Dean Ornish, physician and researcher, is well known for his decades of work promoting healthy lifestyle changes. The Ornish Program has been scientifically proven to reverse heart disease. Not prevent or manage, but REVERSE!
Hence the title of his most recent book UnDo It!
This easy-to-read book outlines Dean’s approach to lifestyle medicine. It’s based on his, and his wife Anne’s, years of experience. UnDo It! offers both the why (presented by Dean) and the how (shared by Anne). This resource is both evidence-based and practical.
“Awareness is the first step in healing, and science is powerful tool for raising awareness.”
Of course, a core part of the Ornish magic is eating well. This includes a whole-foods, plant-based diet, primarily fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes and soy products. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s continuous improvement. But for disease reversal, significant changes are key! Also, the back of the book is filled with yummy recipes to put the principles into action.
The second component is moderate exercise, including cardiovascular, weight training and stretching. The focus here isn’t body-building and triathlons. It’s light movement on a regular basis.
Another important piece of the program is stress management. Dean presents the strong evidence and Anne offers practical strategies.
The fourth and final component is love, social support and intimacy. This isn’t an after-thought or a side note. It’s a key part and is given just as much attention as all other components. Research strongly supports that if we’re lacking in this area our health suffers.
Dean and Anne Ornish help us to step back and see the big picture. While it’s easy to get caught up on a single food or specific action that lead to health, it’s clear that chronic disease reversal is the result of multiple lifestyle components.
Find this book on Amazon: Undo It!: How Simple Lifestyle Changes Can Reverse Most Chronic Diseases
