I am sharing information with you from this amazing book every month (or so!) in my newsletter, and thought I’d also share the information here in my blog.  I have just read this book and it has really made me stop and think about the food I eat.

In How Not to Die, Dr Michael Gregor examines the top causes of premature death for heart disease , cancers, diabetes and more – and explains how nutritional and lifestyle interventions can sometimes trump prescription pills and other pharmaceutical and surgical approaches, freeing us to enjoy better health.

It’s a very BIG book with a HUGE reference section. Every month I’m going to try and pick out the key points for each section and I highly recommend reading the book for yourself. Prevention is better than cure. I am not advising anyone to follow the suggestions in the book, i’m just passing on the information.

CHAPTER 1 – HOW NOT TO DIE FROM HEART DISEASE
Coronary Heart disease occurs when fatty deposits line the walls of your arteries, called atherosclerotic plaque. The build up of plaque known as atherosclerosis, is the hardening of the arteries by pockets of cholesterol-rich gunk that builds up within the inner linings of the blood vessels. This process occurs over decades and the restriction of blood circulation to the heart muscle can lead to chest pain and pressure, known as angina. If the plaque ruptures, a blood clot can form within an artery and can cause a heart attack.

Cholesterol is the critical risk factor, from animal products and processed food.

Plant based diets have been shown to lower cholesterol just as effectively as first-line statin drugs.

Brazil Nuts can lower cholesterol – just 4 a monthHeart disease is reversible, its never too early to start eating healthily as you body wants to repair itself.
Unhealthy diets don’t just affect the structure of your arteries, it affects their functionality.

A single fast food meal (sausage & egg McMuffins were used in the original study), can stiffen your arteries within hours, cutting in half their ability to relax normally. As soon as this inflammatory state calms down 5-6 hrs later – lunchtime and the cycle can continue if more processed food is consumed.

Endotoxins (bacterial toxins) from meat may end up in your intestines, then they get into your bloodstream where they can trigger inflammatory reactions in the arteries.
There has been a 91% reduction in angina attacks within just a few weeks of patients being put on a plant based diet, with and without exercise.

Next time: HOW NOT TO DIE FROM LUNG DISEASES……….