Diet Prevents Heart Disease
(text quoted below from
Joseph Keon's Whole Health, 1997)
46 percent of all American men at age twenty-two
already have the beginnings of coronary heart disease.
Dr. Tazewell Banks, General Hospital, Washington, D.C.
"[C]oronary
heart disease remains the number-one killer in America, taking more lives than
all forms of cancer combined.
"Coronary
Heart Disease (CHD) is called "the silent killer" because it can
progress to advanced stages without any indication of its presence. CHD is
brought about by atherosclerosis (athero meaning "paste" and
sclerosis meaning "thickening" or "hardening"), or what is
more commonly referred to as "hardening of the arteries," a process
in which the coronary arteries (arteries that supply blood to the heart)
undergo a gradual narrowing, reducing the blood supply to the heart. This
narrowing of the arterial channel is brought about by a progressive buildup of
a plaque composed of cholesterol, fat, damaged cells, and other debris, and is
primarily the result of a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol. While
more serious stages of the disease may be detected by increased blood pressure
or chest pain (pectoris angina), it is possible for the disease to progress
significantly while the host remains symptom-free.
"When
the arteries to the heart become constricted, there is increased resistance to
blood flow, and the heart must work harder to pump blood through the narrowed
passage. In unchecked cases, this arterial plaque may become so great that one
or more arteries feeding the heart may become entirely blocked, preventing
blood from reaching the heart. Since blood is carrying oxygen to the heart, a
complete blockage will result in a myocardial infarction, or what is more
commonly known as a heart attack. While not all heart attacks are fatal, they
are all serious, since the portion of the heart deprived of blood supply dies.
"This
same narrowing process can occur in the arteries of the brain. Blockage of
these arteries will result in the death of a portion of the brain, a condition
known as a stroke. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United
States and results in serious disability in those who survive.
"Every
34 seconds an American dies of a heart attack, and the average American man
carries a 50 percent risk of death from this occurrence. That risk drops to 15
percent if he excludes meat entirely from his diet, while a man who consumes no
meat, dairy products, or eggs reduces his risk to only 4 percent.". . .
(41)
"Although
smoking is more often associated with lung cancer, it also significantly
influences the onset of CHD. Smokers more than double their chance of
developing CHD." . . . (41)
"Over
400,000 bypass surgeries are performed annually, and of the patients, about 70
percent are men. Unfortunately, within five years of bypass surgery, unless the
patient makes a radical change in his or her lifestyle, the majority of
"repaired" arteries become clogged again." . . . (42)
"Even
if you are already experiencing the effects of atherosclerosis, you may be
relieved to know that programs applying a similar diet to the one proposed in
this book, in conjunction with other lifestyle changes, have successfully
caused a reversal in advanced cases of atherosclerosis." . . . (43)
"Of
all the factors we have considered, the most influential and direct link to
this disease seems to be dietary. Strong evidence indicates that the higher
oneีs blood cholesterol level, the higher the chance of developing
atherosclerotic lesions. Cholesterol levels are increased by dietary fat
(specifically the saturated variety) and by cholesterol, which is found only in
animal products [emphasis mine]." . . . (43)
"Some
people are misled by the recommended cholesterol levels. They believe that they
simply need to bring their cholesterol to what is called an "acceptable
range," currently about 200 mg/dl. This is not an acceptable cholesterol
level, but was chosen because experts saw it as "attainable." The sad
news is that people with cholesterol levels of 200, 190, or even 185 are still
having heart attacks." . . . (47)
* * *
Jock Doubleday
Director
Natural Woman, Natural Man, Inc.
http://www.GentleBirth.org/nwnm.org
http://www.SpontaneousCreation.org
director@spontaneouscreation.org