[.ca] Prevent And Reverse Heart Disease (ISBN 1583333002)

Worth trying:
I learned about Dr. Esselstyn's work from another book (China Study). I don't know how truly affective his advice is but it sounds indeed reasonable. I have to just put it in practice and see the results. In any case the recipes are good, the meals tasty, and I find this book worth having, indeed. Another title that I highly recommend is Cure the Incurable.

Nutrition Matters:
One of the pioneers in demonstrating the power of plant-based nutrition to contemporary North America, this man has an impressive resume. I first met Dr. Esselstyn through a DVD. There were a number of excellent speakers at the 2005 Vegsource Healthy Lifestyle Expo, but his presentation really made the purchase of these DVDs worthwhile for me. So much so, that in 2006 I spent 3 days on a bus to meet him (and others) in person, in California. My father, grandfather and great grandfather all died young from heart attacks. My father being the youngest at 42. For most of my life I didn't put that much stock in nutrition. (Although I had a mother who did!) Until my running took a bit of a hit in my mid-forties, I thought being fit was much more important than what I ate. I no longer think that way! I'm sure it will be difficult for many people raised in our North American culture to comprehend the profound changes that take place in the biochemistry of the human body, with the adoption of a whole foods, plant-based diet. But Dr. Esselstyn has some very impressive angiographic evidence, along with the patients from his study, and should convince the skeptics, this works! While I appreciate the simplicity of Dr. Esselstyn's message, I do eat small amounts of wild salmon from time to time, as well as a few raw nuts and seeds. Also, a lot of Caldwell Esselstyn's book, is really his wife Ann's very original recipes.

Classic cardiology vs common sense:
"I don't understand why asking people to eat a well-balanced vegetarian diet is considered drastic, while it is medically conservative to cut people open." (Dean Ornish). I have a friend at work who is in his mid-forties, has type-2 diabetes and is a classic case of metabolic syndrome. He thinks he will die if he does not eat enough meat and dairy products to get his protein and that the pills his doctor proscribes will "control" his condition. His doctor told him he should loose weight and he has been trying (cutting back on calories, skipping breakfast and eating soup) for the last year with absolutely no success. He is a stroke or a heart attack waiting to happen. He has a young son that he is raising by himself and I keep thinking about their future. That is why I bought and read this book. Esselstyn's book is simply written, powerfully persuasive and the recipes are easy and nutritious and exactly what is needed for a pending cardiac emergency. I am hoping that I can persuade my friend to read this book and choose life.