The End of Heart Disease

The title of this book may seem bold, considering that heart disease is the #1 killer (by a long shot) in the U.S. However, Dr. Fuhrman (among others) demonstrates that this is a needless disease and can be both prevented and reversed. We can eat in a way that nearly guarantees that we won’t develop heart disease. That’s right – 90% of heart disease deaths are preventable.

Drugs and medical treatments are the go-to for heart disease intervention even though diet modifications have proven to be more effective. Fuhrman calls for a shift in the way health professionals are approaching the heart disease crisis: “Doctors need to make it crystal clear to their patients that foods is the cause of, and should be the primary treatment for, heart disease.”

So what does it look like to eat to avoid heart disease? Dr. Fuhrman promotes a veggie-centered diet that also includes beans, fruit, nuts, seeds and whole grains. His approach allows animal products in very small quantities. Not a huge slab of flesh, but rather adding it to meals as a flavoring a few times per week.

Some foods that are called out as a MUST for heart health include:

  • Cruciferous Veggies – As more of these are added to the daily diet, risk of death decreases. Think broccoli, kale, cabbage, bok choy, brussel sprouts, cauliflower and arugula.
  • Onions & Garlic – Great for adding flavor to nearly any savory dish, these are both anti-cancer AND anti-heart disease.
  • Berries, Cherries & Pomegranates – These have been shown to lower blood pressure, prevent inflammation and protect blood vessels.
  • Tomatoes – We get the most nutrients from processed products such as tomato paste, tomato sauce or cooked tomatoes. The nutrients in tomatoes keep blood vessels functioning at their best.
  • Nuts & Seeds – Just 5 servings a week has been shown to decrease heart disease risk by more than one third!

Sadly, these and other health promoting foods aren’t filling most plates. Veggies, fruit, nuts and beans make up just 11% of the typical American diet. 54% is from processed food and 32% from animal foods. Luckily the remaining 3% is from whole grains.

“If you eat standard American food, you will inevitably develop standard American diseases.” 

Continuing this diet will put us on the path to the #1 killer: heart disease. We can’t continue to do the same thing while expecting different results!

The End of Heart Disease wraps up with sample menus and nearly 100 pages of recipes.

You can find The End of Heart Disease: The Eat to Live Plan to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease on Amazon.

 

 

 

 

 



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