Review by Lionel Derby “LD”:

Dr. Esselstyn’s brand new book, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, delivers just what the title promises. 21 years ago, Dr. Esselstyn took 17 people who were very sick. They had had heart attacks, bypass operations, angioplasty, pills, you name it. These people had by and large been sent home to die by their cardiologists, their heart disease so severe nothing further could be done. Doctors told several they would be dead in “less than a year.”

But they didn’t die. Instead, each agreed to become part of Dr. Esselstyn’s study, and adopted a low-fat plant-based diet as their medicine. 12 years later every one of these patients was alive, free of heart disease, and living full, active lives. Even those originally given a death sentence of “one year to live” are alive today 21 years later; and all thank Dr. Esselstyn for giving them knowledge, inspiration — and recipes — to save their lives. Their experiences as well as the many in his ongoing counseling, are documented in this amazing, highly readable book and backed up by 20 years of rock hard, peer reviewed science.

This is not a book just for people with heart disease (one out of every two Americans will die of heart disease). This is a book for anyone wanting to regain or preserve their health, anyone wanting to enjoy great health throughout their entire life.

The infomation in Dr. Esselstyn’s book can save your life, and the recipes alone make it a must-have.

Review by Anna Katerine:

After searching for books on reversing cardiovascular disease I came across this one. He makes an excellent case for reversing heart disease and provides before & after angiogram pictures as well. I have no argument with the science. I also have a bone to pick with experts that don’t like this doctor because he is not a heart specialist. Since when do all things correct have to come from only specialists? This guy treats patients that cardiologists have given up on when their invasive treatements fail. Angioplasty & bypass only relieve symptoms & do not cure the disease. My father found that out! After seeing what he was like after bypass surgery perhaps we need to do nearly anything to avoid that like the plague.

While the science is very compelling, and I believe it is right, the diet itself is extremly hard to follow unless you really love eating beans & vegetables, some fruit, and grains (no white bread or white pasta). The basis of his recommendations are no dairy at all, no meat, no fish, no eggs (not even egg whites), no cheese, no oil of any kind, no high-fat vegetable sources like nuts & avocado. Pretty sparce eating to me.

The author says that eating any oil at all, whether in animal or vegetable form, affects the arteries in a negative way & in at least one patient contributed to his angina. That statement ups the ante and leads you to believe that oil is not just undesireable but extremely dangerous. I find that eating out is nearly impossible as just about all food not prepared on your own is cooked in oil or has oil as part of the food….refried beans, soup, bread, crackers, tortillas, etc. Wanna eat out? You are pretty limited to steamed vegetables & some fruit, maybe rice (no sauces unless they are totally fat-free, and who can know if the marinara sauce has soybean oil in it?). Thinking that eating salad will solve your problems? Naw, not unless you like to eat it naked or carry around your own homemade dressing. Commercial fat-free salad dressing is NOT fat-free, and ANY vegetable oil at all is not allowed.

Sticking to this diet has been a huge struggle, but I’ve only been on the diet for 14 days. The hardest part is finding prepared foods, like bread, that have no fat at all in them. So far I’ve only found one manufacturer and the loaf costs .00. Can’t even find tortillas that meet that criteria, and you really have to pay attention to labels. Fats go under other names like glycerin, mono & diglicerides, lethecin.

Do I sound frustrated? Yeah, I am. Most of the positive reviews I’ve read are written by folks with blocked arteries who welcome anything to keep them out of surgery, and having had a parent who had quadruple bypass surgery I totally get that. My dad’s mother died of a heart attack, and so did her father. So, despite my frustration I’m going to adhere to this diet because I am convinced the author is right & I hope to avoid the fate of my relatives.

I have cooked many of the recipies in the book and did not like the majority of them. I don’t like vegetables very much, and therein is my struggle. Try them anyway……..

Do I like the book? Yes, it’s very thorough. Do I like the diet it recommends? Nope, but I’m going to do it anyway.

Review by Robert Sager:

It’s too bad this book won’t be read by every primary care physician and every cardiologist and every patient with heart disease, but it should be. The collaboration of two leading edge cardiologists has resulted in a book full of the latest approaches to managing plaques and heart disease. This book moves beyond Dr. Sinatra’s first classic, The Sinatra Solution, and focuses on the problem of plaque build-up in your arteries. The latest theory of inflammation as the cause of hardening of the arteries, as well as many other chronic illnesses is addressed here with dietary changes, supplements, and medications. For example, when to use statins alongside the natural supplements for reducing cholesterol and other risk factors for plaque formation is clearly discussed. It’s wonderful to read what these two doctors do for their patients outside the box set by the FDA in defining the indications for prescription medications. From my own experience their approaches do work for many people. I will be recommending this book to many patients and featuring it on my website.

Bob Sager, MD, DABFM

Review by Jill Merrill:

I have been reading alternative & conventional texts for years and what I found is that when I had lots of health problems the conventional medicine only works to get you out of immediate danger but does not address underlying problems or corrections, and treats symptoms only.

After turning 50 I decided I needed to read this book and found it to be a wealth of information. Thanks to this book I went out and found an “intergrative” doctor who did these extra tests and found my LPa’s were >300, Normal is below 30 (even though other cholesterol numbers were good). This means I’m a walking time bomb for blood clots to brain or heart. By using L-lysine, curcumin and natkonise my numbers are 45 after 2 months. Conventional doctors don’t do these extra tests because there are no drugs to fix LPa’s. By reading this book, going to find an intergrative doctor, (one trained as MD & then gets extra training in alternative medicine)I believe I will live longer,(survival rates are low for blood clots to brain or heart). My new doctor has also helped me with numerous other ailments an I feel better than I did 10 years ago.

Thank you Dr. Sinatra. If I had not read your book I would never have known about the LPa’s. You saved my life!

Review by Dennis N. Digesare:

In August 2009 I suffered a mild heart attack. I was scared and clueless on how to learn and understand what had happened to me. After several other book choices I found this book and can say that this book is the one single reference I would recommend. The book will help you understand, what to expect and do (and not do!) from the moment that it happens, day by day, month by month through the first year. The knowledge you will gain will help you work with your doctors on a game plan.

It is an invaluable way to learn and und understand the new life you must to live well. If someone you know has a history, had a recent episode or actual heart attck … get this.

Review by Patricia M. Fernberg:

This is first-hand, I’ve-been-there, scary-funny experience. You can open the book up anywhere for quick reference or go straight through. This book has everything you need to know: websites, current research, what to do if you’re having a heart attack, info about diabetes, diet advice — even medication and cookbook suggestions. It’s not a dry medical book, even though it’s loaded with up to date information.

Review by Bogdan Borz:

You can’t say that there is a spectacular change from the previous edition. The better a product gets, the harder it is to improve it. But the format is frendlier, the guidelines and recommandations have been updated (which was a weak spot of the previous edition), and there are some new interesting chapters (like the management of stroke). In conclusion, still very useful as a reference.

Review by Shigeru MORISHIMA:

I am working as a researcher and a physician, and sometimes teach students. Although this book is not research-oriented, authors intend to incorporate recent products of basic medicines, such as molecular biology, molecular genetics, basic electrophysiology (e.g. ion channels), pharmacology, and so on. If you want to know what has already been proved and clarified about the cardiological disease you are interested in, this book will help you. Certainly any single volume cannot cover all the things in this field, this book will give you the idea on the key point of the diseases. Certainly, this book is also useful for practitioners. The book gives you a lot of results of large clinical studies, and even when you lose your way, you can also start with the basic pathophysiology of the disease.

Review by WordGirl:

Easy to set up, accurate, user friendly. Just took it for a test drive this morning. Shipping was fast and friendly. Nice user manual. Very explanatory.

Put in your vitals, adjust the strap around your chest and put the pedal to the metal.

I burned 511 calories — 45% from fat. For 49:51 minutes of work, I spent 14:46 minutes in the 144-160 beats per minute range; with my heart rate topping out at 178 (93% of my maximum for the “moderate training zone”). My average heart rate was 151 for the duration (79% of my maximum). The alarm cued me when to step it up and also when to back it down so I could keep on a better training track.

Apparently, I’ve been working too hard in the past. Because just as the HRM was yelling at me to back down, I was thinking, “Geez, touchy thingie! I can go way harder and higher than this!” But if it improves my stamina, all the better.

I would recommend reviewing the product manual and setting up your customizations the night before if you are an early morning exerciser. Setup and familiarization with the product/material takes about an hour.

Review by eric:

So, I purchased the F6 in October of 2006. I use it for cycling and on aerobic machines and it really works great. No complaints about performanace at all and it does a nice job of tracking exercise. I paid .95 for the product, which seemed sorta high, but I wanted a reliable product from a good name. Well…in August 2007, the transmitter stopped working. Despite the “2 year” warranty stated above, that does not cover batteries, which apparently was the transmitter problem. So, I sent it back to Polar to fix it…but they can’t fix it, they can only replace it. All said, it cost me plus my shipping costs to fix. The “replacement” was clearly not new. I’m not sure if it was mine, but it definitely was not new. So, in less than a year, I’ve had to shell out about 0 and, if the battery dies again six months from now, I guess I’ll have to go through this again. I would not but another Polar product.

Review by Midwest Book Review:

Take A Load Off Your Heart by cardiac health expert Joseph C. Piscatella (President of the Institute for Fitness & Health, Gig Harbor, Washington) and Barry A. Franklin (Director of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program and Exercise Laboratories at William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan) is a very practical and “user friendly” guide to for the non-specialist general reader seeking to improving their cardiovascular system. A little extra effort in looking after oneself now can save an immense amount of money, pain and grief in the future. Take A Load Off Your Heart features 109 easy-to-follow tips ranging from walking briskly, to drinking black tea, to improving the daily diet, to making exercise a regular habit. Written especially for those seeking to improve their daily lifestyle routines, Take A Load Off Your Heart is a “must-read” for all in these heart health conscious times.

Review by Mark Riley:

While going through cardiac rehab after my heart attack, I picked up this book and began reading it on the treadmill at the hospital. That’s how desparate I was! The authors give a thorough review of the current information on cardiac health and how to maintain it. No surprises, just a low-fat, low-salt diet, exercise, reduce stress, and take your meds. They describe all the meds and their purposes.

This is the best book to give to anyone in danger of heart problems. I have given several copies to family members and friends.

Review by Stacey Dunn-Emke, MS, RD, CNSD:

While we appreciate that Mr. Bayan took the time to comment on our work, we are concerned that inaccurate statements he has made may discourage some people from making changes in diet and lifestyle that we have proven to be lifesaving. For the past 24 years, the non-profit Preventive Medicine Research Institute and the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine have conducted research scientifically proving, for the first time, that the progression of even severe coronary heart disease can begin to reverse by making comprehensive changes in diet and lifestyle, without drugs or surgery. These studies have been published in leading peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of the AMA, The Lancet, the American Journal of Cardiology, New England Journal of Medicine, Circulation, and others. Mr. Bayan alleges that the diet we have proven to be so beneficial is “dangerous” for some patients because both HDL and LDL may decrease and triglycerides may increase. HDL and triglycerides are only potential risk factors for heart disease, they are not diseases. When we measured the actual severity of heart disease using state-of-the-art measures such as computer-analyzed coronary arteriography and cardiac PET scans, patients showed continued improvement over time, even in patients like Mr. Bayan whose HDL decreased or triglycerides increased. Also, cardiac events were 2.5 times lower in the group who followed the program compared to the control group who made more moderate changes in diet (30% fat, 200 mg cholesterol). [reference: JAMA. 1998;280:2001-2007.] Clearly, lowering HDL by changing diet did not harm these patients. LDL cholesterol decreased by an average of almost 40% during the first year, and none of the patients who adhered to the diet showed an increase in LDL. As Dr. Connor wrote in the New England Journal of Medicine, “There are no data showing that the physiologic reduction of HDL cholesterol levels with a low-fat diet is detrimental. Diet-induced lowering of HDL cholesterol does not confer the same risk of atherosclerosis as do low HDL cholesterol levels in Americans consuming a high-fat diet.” [ref: N Engl J Med. 1997;337(8).] It is true that one can eat an unhealthful low-fat diet if it is high in simple carbohydrates such as sugar, white flour, alcohol, and many popular fat-free desserts. Such a diet may cause a shift to the more harmful pattern B LDL subclass that Mr. Bayan mentions. But this is not the diet we recommend for reversing heart disease. Other studies have shown that a diet high in fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, and other complex carbohydrates (which is the diet we recommend) actually cause a shift AWAY from the pattern B LDL subclass to more beneficial patterns [ref: Kenney JJ, et al. Very-low-fat diets do not necessarily promote small, dense LDL particles. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1999;70(3):423-5.] Patients whose triglycerides increase are counseled to be even more mindful in reducing their intake of simple carbohydrates and increasing their exercise. Also, for many years we have recommended that patients take 3 grams/day of fish oil, which also helps to lower triglycerides. In the Multicenter Lifestyle Demonstration Project, we found that triglyceride levels, which initially increased slightly but not significantly, then fell significantly in years two and three. [ref: American Journal of Cardiology. 1998;82:72T-76T.] Almost 80% of people who were eligible for bypass surgery or angioplasty were able to safely avoid it by making these diet and lifestyle changes instead. We respect the work of Dr. Robert Superko and often refer patients to his lipid laboratory for testing. Again, we have found that patients with small dense LDL also show reversal of heart disease on the program recommend. The program that we recommend includes a reversal diet for those with heart disease and the prevention diet for others. The prevention diet may be higher in fat and cholesterol than the reversal diet and is tailored to the needs of the individual rather than offering one diet for everyone. The prevention diet may include some oils, fish and other animal products for some people. Switching from saturated fats to monosaturated fats is better, but for reversing heart disease or lowering cholesterol it is better to avoid all oils other than fish oils. Olive oil is 100% total fat and 14% saturated fat. The more olive oil you consume, the more saturated fat you consume, the higher your plasma cholesterol. The studies showing that olive oil lowers cholesterol are only when substituted in equal amounts for butter or oils that are higher in saturated fat. Also, olive oil has almost none of the beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. The bottom line is this: patients in our studies with severe heart disease reported a 91% reduction in angina (chest pain) within one month, and most became pain-free. They not only felt better, they were better. We measured improved blood flow within one month as measured by thallium scans and radionuclide ventriculograms, reversal of coronary artery blockages (atherosclerosis) within one year, even more reversal after five years, and 2.5 times fewer cardiac events (e.g., heart attacks). It works.

Review by :

When my doctor suggested cholesterol lowering drugs last year, I decided that 34years old was too soon to start taking drugs. My cholesterol was 266 (& that’s after cutting out most red meat and pork fat -and no hamburgers). I was motivated to try to improve the health of my arteries and heart. I want to be around for my ten year old’s retirement party! I followed Dr Ornish’s diet program for 6 month’s then had my cholesterol levels tested again. Everything improved: cholesterol down to 210, triglycerides went from 389 to 217 and my ratio improved 24%. I never skipped a meal. I never went hungry. Secondary benefit: I lost 14 pounds and two inches around my waist without trying. I did not exercise enough so I am trying to increase my exercise now. I probably exercised an average of once a week.By the way, Dr Ornish included a chart that demanded that you eat at least a certain amount of fat in your daily diet. I liked that the book is filled with studies by major US universities. This is not 600 pages of rambling prose but a how to book to reverse heart disease. If you want someone to hold your hand, call your Mom. If you want a “How to Reverse Your Heart Disease” manual, buy this book. … Stop reading reviews and buy, read and try it.

Review by Dorraine M. Rooney:

This was a great read for anyone who needs to know more about the heart.

Review by David Shepherd:

Greatest heart pathophysiology book I have found. The book gives you a firm grasp of heart physiology and uses that to build your clinical and pathophysiology of disease knowledge. And, it’s brief. If you don’t have time for Braunwald’s this is the next best thing. I’ll never get rid of it.

Review by J. Michael Stevenson:

Dr. Lilly and company present the ins and outs of heart disease clearly, and in down to earth language, resulting in a book that is not only educational, but (almost) fun to read. The compact size of the book makes it ideal for reading on the subway, plane, or in the hallway before an exam. All of the basics that a student of cardiopathophysiology needs are presented, and although I turn to other books first if I have questions on the interpretation of a _specific_ EKG, I turn to Lilly for everything else, including the physiology of the EKG. My second edition of this book is well worn and heavily annotated, and it has a prominent place on my bookshelf – right next to my copy of the third edition, for this is one of few medical texts that I have taken the trouble to buy again when a new edition came out. Robbins is a great book, but it’s a huge, heavy tome, and where cardiopathophysiology is concerned, this book beats it by a long mile.