In Dr. Dean Ornish's book reversing heart disease

Dr. Ornish says that he has the only system scientifically proven to reverse heart disease.

Considering that we know, that currently there aren't any conventional methods that exist, that can reverse the buildup of atherosclerosis in our arteries, reading Dr. Ornish's book is surely a must. We can only gain by learning his methods, and applying them to the best of our abilities.

In his book he describes in great detail what are the causes of heart disease, including stress, feelings of isolation, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and a unhealthy diet.

His method for reversal and in the end he includes many low fat recipes that make up the now famous Cornish diet.

The Ornish program

Stress management

• Yoga- which includes stretches, breathing techniques, and relaxation techniques
• Meditation- which includes deep relaxation, and contemplation on why we have these feelings of isolation that causes our arteries to constrict. And learning methods how we can feel good about ourselves.
• Visualization- guided imagery to envision ourselves as cleansing our arteries, and healing. This is a method of mind over matter, to train the mind to heal the body.

Diet

The heart reversal diet, which is a diet which consists of absolutely no animal products at all a basic vegetarian diet. The only animal products allowed are egg whites and nonfat dairy products, and no oils or concentrated fats.

Moderate amounts of sugar, alcohol, and salt are allowed.

The total amount of fat allowed per day is less then 10% of the total calories eaten.

Exercises

The exercise program is a minimum of a half hour of brisk walking five days a week, or one hour of brisk walking three times a week.

The results

According to Dr. Ornish's study, those that adhered very strictly to the program showed the most significant reversal of atherosclerosis. The less someone adhered the less the reversal was.

The controversy

Everyone agrees with Dr.ornish's advice on the need for exercises, there are disagreements regarding the intensity of the exercises. There are other doctors who recommend a much more vigorous exercise program.

Regarding yoga and meditation, there seems to be an agreement that all types of stress reduction methods including yoga and meditations are helpful in reducing the incidence of heart attacks.

The diet is very controversial, for several reasons,

• Most people cannot follow a vegetarian diet for long periods of time.
• If we don't eat any cholesterol at all we are creating small Type B LDL's which are considered to be even more dangerous then the large ones.
• Many studies have shown that the body needs the essential fats and oils to such as omega 3 and 6 that are found in fish that increase the levels of the HDL's in the body, which seems to be the most important criteria in the protection of heart disease