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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Don, which tractor are you wanting to outlast? If it's the little Farmall, you better get your cholesterol down another 80%

My doc was going to prescribe some chol. lowering meds and I asked if there was anything else he could recommend as I don't like prescriptions. He started me on 1 baby aspirin, 1 niacin, and 1 or 2 fish oil per day. Over a few months he bumped up the niacins to 3- 100mg per day. I can't remember how much my levels changed but they did drop and so did my blood pressure. I saw something about using niacin in consumer reports and saving money vs. cholesterol lowering statins.

I might as well jump off a cliff if someone told me all I could eat was plant material. I've never been much of a vegetarian and would consider myself a starchaholic (meat and potatoes). It shows on my frame. My sister is a total vegetarian (although I think she might eat cheese) and she has weight issues too.

 

[txdon]

Kyle, niacin has also helped me. The mayo clinic reports it increases HDL (good cholesterol). HDL should be above 40, mine is 61. I have been taking 1 timed released 500mg daily. There has been lots of positive research on niacin.

According to the Engine Two book to be heart attack proof the LDL (bad cholesterol) should be below 80 and total cholesterol below 150. I'm hoping diet will lower my LDL.

To figure total Cholesterol = HDL+LDL+1/5 triglyceride level.

This is strange for me, it seems like you should subtract the HDL, oh, well..

The Framingham Study, which compiled data on almost all residents of Framingham Mssachsetts, showed 35% of documented heart attacks occurred when cholesterol was between 151 and 200. There were no heart attacks for people with cholesterol less than 150 (without the use of cholesterol lowering drugs).

This just out - Eating Fish Does Not Protect Against Heart Attacks
(from www.pcrm.org/.)
In a study out this month, researchers found that consuming fish does not reduce the risk of heart failure. After 11 years of follow-up of 5,000 men and women, almost 670 had heart attacks. Those who consumed the most fish had no protective effect, compared with others. This research was part of the Rotterdam Study in the Netherlands where, like all Western nations, heart failure is common.

Dijkstra SC, Brouwer IA, van Rooij FJA, Hofman A, Witteman JCM, Geleijnse JM. Intake of very long chain n-3 fatty acids from fish and the incidence of heart failure: the Rotterdam Study. Eur J Heart Fail. 2009;11:922-928.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Here's some reading for you. Check out Chelation therapy. Several possible mechanisms have been proposed, though none have been scientifically validated. The procedure might leach calcium directly from the fatty plaques that block the arteries; stimulate the release of a hormone that removes deposited calcium or lowers cholesterol levels; or reduce oxidative stress on the blood vessel walls.[


Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease

heart disease, heart attack, coronary, atherosclerosis, artery, arteries, natural healing, natural cure, longevity, living long, life, cholesterol, age, old, elderly, geriatric, gerontology, lifespan

Chelation therapy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

EDTA Chelation: A Misunderstood Therapy for Atherosclerosis and other Chronic Diseases

 

[Cat_Driver]

Another option - Go out and buy a cheap Chinese tractor then you won't have to worry about out living your tractor

Thank you ladies and gentlemen I'll be here all week don't forget to yip the waitress.

 

[txdon]

Oh my, it looks like you might upset some tractor owners.

The first two links were written by the father of the author of the Engine 2 Diet book. Good info.

The Chelation therapy seems interesting, I'll do some more reading on that.

Thanks for the links!

 

[LostInTheWoods]

This just out - Eating Fish Does Not Protect Against Heart Attacks
(from Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) - Neal Barnard, M.D., president.)
In a study out this month, researchers found that consuming fish does not reduce the risk of heart failure. After 11 years of follow-up of 5,000 men and women, almost 670 had heart attacks. Those who consumed the most fish had no protective effect, compared with others. This research was part of the Rotterdam Study in the Netherlands where, like all Western nations, heart failure is common.

Dijkstra SC, Brouwer IA, van Rooij FJA, Hofman A, Witteman JCM, Geleijnse JM. Intake of very long chain n-3 fatty acids from fish and the incidence of heart failure: the Rotterdam Study. Eur J Heart Fail. 2009;11:922-928.

Reading the "Criticism" section at Wikipedia doesn't leave me with a warm and fuzzy feeling about PCRM. Seems they're tied into PETA, and "physicians" make up less than 5% of their group... Doesn't sound like they're inclined to be impartial.

 

[LostInTheWoods]

The first two links were written by the father of the author of the Engine 2 Diet book. Good info.

And guess who he works for....

PCRM >> Events >> Nutrition in Clinical Practice Continuing Medical Education Seminar

I'm not saying he's right or wrong, I just always like to know more about the source...

 

[radman1]

Biggest risk factors for atherosclerotic disease are age, smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes. The goal is to control these 5. Tough to control age so that one is mute. Smoking is number 1 offender that is purely self-inflicted (not to mention the large number of cancer related deaths and emphysema). Genetics plays a big role in the other 3. Diet and excercise are beneficial but can't necessarily control the other 3. Most of the population can only lower cholesterol by 5-10% with diet alone. Sure there are exceptions but most people can't/won't maintain a strict diet. Because of this, most drs will just start patient's on statins rather than relying on diet. Biggest side effects of statins causing drs to stopt statins are muscle weakness/aches and increase in liver functions tests.

Reversing heart disease is extremely difficult and may not be possible. Some reports of very high dose statins and acheiving very low LDL levels may actually reverse plaque build up but hard data still preliminary.

Low dose asprin is the simplest, most widely available and cheapest medication to prevent heart attacks and strokes from atherosclerotic disease. Most cardiologists I know start taking low dose asprin at age 40-50 unless contraindicated.

 

[Egon]

Aw heck, just chew some willow branches!

 

[Marlowe]

Come on guys, the medical bunch worked for years to come up with all those good drugs we have today to help us stay healthy. I struggled for years to stay healthy without any little pills but some day you just need to admit we have some drugs to help. Due to diet and exercise I am in great shape able to do almost anything I want to do. But due to a pill or two my pulse rate is the envy of most and my cholesterol numbers are almost off the chart on the good side. My ambition is to do everything I can to help in the longevity process, including taking whatever drugs are proven to help. By the way, I don't smoke and never have. I'm under two hundred pounds and work on that every day. I pay attention to what I eat but I'm not fanatical about it. What's the use in living if we don't enjoy it?