On NZ National Radio this morning there was a very interesting interview
with an age 78 USA medical doctor, surgeon and researcher about heart
disease. He has written a book; and I have just ordered a copy through
www.bookfinder.com.
As one book notice has it - - -
Dr Caldwell B Esselstyn;
Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: The Revolutionary, Scientifically
Proven, Nutrition-Based Cure,
A powerful call for a paradigm shift in heart disease therapy. Based on the
groundbreaking results of a twenty-year nutritional study by Dr. Esselstyn, a
preeminent researcher and clinician, this book illustrates that a plant-based,
oil-free diet can not only prevent and stop the progression of heart disease
but can also reverse its effects.
This is some of what I remember he said.
He discovered that the epilthelial cells which line our arteries produce nitric
acid, and this keeps them clear of plaque and all that stuff which blocks
them. The epithelial cells are severely damaged by the products of eating all
forms of meat and other animal-based food. And some processed vegetable
oils.
After WW2, medical studies in Norway showed that from 1939 to 1945 when
the occupying Nazi forces removed all livestock to feed their troops and the
Norwegians had to live on veges, their rates of heart disease dropped
dramatically. Like, close to zero, despite being in a stressful environment.
When the war was over, the farms were re-stocked, meat returned to their
diet, and heart disease saw them going to hospital in increasing
numbers..This study was ( if I remember rightly ) published in the Lancet.
Many other studies followed, of the arterial condition of young USA soldiers
killed in battle, and of the incidence of arterial heart disease in populations
which eat no meat/fish/poultry, such as inland Chinese & Japanese farmers,
some Papua New Guinea tribes, a remote Mexican area, and others I don't
remember. The findings reinforced those of the Norwegian study.
He also reported on the health of ethnic Japanese who originated in an area
free of heart disease, and moved to the USA where they produced families
of ethnic Japanese, and on the typical western diet there, their rate of heart
disease steadily increased. I suppose this is recorded in his book.
Applying these findings to a group of 24 of his heart disease patients, putting
them on to a diet rich in leafy greens, beans, wholegrain cereals, (and I don't
remember what else) and avoiding milk, cheese, meats, and processed oils,
these patients regained better health with the linings of their arteries
improving markedly.
He said that the meat etc-free diet he promotes reduces not only heart
disease, but also diabetes, breast cancer, bowel cancer, and invasive
prostate cancer, all to negligible levels.
He mentioned the implications for the USA economy. He said that the
rapidly increasing cost of medical care was a major factor in the decline in
the USA economy - I think he put it as being the cause of much of the
country's debt burden. He says that a change in diet could reverse that.
He gave some interesting statistics.
About 1,200,000 stent operations are performed annually in the USA. The
average mortality rate on the operating table is 1%. 120,000 people die
there. The business of making stents is worth about $12 million annually.
Cardiac operations. I *think* he said 48,000 ops/an, but I am not sure. He
did say however that the mortality rate is 4%. 4% of 48,000 is 1920. Hmm,
I'm sure he reported a higher number of deaths, so 48,000 is probably
wrong.
In the book he said there are 150 recipes for meals, developed by his wife.
Anyway, for a cost to my letter-box of about $19NZ I should have new copy
of this book here before too long. ABE Books say no postage cost, so that's
nice too.
Brian Swale.
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