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I had been under my doctors care for years, but still had very high blood pressure. After the heart attack the Cardiologist at the hospital put me on medication that actually helped, but I decided that more changes were needed.
It's interesting to me--and it sounds like to you--that so much information is available to us through books, articles in medical journals, and the 'net (with varying degrees of validity).
With 10-15 minute doctor visits the new normal, it's crucial we educate ourselves about our personal health. And each of us differ. But still the same: healthy diet/goodly amount of exercise and maybe some well-chosen supplements can do so much to keep us healthy and vibrant.
Doctors have many patients. We have, each of us, one. Ourselves.
It's interesting to me--and it sounds like to you--that so much information is available to us through books, articles in medical journals, and the 'net (with varying degrees of validity).
With 10-15 minute doctor visits the new normal, it's crucial we educate ourselves about our personal health. And each of us differ. But still the same: healthy diet/goodly amount of exercise and maybe some well-chosen supplements can do so much to keep us healthy and vibrant.
Doctors have many patients. We have, each of us, one. Ourselves.
So true. I had lost my absolute faith in my GP, and decided that the best person to take care of my health is myself. Today all the info needed is at our fingertips, online.
My grandfather who lived into his 90's was told by his Dr to shed some pounds for better general health while being seen for a cold or some such. He never was obese, but he complied and a few months later at his next visit the Dr was pleased and congratulated him on on dropping ~10 pounds and asked how he did it. Grampa poked his index finger into DR's portly belly and said ' You gotta eat less.'
So true. I had lost my absolute faith in my GP, and decided that the best person to take care of my health is myself. Today all the info needed is at our fingertips, online.
Absolutely! And just to be sure, I also buy some medical books written by respected specialists in their field. Books written for the layperson, not medical textbooks...nice to have them for quick reference and to double-check things...
Sometimes the internet health advice can be a little sketchy and even controversial....
Absolutely! And just to be sure, I also buy some medical books written by respected specialists in their field. Books written for the layperson, not medical textbooks...nice to have them for quick reference and to double-check things...
Sometimes the internet health advice can be a little sketchy and even controversial....
A dear friend just had a heart attack. Had a stent put in. She's frightened and wants to re-vamp her life to prevent any more heart disease. Her diet was high fat, loves pizza, cheese, whipped cream, beer, etc. Is also under treatment for pre-diabetes. She could lose 30 pounds or so...
She turned to me because she knows I'm into healthy eating/exercise.
I lent her my copy of The End of Heart Disease: The Eat to Live Plan to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease (Eat for Life) by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. I have high regard for Fuhrman's book and advice.
Wondering if anyone has a cookbook to recommend to her? Fuhrman's book has some recipes. She's not a big fan of spending a lot of time in the kitchen. So a cookbook with simple, heart-healthy recipes would be best for her.
Any recommendations?? There are so many to chose from...
I did suggest that she do an internet search for "heart-healthy" recipes and could download those. I also offered to grocery shop with her and show her my pantry and frig shelves if that would be helpful for her.
(I mostly cook by the seat of my pants after years of eating to help my high blood pressure get lower, so don't have many formal recipes to share with her. It's more intuitive for me at this point).
I think you are probably her best resource.
In my experience, recipe books are designed to sell books. I have rarely used more than 1 or 2 recipes from any recipe book. They either require ingredients I don't like or are harder to find, require too much prepping or substituting ingredients to make them more palatable, or they are just not satiating. But the photos are pretty.
I think the easiest way for her to begin with the greatest chance for success is to make a list (with your guidance) of healthy foods she likes, or can learn to like, and then look online for heart-healthy recipes for those foods that sound good and uncomplicated to her. Print them and make a grocery list. I suggest she start with a few dishes so she isn't overwhelmed. She is more likely to be successful if she starts slowly with this lifestyle change (but not TOO slowly).
I suggest using more terms than "heart-healthy" for online recipe searches, such as anti-inflammatory and [genuine] Mediterranean recipes (the most recommended diet for heart and overall health---little fuss and no weird or trendy processed ingredients), and anti-inflammatory recipes are usually basic and quick and certainly heart-healthy.
In my experience, recipe books are designed to sell books. I have rarely used more than 1 or 2 recipes from any recipe book. They either require ingredients I don't like or are harder to find, require too much prepping or substituting ingredients to make them more palatable, or they are just not satiating. But the photos are pretty.
I think the easiest way for her to begin with the greatest chance for success is to make a list (with your guidance) of healthy foods she likes, or can learn to like, and then look online for heart-healthy recipes for those foods that sound good and uncomplicated to her. Print them and make a grocery list. I suggest she start with a few dishes so she isn't overwhelmed. She is more likely to be successful if she starts slowly with this lifestyle change (but not TOO slowly).
I suggest using more terms than "heart-healthy" for online recipe searches, such as anti-inflammatory and [genuine] Mediterranean recipes (the most recommended diet for heart and overall health---little fuss and no weird or trendy processed ingredients), and anti-inflammatory recipes are usually basic and quick and certainly heart-healthy.
The AMA first started their diet/heart health position in 1953 and 71 years later, very little improvement has been seen in hypertension, atherosclerosis and heart health.
This MD proposes that fat and red meat are not the causes, sugar and processed foods are the causes, and presents much evidence supporting her view. It's worth checking out.
The AMA first started their diet/heart health position in 1953 and 71 years later, very little improvement has been seen in hypertension, atherosclerosis and heart health.
Evidence to support this statement?
The covid pandemic skewed the stats upward the last few years. But the drop in cardiovascular deaths since the 1950s was dramatic.
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