notion that meat is inherently unhealthy but those articles are fad diet ponzi scheme promoting garbage.

[Kymus]

I don't necessarily agree with the notion that meat is inherently unhealthy but those articles are fad diet ponzi scheme promoting garbage.

:confused::confused::confused::confused: How?? Kresser's articles are rooted in science.

Take a look at Dr. Chris Masterjohn's site (http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/) or Dr. Uffe Ravnskov's site (http://www.ravnskov.nu/cholesterol.htm). You'll see the same information in regards to heart health (edit: both individuals have a great deal of experience on this topic).

If your remark on "fad diet" is Kresser's promotion of the Paelo diet, I disagree. Kresser's take on paleo is pretty flexible, and again, is rooted in science. I have no idea where you get the "ponzi scheme" from.

[wenshu]

He has a clear agenda; to sell you more **** and is just as, if not more dependent on misinterpretation of incomplete information and confirmation bias as the institutional practices his business model requires him to constantly debunk.

[Kymus]

He has a clear agenda; to sell you more **** and is just as, if not more dependent on misinterpretation of incomplete information and confirmation bias as the institutional practices his business model requires him to constantly debunk.

Correlation does not prove causation, Wenshu :(. As I said, you can look at the writings of other experts in this field and they can provide the same information. Kresser's been saying this since before he started "selling more sh!t". Kresser's been working as a clinician for years. That doesn't make him right, but it does hint that he has an idea on what he's talking about and it's not about marketing.

If you don't have data that refutes what he's saying, and you're not disagreeing based on scientific data, then you can not - with any real certainty - make claim that what he's saying is bullsh!t just to sell you something.

Yeah, he's got ads on his site for a nutrition program. If he writes an article on acupuncture, is that bullsh!t too because he's an acupuncturist? He's not marketing any physical products that I can see (except for a book he just wrote in the last month, perhaps).

The whole modern notion we have on heart disease is based around p!ss-poor studies. It's not even about misinterpretation. It's just poor science that gets repeated to infinity because it's become dogma. If you disagree with the dogma, then you risk being ostracized. It's no different than the debate on global warming or GMO. "The science is settled" and if you disagree with that science then you must be a science-fearing loser.

I am not overly familiar with point #1, but points #2 - #4 are all over the medical literature if you want to look it up yourself.

[mawali]

Personally, a lot of these foods are adulterated meaning there are chemical additives make up a high portion and that destroys the 'natural elements' (including enzymes). When I look at orange juice, all I see is sugar and colouring and in some, the taste is way off. With milk, non grass fed, chemical induced Monsanto growth hormone, farm raised fish using red colour to approximate healthy vascularization, cross species genetic materials added to the product is just the tip.

Even the stuff with the Real label is suspect and I do things to lessen that impact (I hope). I boil milk and.or sometime use milk that claims it has no bsh materials! It is hard many time to decipher the marketing double talk!!!

[bawang]

the guy is a spammer lol

[Kymus]

the guy is a spammer lol

+1

234567890

[wenshu]

Correlation does not prove causation, Wenshu :(. As I said, you can look at the writings of other experts in this field and they can provide the same information. Kresser's been saying this since before he started "selling more sh!t". Kresser's been working as a clinician for years. That doesn't make him right, but it does hint that he has an idea on what he's talking about and it's not about marketing.

If you don't have data that refutes what he's saying, and you're not disagreeing based on scientific data, then you can not - with any real certainty - make claim that what he's saying is bullsh!t just to sell you something.

Yeah, he's got ads on his site for a nutrition program. If he writes an article on acupuncture, is that bullsh!t too because he's an acupuncturist? He's not marketing any physical products that I can see (except for a book he just wrote in the last month, perhaps).

The whole modern notion we have on heart disease is based around p!ss-poor studies. It's not even about misinterpretation. It's just poor science that gets repeated to infinity because it's become dogma. If you disagree with the dogma, then you risk being ostracized. It's no different than the debate on global warming or GMO. "The science is settled" and if you disagree with that science then you must be a science-fearing loser.

I am not overly familiar with point #1, but points #2 - #4 are all over the medical literature if you want to look it up yourself.

I never said that I thought cholesterol causes heart disease. I was pointing out that he has a clear agenda around a business model that doesn't exactly have a reputation for intellectual honesty and integrity.

Just because I find fault with B doesn't automatically presume that I agree with or otherwise don't find fault with A.

[Kymus]

I never said that I thought cholesterol causes heart disease. I was pointing out that he has a clear agenda around a business model that doesn't exactly have a reputation for intellectual honesty and integrity.

Just because I find fault with B doesn't automatically presume that I agree with or otherwise don't find fault with A.


I never said you disagreed with Kresser's conclusions. I simply named others who share his beliefs and aren't marketing anything and have more experience than him.
If you want to believe that Kresser is a woo woo charlatain that's just writing up articles so you'll sign up for his nutrition program, knock yourself out. I'm not going to bother debating personal theories. In my experience, his content is spot on and scientifically sound. I don't really care about his ads since I'm in a similar line of work.
Have a nice day :)

[wenshu]

I never said you disagreed with Kresser's conclusions.

but yeah, yeah you kinda did though



I simply named others who share his beliefs and aren't marketing anything and have more experience than him.


srial?


Through Cholesterol-And-Health.Com Special Reports I offer four in-depth reports per volume. I will be selling the individual reports for $15. But if you subscribe today you will receive a full volume of four reports — a $60 value — for only $30!
http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/Special-Reports.html

I'm sure his speaking fees are very reasonable and not exorbitant in any way whatsoever, no sir.

http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/2012-low-carb-cruise-lecture-chris-masterjohn/15104


If you want to believe that Kresser is a woo woo charlatain that's just writing up articles so you'll sign up for his nutrition program, knock yourself out

Before this exchange I might have been be alarmed by the fact that you don't think that they are after your $$$.



I'm not going to bother debating personal theories. In my experience, his content is spot on and scientifically sound.

I wonder if you are aware that the latter sentence directly contradicts the former.



I don't really care about his ads since I'm in a similar line of work.


Spam? Email address harvesting? Multi-level marketing schemes?

[SavvySavage]

Dude, the information in the articles is solid. Forget about all the marketing stuff. That wasn't the point of him posting the articles.

We are talking about cholesterol and its fake link to heart disease but you keep talking about the spammer.

[wenshu]

Hey we think this science is bad, so buy this even worse science instead.

[bawang]

r u guys srsly saying cholesterol doesn't cause heart disease

LOL

[SavvySavage]

r u guys srsly saying cholesterol doesn't cause heart disease

LOL

Your body naturally creates cholesterol in response to stress. You need cholesterol.

[bawang]

Your body naturally creates cholesterol in response to stress. You need cholesterol.

science

learn it

[SavvySavage]

science

learn it

Go learn wing chun

[RAF]

http://www.heartattackproof.com/qanda.htm

Make Yourself Heart Attack Proof
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYTf0z_zVs0



Q&A with Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., MD


Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., MD, F.A.C.S.

Please note: If your question is about finding a doctor in your area who supports a plant-based diet, please see this link: How to Find a Plant-Based Doctor.

1. How is your approach to treating heart disease unique?

My program is a nutrition-based therapy that has been scientifically-proven to reverse heart disease. There is no other treatment plan backed by a study as long as the one I conducted, or a study that has produced such dramatic, visible results. Coronary angiograms (X-Rays) of the patients in my study show an actual reversal of the disease. To experience these benefits, my patients must stick to my plant-based diet program strictly, but the effects are more than worth the effort. For those that are very sick, it is the most effective treatment option--far less dangerous and more effective than invasive surgical procedures such as stents and bypass (except in acute emergencies), and much more effective than drugs alone. Traditional cardiology has relied on technology to ease the symptoms of heart disease, but has not addressed its causes. My approach is not another stop-gap solution, it prevents heart disease from occurring in those who don't yet have the disease, and it heals the body and reverses the disease when symptoms are present.

Best of all, over time the benefits endure and continue to improve. I am always excited when I see arrest and reversal in patient after patient and their joy and relief when they are free of the disease that was destroying them.

2. What would you say to someone considering a stent or other surgical procedure or drug therapy, to treat their heart disease?

All heart patients who are not absolute emergencies should first have an aggressive opportunity at non surgical medical therapy. This is not just my opinion but that of expert cardiolgists from Boston, Hartford, Houston, Stanford, San Diego, Seattle and Cleveland. The difference in my case is that I advocate an aggressive plant based nutrition program to arrest and reverse the disease and to avoid all surgery. Drugs alone do not prevent heart attacks and stop symptoms of heart disease.

3. How do you encourage your patients to stay on the diet?

There is no question it is hard at first. And it is hardest eating out at friends' houses. However, I am always impressed how well my patients do once they experience the relief of chest pain, weight loss, and the improved feeling of well being they have eating a plant-based diet. Then the motivation comes from within. It also helps that within 8-12 weeks of starting the program the fat receptor in the brain down regulates and they lose the craving for fat. And as they start feeling better and better, they know that they are the ones-- not their physician or their surgeon--that have control over the disease. It is a powerful feeling!

4. Why does the diet eliminate oil entirely?

NO OIL! Not even olive oil, which goes against a lot of other advice out there about so-called good fats. The reality is that oils are extremely low in terms of nutritive value. They contain no fiber, no minerals and are 100% fat calories. And above all they contain saturated fat which immediately injures the endothelial lining of the arteries when eaten. It doesn't matter whether it's olive oil, corn oil, coconut il or any other kind , avoid ALL oil. This is so important I have detailed oil in Chapter 10.

5. Can you actually enjoy food on the program?

We LOVE our food. Our children and grandchildren love our food and the patients love the food. Everyone loves the food once they give it a try. It is all a matter of attitude--and you do need a positive attitude to get started and to understand that this new way of eating is the best thing you can do for your body. Then, the body will help you adjust. You actually begin to lose your physiologically-based craving for fat. Once that occurs, you can fully appreciate the natural taste of plant foods--the colorful tastes and textures are difficult to surpass.

6. Why should I change? My health is excellent.

No one escapes in the end--eventually the traditional western diet guarantees some form of disease in all of us. While it may not be heart disease at the moment, eventually it will be or hypertension, diabetes, stroke,obesity, gall stones, diverticulitis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, or a greater likelihood of breast, prostate, colon, ovarian and uterine cancers. Even erectile dysfunction and dementia. The world famous Framingham Heart Study now approaching its 60th year looked at 1,000 people at age 50 who had normal blood pressure. They looked at the same group at age 70, and 90% now had high blood pressure. But there is something that you can do now to stop the cascading events that occur in the body and lead to disease. You can change your diet and begin safeguarding your health for the future.

More Commonly Asked Questions

Protein - Where do I get my protein / What protein drink is best?
Extra protein powder and shakes are truly unnecessary and have the potential for harm if they contain animal protein. The protein available through plant-based nutrition is adequate to nourish professional champion athletes such as the iron man, professional football, mixed martial arts, track and field, etc.

Calcium – Where do I get calcium?
Calcium supplementation is unnecessary. There is more than adequate calcium in a plant- based diet of whole grains, legumes and grains and especially the green leafy vegetables.

Vitamins – What Vitamins should I take?
A multivitamin is a reasonable way to be sure of obtaining the full spectrum of vitamins, but my preference, especially if one is eating copious amounts of green leafy vegetables, is to limit supplements to Vitamin D as necessary to maintain blood level in the normal range and B -12.

Fish Oil - Should I take fish oil?
Fish oil is not essential. Fish get their omega 3 from plants. It is difficult to be deficient in Omega 3 if eating 1-2 tablespoons of flax seed meal and green leafy vegetables at several meals. There is also research that suggests that those on plant based nutrition become highly efficient in their own manufacture of omega 3. Patients on fish oil are also at increased risk for bleeding.

Flax Seed Oil/ Flax Seed Meal – What about flax seed oil?
Flax seed meal is well tolerated and supplies a bonus of omega 3 using 1 or 2 tablespoons on cereal daily. Avoid flax seed oil.

Olive oil, canola oil, coconut oil, Sunflower oil, soybean oil, peanut oil, any oil –
Which oil is best?
Avoid oils. They injure the endothelium, the innermost lining of the artery, and that injury is the gateway to vascular disease.

Lotions with oil – Is it all right to use lotions with oil on my skin?
It is fine to use lotions with oil on your skin.

Omega 3 – How do I get my Omega 3’s?
Omega 3 ‘s are essential fatty acids supplied in adequate amounts in people consuming plant based nutrition with plenty of green leafy vegetables.

Family history –I have a bad family history? Does it matter?
Family history can shed light on whether one has an increased risk, but multiple autopsy studies of the young confirm that all who are consuming the standard western diet have established, albeit early, vascular disease. Family history loads the gun but lifestyle pulls the trigger.

Nuts – What about nuts? I hear so many different opinions.
For those with established heart disease to add more saturated fat is inappropriate.
For people with no heart disease who want to eat nuts and avocado and are able to achieve a cholesterol of 150 and LDL of 80 or under without cholesterol lowering drugs, some nuts and avocado are acceptable. No nuts for heart disease patients, includes peanuts and peanut butter, even though peanuts are officially a legume. Chestnuts are the one nut, very low in fat, it is ok to eat. (For a clarification of misinformation about nuts and this diet, see here.)

Seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, sesame) Are seeds ok to eat?
Some seeds sprinkled on bread or crackers, etc., are acceptable. Just don’t eat handfuls.

Coconut water – Is it all right to drink coconut water?
Coconut water is 8% saturated fat (If the fat is less than .5 per serving it does not have to be listed on the label) and about 50% sugar. So save your money and don't use it.

Prostate cancer- Does plant based eating help prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is greatly lessoned by plant- based nutrition as best exemplified by the 1958 report confirming by autopsy 18 deaths in the entire nation of Japan.

[RAF]

Egg whites, fat free milk, yogurt – So What is wrong with egg whites, fat free yogurt, skim milk?
Egg whites, fat free milk and yogurt are ALL animal protein, and animal protein injures the lining of the arteries. Do not eat.

Cholesterol Number fluctuation – Why do my cholesterol numbers fluctuate?
Fluctuation of cholesterol is normal. It is nice to have it fluctuating in a range that would indicate you are unlikely to have cardio vascular problems.

Losing weight –What can I do to stop losing too much weight?
If you are losing too much weight, EAT MORE calories. Increase portion size. Eat snacks. Eat more whole grains and beans.

Tired, no energy - Why am I tired and have no energy since eating plant-based?
If you feel tired and lacking in energy, be sure you are eating enough calories. Also exercise because you need to use energy to make energy. Depression also contributes to lack of energy. But first of all eat more.

Not losing weight – Why haven’t I lost weight/ Why have I stopped losing weight?
If not losing enough weight, eliminate flour products like bread, pasta and bagels. Instead, eat whole grains like rice, quinoa, barley and farro, etc. Reduce portion size. Increase leafy green vegetables and exercise.

Triglycerides– Why did my triglycerides go up?
If your triglycerides are high, cut back on simple carbohydrates which would include alcohol, wine, beer, white flour products, sugars including dried fruit, honey maple syrup, molasses, rich desserts, fruit juice or an excess of fruit,


HDL- My doctor is so concerned because my HDL has gone down
It is not uncommon for HDL to fall when cholesterol falls. Do not be alarmed. The capacity of HDL to do its job has been shown recently by scientific research that there is no relationship between the capacity of the HDL molecule to function optimally and its blood level. Recent research has confirmed that the HDL molecule can be injured and weakened when one is ingesting a pro inflammatory western diet and conversely it appears despite a lower than normal level to be optimized by anti inflammatory plant based-nutrition.

LDL - Where should my LDL be?
LDL is the bad cholesterol. The closer it can be to 80-85, the better. However, if one is unable to take statin drugs and eating plant-based nutrition, and the LDL won’t go lower than 95-105, it would appear that they will still be fine. The lesson we learned from the Tarahumara Indians, who never have cardiovascular disease, is that the most key protective element is not so much the pure LDL number as is knowing that nothing ever is eaten which is a building block of vascular disease or can injure endothelium.

Statins - Should I take statins or not?
Statins are not the reason that cultures such as the Tarhumara and the Papua Highlanders do not have cardiovascular disease. Statins appear to have no benefit in primary prevention but are of some help in slowing disease progression for those who already have an established diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. Clearly some of our most profound successes in arresting and reversing disease were with patients who either refused or were incapable of taking statins. Nothing is as powerful for the prevention of cardiovascular disease as plant based nutrition.

Coumadin – Can I eat leafy greens when I am on Coumadin?
Coumadin (Warfarin) is an anti clotting drug shown to have significant benefit in protecting people with atrial fibrillation from having a stroke. Can patients on Coumadin eat all the green leafy vegetables with vitamin k, which may shorten their clotting time? The answer most emphatically is YES! Merely inform the physician who is monitoring the Coumadin and clotting time that you are regularly going to be eating copious amounts of healthy green leafy vegetables. He/she will appropriately adjust the Coumadin dose.

Juicing- Is it all right to juice?
Do not juice. You lose all the fiber and its benefits.

Fruit juice – What about fruit juice?
Drinking fruit juice is like pouring the sugar bowl down your throat. It is fine to eat the whole fruit. Do not drink the juice.


Smoothies – How about smoothies? I love them!
Avoid smoothies. The fiber is so finely pureed that its helpful properties are destroyed. The sugar is stripped from the fruit, bypasses salivary digestion and results in a surge of glucose and the accompanying fructose contributes to inflammation and hypertension.

A Fib- Will plant nutrition work for A Fib?
While A Fib is largely independent of nutrition, and is a heart rhythm abnormality, there are some subset of cases which are presumably related to less than optimal heart circulation. While it would be totally inappropriate for me to suggest plant - based nutrition would cure atrial fibrillation, the many ancillary benefits would indicate plant based nutrition would be of value.

Calcium score- Is a calcium score helpful?
With cardiac CT you get a big hit of radiation. If you have been eating the typical American diet, you have heart disease as autopsy studies have shown.

Erectile dysfunction- Will erectile dysfunction reverse with plant based nutrition?
We have seen erectile dysfunction reverse on multiple occasions. Those who follow the program most closely have the best results. How long it takes varies.

Do Cholesterol Numbers Matter?
What you eat matters most. LDL 85 or under is the ideal but it can vary if you eat plant based.

Sugar- How much sugar is safe?
Newer information suggests that excess sugar is harmful, especially fructose, one of the most commonly ingested sugars, which can contribute to inflammation and hyper tension as well as weight gain and exacerbating diabetes

Coffee – Can I drink coffee?
Avoid coffee with caffeine. Several studies indicate it may contribute injury to the lining of the artery.

Soy products – What about soy products?
Soy products are 40% fat and most of them are highly processed. An excess of soy protein may stimulate insulin growth factor, which is a tumor promoter. Eat soy products cautiously.

Does eating plant based help with congestive heart Failure?

There are multiple components in the treatment of congestive heart failure. It is our experience that when all the usual therapies have been instituted, there can be additional improvement with the introduction of whole food, plant based nutrition.

There are so many different diets out there…Paleo, blood type, how do I know which one to choose?
That is not as challenging as it may appear. You can separate hype from scientific reality by seeing if the author has done peer reviewed scientific research prior to bringing the ideas to the public.

What is the difference between plant protein and animal protein?
While the precise mechanisms need to be elucidated, animal and epidemiological studies as well as the brachial artery tourniquet test, confirm that animal protein accelerates both atherosclerosis and cancer, whereas plant protein does not.

About the author
Caldwell B Esselstyn
Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., received his B.A. from Yale University and his M.D. from Western Reserve University. In 1956, pulling the No. 6 oar as a member of the victorious United States rowing team, he was awarded a gold medal at the Olympic Games. He was trained as a surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic and at St. George’s Hospital in London. In 1968, as an Army surgeon in Vietnam, he was awarded the Bronze Star. Dr. Esselstyn has been associated with the Cleveland Clinic since 1968. During that time, he has served as President of the Staff and as a member of the Board of Governors. He chaired the Clinic’s Breast Cancer Task Force and headed its Section of Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery. In 1991, Dr. Esselstyn served as President of the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons, That same year he organized the first National Conference on the Elimination of Coronary Artery Disease, which was held in Tucson, Arizona. In 1997, he chaired a follow-up conference, the Summit on Cholesterol and Coronary Disease, which brought together more than 500 physicians and health-care workers in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. In April, 2005, Dr. Esselstyn became the first recipient of the Benjamin Spock Award for Compassion in Medicine. He received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Cleveland Clinic Alumni Association in 2009. In September 2010, he received the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame Award. His scientific publications number over 150, “The Best Doctors in America” 1994-1995 published by Woodward and White cites Dr. Esselstyn’s surgical expertise in the categories of endocrine and breast disease. In 1995 he published his bench mark long-term nutritional research arresting and reversing coronary artery disease in severely ill patients. That same study was updated at 12 years and reviewed beyond twenty years in his book, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, making it one of the longest longitudinal studies of its type. It is most compelling, as no compliant patients have sustained disease progression. Today, beyond 20 years compliant patients continue to thrive. Dr. Esselstyn and his wife, Ann Crile Esselstyn, have followed a plant-based diet for more than 26 years. Dr. Esselstyn presently directs the cardiovascular prevention and reversal program at The Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute. The Esselstyns have four children and eight grandchildren.

[Kymus]

r u guys srsly saying cholesterol doesn't cause heart disease

LOL

I m srsly saying that dietary cholesterol (well, save for oxidized cholesterol) and saturated fats do not correlate with heart disease. :eek:

ROFLMAOBBQWTF rite?

If you're too scared of Chris Kresser (http://chriskresser.com/specialreports/heartdisease), too cautious of Dr. Chris Masterjohn (http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/Does-Cholesterol-Cause-Heart-Disease-Myth.html), and think that Dr. Uffe Ravnskov (http://www.ravnskov.nu/cholesterol.htm) guy is just trying to sell you his books, how about Dr. Andro (http://suppversity.blogspot.com/search?q=cholesterol) or Dr. Guyenet (http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/search?q=cholesterol)?

[RAF]

Integrative cardiology perspective:

Published on May 9, 2013

Google Tech Talk
March 19, 2013
Presented by Stephen Devries, M.D.
Executive Director, Gaples Institute for Integrative Cardiology
Associate Professor, Northwestern University

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oldcxc5OsWI&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PL18C76601B139E3C8