Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease: The Only System Scientifically Proven to Reverse Heart Disease Without Drugs or Surgery
by Dean Ornish
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Book Reviews of Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease: The Only System Scientifically Proven to Reverse Heart Disease Without Drugs or Surgery
Book Review: Confused by too many heart disease reversing plans.
Summary: 3 Stars
I started to read this book due to my elevated cholesterol found in annual check-up. This book promotes vegetarian style eating habits such as eating more carbohydrate than animal products and is backed up by many scientific research data and seems very promising. It limits your calorie intake from fat up to 10% daily.
After reading Dr. Dean's book, I found Dr. Whitaker's book "Reversing heart disease", which has a similar diet plan and increases calorie intake from fat to 20%. Dr. Dean recommends Canola oil in that it contains Omega-6 and -3 and contains less saturated fat than oliver oil, while Dr. Whitaker is in favour of Oliver oil as Canola oil might contain processed components.
After searching the google and yahoo again, I found Dr. Atkins diet plan that cut down your carbohydrate significantly and requires more eating on proteins and other animal products. It also claims it has the same effect on cholesterol and again backed up by many scientific evidence. Obviously, Dr. Atkins plan is completely different from the previous two.
After more yahooing and goolging, I have found more diet plans and each of them claims they are good on cholesterol and heart disease. To make matters worse, the more I read, the more worries that I have. As some symptoms described on medical sites are exactly what I am experiencing, after reading a whole week of these information, I have identified myself to possibly have liver failure, diabetic (although my glucose reading is within the normal range), blockage in my arteries and possibly kidney failure. So if I continue to read, I guess I might not die of heart attack due to elevated cholesterol rather I might be over-concerned and stressed to death.
If you are just a normal people like me without any real problems yet, I would say calm down and read no books at all as these books have contradicting arguments and methods. One book tells you to use Oliver oil and yet another recommends Canola oil. One book tells you no egg yolk, only egg white since egg yolk contains high cholesterol, and yet another book recommends taking 7 eggs a week as egg yolk contains many nutrients required by your brain. One book says no meat, lots of carbs and yet another book says lots of meat, no bread. Moreover, their arguments are all backed up by seemingly solid scientific studies. You, as a layman as I am, stand in between, leave you only one reasonable choice that satisfies all criteria: eat nothing and go starvation. Only by doing this, you will not overeat meat as well as carbs. Clearly, this is not an option. So all in all, I would say continue your own life, eat less saturated fat as most doctors suggested; More fish, no trans fat, more beans and vegetables; Exercise regularly. And most importantly, forget about all these books and have fun in your own life.
Book Review: A great accomplishment and resource
Summary: 5 Stars
Dr. Ornish builds a strong case for his diet and stress reduction plan, both in his review of the research that preceeded his study and in regard to the results of his clinical trial. I think the reason his work is often misunderstood is that he calls for major dietary and life style changes in order to REVERSE cardiovascular disease, something that had not been demonstrated prior to his research.
I am cooking a soup inspired by one of his recipes right now in my kitchen: chick peas, leeks, and tomato juice soup seasoned with sage and thyme.
As I read some of the negative reviews of his book I began to realize that many readers may have confused the mediators for cardiovascular disease with the actual disease process. Thus his diet does cause weight loss, does reduce cholesterol, does reduce high blood pressure but these are all mediators for cardiovascular disease. A person might try other diets for weight loss or to lower blood pressure, but reversing cardiovascular disease requires more effort. The amazing accomplishment was that he actually demonstrated a reduction in cardiovascular disease in his patients with this approach.
I can not immagine a single heart attack victim in this country not going on this diet immediately. I was convinced by his data and the logical consistency of his approach.
Book Review: A change in the way of thinking about things
Summary: 5 Stars
Dean Ornish's (1995) clinical medical research, for example, shows that heart disease, the biggest cause of death presently in the United States and in many developed countries, and potentially many other conditions - e.g. he's doing clinical trials presently on prostate cancer with positive results so far - are reversible through lifestyle changes, especially a nutritionally-sound, low-fat, grain-, vegetable-, bean- (including soy bean products) and fruit-centered diet; exercise, e.g. 30 minutes of walking per day; relaxation; and community. His work originates from a yoga perspective.
People in the U.S. consume 30% of their calories in the form of fat, which contributes to putting a significant part of the population at risk for heart disease. By contrast, a heart disease-reversing diet involves consuming about 10% of one's daily calories in the form of fat, - aim for very, very little fat intake using the very useful Food and Drug Administration labels on all U.S. food (labels in the UK are not nearly as informative), get exercise and have fun with friends. In general, try to eat less than 3 grams of fat per serving.
Book Review: worth careful consideration
Summary: 5 Stars
I have not read this book, however I have read most of these reviews. I am an RN and would just like to point out that each individual is bound to have his or her own unique experience with this diet. To any who adamantly state this should never be tried, for whatever your reasons (selling your own book, or solely considering your own health concerns) shame on you. To attempt to black list this book for people it MAY help is well, despicable. I am personally buying this book both for family members and myself who are having atherosclerotic problems. The key is, if there are potential problems, to insist on getting those things checked regularly with your doctor, which we will do and post more in the future with our personal results.Book Review: Ornish has the answer to better health
Summary: 5 Stars
Like Dr. John Mcdougall, Dean Ornish proves that the diet, we as humans have eaten for millions of years in the key to good health. We have only eaten a high fat, high protien diet for the last 100 years. These food were limited to the wealthy and they paid the price with things like, breast, postate, colon cancers. These diseases are unknown in those cultures that follow all low fat, low protien, dairy free diet. He proves that most all cronic illnesses are related to the rich American Diet. A great book and a life savor for many.