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: This program really works! Read this testimonial!
Summary: 5 Stars
First of all, one thing I have noticed is that some people seem to hate this book and base their judgment on the fact that this promotes a vegetarian diet; like that's a bad thing! Please, check the latest literature about vegetarian diets before [deciding] I have friends who believe in high protein diets and since I have known them, they believe it is working, but they are not losing weight. At any rate, this book contains a much more complex program than just diet. It is simple to read and even more simple to follow. This time I will follow through with it despite my busy schedule. A busy schedule is no excuse for not eating healthy and exercising.Book Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
Before starting this program, I had Stage 1 hypertension, cholesterol of 288, and was 50 pounds overweight. I also had a cardiac scan and got a calcium score of 27. Since I am only 38 years old, and have a strong family history of early heart disease, I was a bit overwhelmed with the direction of my health. The Cardiologist suggested the Ornish program. Within 6 months, I lost 54 pounds, my cholesterol is down to 119, my BP averages 109/70, and my cholesterol/HDL ratio is now 3.7. I look better, and feel better too. The "diet" does take some adjustment, but not as much as I thought. I also thought I'd never be able to eat out, but that didn't happen either. I still eat out 3X/week, but just feel better that I am making smart choices. While no "diet" is 100%, and while some things others have said in their reviews tend to concern me, no other program has ever helped me get my BP, cholesterol and weight under control as well as Ornish. They can say what they want, but I know I am healthier and will be less likely to "go" from a heart attack at 42 like my father.Book Review: Some Good Advice, but Lots of Dietary Errors
Summary: 2 Stars
Dr. Ornish's book claims to be based on "the only scientifically-proven plan for reversing heart disease." While several of his suggestions are sound and probably account for the improvements in some of his patients, the dietary advice in the book is abysmal and should not be followed.The first section of the book concerns itself with several case histories and is quite interesting--everyone loves a story.
The second section deals with the lifestyle changes Ornish believes will prevent and reverse heart disease. Chapters 7, 8, and 9 concern themselves with getting in touch with your emotions, your interpersonal relationships, and your relationship to a Higher Power. Chapters 11 and 12 deal with quitting smoking and exercising more. All of these things are certainly helpful in regaining and maintaining one's health.
It is in chapter 10 where the advice goes bad. This chapter concerns itself with diet. There are so many errors in it that it is difficult to know where to begin but a brief synopsis will be attempted.
Dr. Ornish says that there are two diets presented in the chapter: the Reversal Diet and the Prevention Diet. The Reversal Diet is for treating and reversing heart disease, while the Prevention Diet is for, well, prevention of heart disease. Ornish says that, "Both diets will substantially reduce your risk of developing other degenerative diseases, including obesity, high blood pressure, stroke, osteoporosis, diabetes, gallstones, and cancers of the colon, breast, and prostate." (P. 254) Ornish also claims that the diets will help you "to enjoy life more."
Of course, the diet he recommends is an ultra-low-fat regime that is almost 100% vegan. On page 256, he says that the Reversal Diet is "very low in fat and cholesterol," containing less than 10% calories from fat. The diet also excludes foods high in saturated fats such as "avocados, nuts, and seeds." Egg whites and nonfat dairy products are allowed. The bulk of the diet is made up of complex carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables.
Dr. Ornish's advice shows his lack of knowledge about lipids (fats and oils) and research has not borne out his claims about low-fat diets being good for heart disease. In the first place, avocados, nuts, and seeds are not "high in saturated fats" as he claims. Their fat content is mostly from oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid, and linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid. Very little of the fat content of nuts, seeds, and avocados comes from saturated fatty acids (see MG Enig "Know Your Fats," Bethesda Press, 2001, 291-2). Additionally, a comprehensive review of the available trials has shown the ineffectiveness of low-fat/cholesterol diets in both treating and preventing heart disease (L Corr and M Oliver. Eur Heart J, 1997, 18:18-22; (b) G Taubes. Science 2001 Mar 30 291:5513 2536-45). In fact, such diets actually INCREASE risk factors for heart disease (DM Dreon and others. Amer J Clin Nutr, 1999, 69:411-8; F. Jeppesen and others. Am Jnl Clin Nutr, 1997; 65:1027-1033).
Furthermore, vegetarian diets do not protect against heart disease. A study of vegans showed that vegan females had higher rates of heart disease than non-vegan females (Ellis, Path, Montegriffo. Amer J Clin Nutr, 1970, 32:249-255). Vegetarians in India suffer from high rates of coronary artery disease--higher than meat-eating Indians (EA Enas. J Indian Med Assoc 2000 Nov;98(11):694-5, 697-702; SL Malhotra. Brit Hrt J, 29:895-905, 1967). Some studies have also shown that vegetarians have higher homocysteine levels than non-vegetarians and homocysteine is a known cause of heart disease ((a) Herrmann, Schorr, Purschwitz, Rassoul, Richter. Clin Chem, 2001, 47(6):1094-10; (b) D Mazzano and others. Thromb Res 2000 Nov 100:153-60).
The high carbohydrate diet Ornish recommends will drive insulin levels up and keep them elevated. Hyperinsulinemia is also another probable cause of heart disease (I. Zavaroni and others. New Eng J Med, 1989, Mar 16, 320:11:702-6).
Ornish makes a lot of other bizarre claims in this chapter--all without any supporting documentation. For example, he mistakenly says that, "Sugar is not very strongly linked with coronary heart disease; the real culprits are saturated fats and cholesterol." (P. 257). This statement directly contradicts meticulous research on sugar and heart disease (J Yudkin. Lancet 1:296-297, 1971). Additionally, careful reviews have shown that saturated fats and cholesterol do NOT cause heart disease (U Ravnskov. The Cholesterol Myths. New Trends Publishing, 2001).
Ornish claims that excess dietary protein causes osteoporosis when actually such notions have been shown to be false--when protein is consumed as real meat as opposed to isolated amino acids ((a) H Spencer and L Kramer. J Nutr, 1986, 116:316-319; (b) Amer J Clin Nutr, 1983, 924-929; (c) J Nutr, 1988, 118(6):657-60).
On page 267, Ornish says that, "Many anthropologists believe that our ancestor's were primarily vegetarian." No supporting references to the "many anthropologists" are given. This statement also flies in the face of accepted nutritional anthropological data which clearly shows that humans evolved as omnivores and that meat and animal foods made up a significant part of our forebears' diet (HL Abrams. J Appl Nutr, 1979, 31:1,2:43-59).
On page 268, Ornish claims that "as early as 1900 two thrids of the protein in the typical American diet came from plant foods." Again, no supporting references are made for this untrue statement. Did he look at any cookbooks from that time? If he did, he'd see lots of recipes for meat, fish, shellfish, and wild game. Recipes invariably included butter, cream, or lard as well--at a time when heart disease was rare!
And on and on it goes. If you'd like to read what dietary factors figure into heart disease, you should look into my book "Diet & Heart Disease: Its NOT What You Think," Kilmer McCully's "The Heart Revolution," and Christian Allan's "Life Without Bread." For a thorough debunking of Dr. Ornish's dubious claims, see Uffe Ravnskov's "The Cholesterol Myths." All of these book are available off of amazon.com and would be better investments of your money.
Book Review: Use English !
Summary: 3 Stars
The word is UNHEALTHY .... NOT unhealthful.In no dictionary can I find this word 'unhealthful'. So WHY USE IT when a perfectly good word already exists?
CNN is great at inventing words. Let's at least keep these stupidities off this website.
Thank You
Book Review: It worked for me!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
When my doctor suggested cholesterol lowering drugs last year, I decided that 34years old was too soon to start taking drugs. My cholesterol was 266 (& that's after cutting out most red meat and pork fat -and no hamburgers). I was motivated to try to improve the health of my arteries and heart. I want to be around for my ten year old's retirement party! I followed Dr Ornish's diet program for 6 month's then had my cholesterol levels tested again. Everything improved: cholesterol down to 210, triglycerides went from 389 to 217 and my ratio improved 24%. I never skipped a meal. I never went hungry. Secondary benefit: I lost 14 pounds and two inches around my waist without trying. I did not exercise enough so I am trying to increase my exercise now. I probably exercised an average of once a week.
By the way, Dr Ornish included a chart that demanded that you eat at least a certain amount of fat in your daily diet. I liked that the book is filled with studies by major US universities. This is not 600 pages of rambling prose but a how to book to reverse heart disease. If you want someone to hold your hand, call your Mom. If you want a "How to Reverse Your Heart Disease" manual, buy this book. ... Stop reading reviews and buy, read and try it.