Cholesterol Made Simple, March 6, 2005

In my last physical exam, my blood tests showed that I have high cholesterol for the first time in my life. I wanted to learn about high cholesterol before my appointment with my doctor to discuss treatment. I read several books on the subject and found this one to be the best! Dr McGowan explained what cholesterol is in terms I could actually understand. Besides that, she covers all areas that affect your cholesterol level with suggestions on how to lower the bad cholesterol and raise the good cholesterol. Specific topics covered include: Diet, Supplements, Exercise, Quit Smoking, and Medications. After reading and studying this book, I feel ready to discuss my options intelligently with my doctor. I wish there were more practical and down-to-earth books on this subject….like this one. Most books about cholesterol read like they are written for doctors and scientists instead of the common people like me.

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She does it again!, March 19, 2002

By 

W. A. Zeckhausen (Laconia, NH) – See all my reviews

  

Mary McGowan,M.D., well known and highly respected expert on the treatment of lipids, previously wrote an extremely helpful book titled: “Heartfitness for Life”.(Read the customer reviews for that book!). Among the many areas she covers are treatment for homocysteine, for which many physicians don’t bother to test, and for LPa,which is “badder” than the “bad” cholesterol,LDL. Too many physicians have no idea what LPa is, and some actually argue against testing for it, as they have no idea how to treat it. In this her latest book, she adds additional information on lowering LPa. The book is full of new, clearly explained practical information. I can’t recommend it too highly, for anyone, beginner or long time learner having concerns about their lipid status. It should be required reading for cardiologists, internists, and family physicians, who could use this book as a resource for their patients, and in many cases for themselves.

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A good overview with details available, December 2, 2003

I thought I knew how to handle high cholesterol, but this book taught me stuff I didn’t know I didn’t know. Besides a good treatment on self-help options, it has a nice overview of different cholesterol-lowering drugs that gives me the language to be able to discuss these issues intelligently with my doctor. She writes in a friendly, accessible style but still goes into fairly good detail about specific items that are easy to skip if they don’t pertain. (For example, I thought her advice on how to handle a cigarette addiction was great, but I don’t smoke.)

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Simple, Effective Ways to Sustain Cardiovascular Health!, December 24, 2001

By 

Professor Donald Mitchell “Jesus Loves You!” (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 101,000 Helpful Votes Globally) – See all my reviews

  

  

This book deserves many more than five stars! Millions of people will lead longer, healthier, and more productive lives from following the advice here.

In the last 15 years, knowledge about how to reduce heart disease has made major strides. This book is the best source I have seen about what has been learned, and how to apply it to help yourself and those you love. You will probably find it helpful to bring your copy along to see your physician because many primary care physicians will not be up-to-date with the latest findings in some areas, such as the use of supplements.

If you liked Mr. Kowalski’s first program for controlling cholesterol, originally published in 1987, you will adore this book. When asking himself what had changed he noted, “Why, practically everything is new!” Mr. Kowalski reviews in detail the strengths and weaknesses of that program, describes the research that has been conducted on cardiovascular health since then, and shows you other risks in addition to cholesterol that must be addressed. He also debunks pseudo-science about cholesterol control.

What impressed me the most is that Mr. Kowalski’s old and new programs have worked perfectly for him. Here is a man who had his first heart attack at age 35 and double bypass. He had a second heart attack at 41, followed by a quadruple bypass. In the foreword, cardiac surgeon Dr. Jack Sternlieb describes how the most rigorous tests of Mr. Kowalski’s heart and arteries show that it has no blockages as of 1999. Without this program, Mr. Kowalski would probably have needed another bypass operation several years ago. His family record of heart disease is not a good one, and he probably has a genetic tendency to problems in this area. Mr. Kowalski is very physically active now, and has no limitations on his life style due to his cardiac history.

The new program has familiar elements in it, but is considerably less restrictive than the old one. You can eat a lot more foods, and a lot more fat (as long as it is the right kind of fat). The dietary guidelines are quite similar to the new ones brought out by the American Heart Association in 2000.

For most people, the diet features avoiding saturated fat and trans fatty acids, limiting overall fat to hold weight at a healthy level for your height, eating fish at least twice a week (especially fatty fish), lots of fruits and vegetables, whole-grain breads and cereals, consuming soluble fiber, lots of fluids, limiting sugars and empty carbohydrates, and eating slowly. Exercise is 15 miles of walking a week. A variety of supplements are encouraged (especially antioxidents, B vitamins, minerals, polysterols, and pantathine). Don’t smoke. Limit alcohol consumption to moderate daily levels, but do not imbibe solely for the cardiovascular benefit. Take one aspirin a day if your stomach can handle it.

I liked the candor in the book quite a lot. For example, “I’m a little embarrassed when I look at the subtitle of the original book, which promises `no deprivation.’”

In addition to the overall recommendations, each element is described in detail including the scientific studies that support why it works, who should not follow the recommendation, how to work with your doctor for the best results, side effects that can occur, and how these recommendations compare with the various prescription medications now available for lowering cholesterol. He also describes how these recommendations affect other factors for cardiovascular risk such as the amount of low-density lipoprotein (a negative component of overall cholesterol), high-density lipoprotein (a positive component of overall cholesterol), triglycerides, homocysteine, and C-reactive proteins. The section on niacin (B-3) was particularly interesting since it involves changing liver functions, and you are encouraged to work with your doctor in this area. I was not familiar with the “niacin flush” but was glad to learn that the newer versions usually avoid that problem. I especially found the discussions of the special issues that women, young people, and seniors have to be helpful.

Get this book today . . . follow its advice . . . and keep it with you!

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Friendly, practical advice, February 21, 2002

I’ve been reading a lot lately about heart disease, and "The New 8-Week Cholesterol Cure" gives a complete run down of how to care for your heart (against cholesterol) and tells you why you’re doing it. It also tells you what not to do, either because it’s bad for you or because some other advice you may have received is a wive’s tale.

In plain, friendly language, Kowalski tells us what causes problems with the heart and how to find out if you’re in trouble by asking for certain tests. He explains what these tests mean and what is considered normal/risky/dangerous.

And, of course, he tells us what to do. There is much more to it than eating low fat, Kowalski explains. He tells you what fats you should be eating and what fats not to. He gives other very specific recommendations on what to eat, supplements, and exercise. All of these recommendations are backed up with medical research studies or explanations of why it works. Kowalski gives encouraging statistics and benchmarks on how much people in the past have improved by following certain recommendations.

In my recent flurry of reading up on heart disease, much of what Kowalski has to say is in line with the latest research. There are even a few tips that I hadn’t read about before, like a cholesterol-blocking plant sterol and, for those who want beef, special breeds of cattle that produce very low fat beef that is still tender.

Kowalski even makes short recommendations on mental factors that can be heart harmful.

The one pitfall in this book (and the reason why I didn’t give it five stars) is the diet recommendations for weight loss. In a rare departure from the rest of the book, I don’t think Kowalski supports this chapter is very well by citing medical research or scientific fact. Kowalski recommends a low-carb diet (40 grams or less) and very low calories (850). Forty grams of carbs is about 1-1/2 pieces of bread, and most nutritionists say that eating under 1,200 calories a day puts your body in starvation mode, in which your body slows down metabolism because it thinks you got stranded in the middle of the desert. Carbs are necessary to give energy to your brain. Putting your body in starvation mode means that the body will try and get energy from your muscles, meaning that if you gain weight later you’ll have a larger proportion of fat to muscle. While I don’t think all low-carb diets are dangerous (carbs, in my opinion, do need to be judiciously controlled), 40 grams a day and 850 calories is a bit extreme. I wouldn’t follow the recommendations in this chapter.

However, I wouldn’t let this prevent you from buying the book. The rest of "The New 8-Week Cholesterol Cure" is full of wonderful advice to keep the cholesterol monster away.

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Get it, read it, do it… it works!, July 10, 2002

After a routine physical, my doctor reported that my triglycerides were at 508 and total cholesterol was at 220. I was given 2 months to get the numbers down or go on prescription medication.

This was the first book my wife checked out at the local library. I read it and followed the guidelines on "eating habit modification" (I don’t like the word "diet"). I cut out all deep-fried foods, started walking with hand weights at least 3 times a week and started taking 500mg of Niacin daily.

After 8 weeks my lipid profile reflected the results: total cholesterol went to 151 from 220; triglycerides went to 146 from 508. My doctor set the target triglyceride target at 150 to stay off medication.

The other "side" benefit was that I was able to shelve my Ranitidine prescription (heartburn medicine) which I took daily… sometimes twice daily.

Hence, my recommendation to get it, read it and DO IT!

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