http://edition.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/0...tml?&hpt=hp_c2

CNN has reported of a new diet that apparently former U.S. President Bill Clinton is on called the heart attack proof diet. It requires that people eliminate the following from their diet: all meat/poultry/fish/eggs, all oils (including olive oil), all dairy products, and avocados and most nuts. The diet includes eating only the following: vegetables of all colors (including leafy green and steamed starchy vegetables, except avocados), whole grain breads and starches like brown rice and multigrain pasta, all fruit and all beans/legumes.

I am concerned about the lack of protein in this diet. (My restricted diet requires that I have protein at all meals.) I do eat beans and legumes but cannot tolerate a lot of whole grains or fruit. I also do not tolerate soy products well including tofu and soy milk. Hopefully, nutritionists will respond to this diet soon so that it can be determined if it is fully healthy. Am I concerned about a heart attack? Yes, my father died from one at the age of 45. Do I want to be a guinea pig for this diet? No. I find that eating protein, especially lean red meat, really helps relieve my depression. And, I find that healthy fats like olive oil help relax me and give me a feeling of satiation.

Any other comments?

[Yoda]

It sounds somewhat similar to Dr Dean Ornish's diet.

http://www.webmd.com/diet/ornish-diet-what-it-is

[(JD)]

bout that at all.... didn't research find recently " " that it's the sugar in our diet (including those from fruits) that cause insulin rises and those spikes cause nicks in our arteries which allow for the plaque which causes heart disease?

To me, God made all food good... it's up to us to not eat the ruined food by man. Back to the pure and basics, and it's all healthy!

[unaluna]

unhappyguy, how are your numbers? ie cholesterol etc. It was reported last year that Bill went vegan to lose weight for his daughter's wedding, as Chelsea is vegan.
And said on the news this morning, remember Bill had quadruple bypass surgery already. Pretty sure your stress levels aren't what his are, or were, so take that into consideration!

I am not happy on a vegan diet either. I prefer eating smaller quantities with some fat, more "real" protein, less starchy carb.

hi, hankster. my blood numbers are not great. unfortunately, i cannot tolerate statins. i try to exercise daily, even if it is just walking. i have eliminated all dairy products, deep fried foods, juice and most desserts from my diet. also, i have cut back on fatty meats and try to have meals with no carbs since my triglycerides are very high. (I suffer from IBS and metabolic syndrome.) I like to eat veggies and beans/legumes but can only tolerate them in moderation. I tolerate meat best but, unfortunately, do not like to eat it in large quantities. I've been told by nutritionists to eat nothing but simply prepared lean meats and green leafy vegetables but find that diet to be impossible. My blood sugar is 111; it should be below 100. But, I don't have diabetes since to qualify your blood sugar reading must be 126 or above. Still, too much sugar and I will pass out; my high blood sugar also contributes to mild seizures. When I diet, I tend to lose muscle instead of fat. It's a really difficult diet and my energy level is not the best. Still, I persevere . . .

[Umbral_Seraph]

I fail to how this diet would work because your cholesterol is not entirely dependent upon your diet. No matter what you eat your cholesterol will always want to be at a certain level. You need some fat in your diet so your nerves function properly. If it's the right fat your not going to have much of a problem. I find it intriguing that there was no mention of the importance of exercise, which Americans really lack, or all f***ing chemicals in all of our food that no other country in the world will allow. All the cultures listed as examples in that article have to work very hard to make sure they can eat...

[anna342]

I don't think anything is totally heart attack 'proof' a healthy diet can certainly help all sorts of problems, but really, some people are more likely to have those problems than others and diet won't cancel that out completely. If you are at high risk and the drs think your diet could be changed to help, seeing a dietician who can help with a personal plan suited to your needs would probably be of more value to you.

These diets in the media do not take into account things people are unable to eat anyway, so cutting out extra things on top of those could lead to deficiencies very easy (like you saying about the protein).

[lynn P.]

(I suffer from IBS and metabolic syndrome.)

Since you suffer from IBS and metabolic syndrome, then I think its best to follow a specific diet for you from a dietician. I was wondering if you've ever considered trying a 'gluten free' (no wheat products) for a few months to see if this helps the IBS. Many people with gluten intolerance have IBS.

Regarding cholesterol - a person needs to figure out if it comes from what they're eating mostly or whether they have a 'genetic tendency' to make cholesterol. I'm sorry you lost your father at a young age - sometimes there's a genetic heart problem especially when a person dies young. Have you ever had an echo cardiogram - its an ultra sound of the heart. My brother has the genetic cardio myopathy - where the wall of the heart becomes thicker. Most people who have this die of sudden heart attack. This is the kind when we hear of a young healthy athlete who dies suddenly - its the genetic heart problem. I have to have this test every 2 yrs to make sure I don't have it.

Regarding meat - the portion should not be larger than the palm of your hand and only twice a week at the most for red meat. Eat fish baked or lightly sauteed in a non stick pan. Take a 3/6/9 fatty acid supplement. On your plate - the veggies should be the largest portion, carbohydrate 2nd and meat last(smallest). Eliminate butter, egg yolks, deep fried foods, deserts and use a light olive oil sparsely or buy grapeseed oil.

My mother had high blood pressure problems since I was a kid -she loved butter and would eat the fat on steaks. She ended up have several strokes and one major stroke. She was disabled for 7 yrs and passed away at age 63. I vowed I would do my best not to end up like this, so I made changes and learned how to eat healthy. I have the same blood pressure as my 13 yr old. There's are several good shows running on PBS on heart healthy diets. Do make sure you don't have any genetic heart problems, then do your best to change your diet and exercise.

Thanks Lynn, Anna and Umbral. I have seen a dietician. Their advice was that I should eat nothing but simply prepared lean meats and fish, and all the leafy green veggies I wanted. And, nothing else. I can only eat leafy greens in moderation due to their fiber content. I was told to eat lots of chicken breast but i don't always feel great after eating it. Intake of starches was not advised not because of gluten intolerance but because they increase my triglycerides. Because of the low fat content, this diet made me depressed. Also, my energy level was not good. Basically, I eat a lot of rice and beans! I have been trying to eat a lot of green vegs and have been trying to increase my intake of fresh tomatoes. For some reason, I feel great after eating avocado. And, I tolerate nuts well enough. The big things I had to eliminate with the IBS was dairy products and fried foods. It's a shame that I cannot eat more bread because my system tolerates it very well. I try to exercise everyday to keep my numbers low. August is such a difficult month to stay on my diet - I just crave ice cream and can't have it. (The soy and rice milk varieties are not tolerated well either.) Still, I am thankful to feel well even if my restricted diet makes it feel that I am missing out on a lot of good food. Beverages choices are very limited too - all I can drink are plain iced tea and water. I brew all my own tea and like it strong! For some reason, I just don't enjoy herbal teas. I have my struggles with the diet and sometimes get tired of eating the same things. But, I have no choice and just try to accept it.

[lynn P.]

I feel great after eating avocado.

Me and my girls started eating avocado last year and we love it too with a little oil, lemon juice and tomato. I was stunned to learn the fat content - it has 30 grams of fat in one avocado - sure its not the artery clogging kind but it can add extra calories. They're very good for you in moderation though. When you eat bread, do you eat whole wheat - that takes longer to digest but still has the gluten in it. Instead of ice cream you can buy sherbert, which is low in fat.

Add the supplement 3/6/9 fatty acid and this will supply your brain with good fat. You can also add a garlic supplement which is supposed to lower cholesterol. I recently discovered a tea called Matcha Tea - its a powdered green tea. It supplies the anti oxidant equal to 10 cups of green tea. Its more expensive and suggest getting it at a Chinese Market because its $30 in tea or vitamin stores.

[Koko2]

I read somewhere to include fats from salad dressings, and maybe avocado, to help lower LDL. It seems like every study gets different results.

Listen to this! I emailed the "heart proof diet"doctor and his assistant offered to have him call me - at NO charge - to discuss my questions and adaption of the diet to my case!

Koko & Lynn - thanks for your posts. I always try to eat whole grain breads (better for you than whole wheat). I wish I could eat oatmeal and brown rice but get cramps from their high fiber. From my studies, only salad dressings made with mono-saturated oils, e.g., olive oil, are good for your cholesterol. Corn oil is not good for you. Safflower oil is better than some. Canola oil is good in moderation only. It's best to make your own salad dressing, that's the only way to ensure that the ingredients are good for you and that it does not contain sugar, corn syrup and other sweeteners.

If I hear from the "heart proof diet" doctor, I will post his recommendations!

[lynn P.]

Originally Posted by unhappyguy

Listen to this! I emailed the "heart proof diet"doctor and his assistant offered to have him call me - at NO charge - to discuss my questions and adaption of the diet to my case!

Koko & Lynn - thanks for your posts. I always try to eat whole grain breads (better for you than whole wheat). I wish I could eat oatmeal and brown rice but get cramps from their high fiber. From my studies, only salad dressings made with mono-saturated oils, e.g., olive oil, are good for your cholesterol. Corn oil is not good for you. Safflower oil is better than some. Canola oil is good in moderation only. It's best to make your own salad dressing, that's the only way to ensure that the ingredients are good for you and that it does not contain sugar, corn syrup and other sweeteners.

If I hear from the "heart proof diet" doctor, I will post his recommendations!

Wow that's great news unhappyguy. Sometimes I make a simple olive oil, lemon and garlic dressing - its so easy and very refreshing. Occasionally I also use Balsamic vinegar, garlic and olive oil. I saw on TV yesterday that grapeseed oil is good and it has vitamin E in it, but I think its more expensive. You might also want to try adding fresh gingeroot to a green tea - its good for the stomach.

[Beholden]

I hope you get help from the heart ...doctor .

One thing too is to watch TV Sat at 8PM on CNN. It is a program by Dr. Sanja Gupta - the title something like "The Last Heart Attack".

I was planning to watch it this past Sunday and it was preemted or reather reschelduled due to their coverage of the breaking news on Libya. Anyway, I really want to watch that one. I get from the advertisments about the documentary that Dr. Gupta is trying to teach that heart attacks can be prevented with life style changes - even if there is a family history.

When I asked my kidney specialistabout using over the counter fish oil to help lower my cholesterol, he told me that the supplyment fish oil is great for helping to lower trig. Mine are very good, so he told me not to use it as it would only be adding calories to my daily intake...

Have you had your vit D levels checked? That is important for your heart function as well and you can get symptoms of depression and fagique when you are low or in the low normal range. Vit D also helps you keep healthy, works with your immune system, so that is very important especially when you get stressed.

Good luck Guy!!!!! Let me know, you know I want you to get feeling good again.

So far, the "heart attack proof diet" doc has not called me. Several days have passed and I doubt he will call.

Thanks everyone for your comments and concern!

[Beholden]

Sorry he is so unreliable as to not call you Guy.

The Sanjay Gupta program is on this Saturday, day after tomorrow since it was bumped due to the storm coverage. Hope you get a chance to watch it.

Good luck and keep on keepin' on Guy