Reviews (43)

This certainly is a purist's view, but that doesn't make it bad
I see a lot of critics of the Ornish diet suggested in the book; however, it certainly seems as if there is a lot of data available to document the results and support the promotion of the Ornish diet.However, I would strongly suggest reading both Dr. Dean Ornish's book on reversing heart disease and Dr. Julian Whitaker's book on the same.I think that the Whitaker book provides a much more practical view and also displays what may be a good diet (and life-style, etc) for (1) a healthy person that wants to prevent possibility of heart disease, a "preventative" approach, and (2) a person who has heart disease and needs a "reversal" approach.That said, Dr. Ornish's book is an eye-opener and does cause a concerned reader to focus on the level of discipline and focus that a "reversal" diet and life-style requires.

There are better books out there these days
After my older brother suddenly died of coronary artery disease at age 40 due to genetically high cholesterol, I needed to learn everything possible on the subject so that I could avoid suffering the same fate.I read all the books on the shelf, among them Dr. Ornish's.I disliked this book because it is rather narcissistic and is focused more on Dr. Ornish himself than on educating us about how to avoid heart disease.Take a look at chapter 1 and you'll see what I mean: "I was trained to treat hypertension..."; "I first became interested in conducting research on heart disease in 1975..."; "I began to wonder..."; "I went to the medical library and began reading extensively"; "It seemed like an exciting opportunity, so in 1977 I decided to take a year off..."; "I hadn't had enough clinical experience to be jaded..."; "I was unwittingly giving many of them hope for the first time since their illness had been diagnosed"; "I went back to medical school and graduated in 1980"; "From 1981 to 1984, I completed my internship and medical residency in Boston."; "In July 1984, I moved to San Francisco..."This is just the tedious first six pages.Trust me, it goes on and on like this.Do you want to learn about how the heart works?You'll finally get a few sentences on that subject when you get to page 42, squeezed in between more "I did this and I did that."You'll get a little info on LDL and HDL when you get to page 51.Sure, there is useful information within the 672 pages of this book, but you'll be forced to become an expert on Dr. Ornish and his life story to find it.And remember, this book is more than 15 years old.Perhaps back in 1990 he needed to devote 300 pages to convincing people that he was correct in believing that diet, exercise, and stress affect your risk of heart disease, but that that is common knowledge and not controversial now.The research is far more advanced in today's world.If you are interested in Dr. Ornish personally and the history of the study of heart disease in the 1970s and 1980s, you'll probably enjoy this book.But if you are serious about educating yourself on heart disease and how best to avoid it, I would recommend Dr. Robert Superko's "Before the Heart Attacks : A Revolutionary Approach to Detecting, Preventing, and Even Reversing Heart Disease" (2003) or Dr. Harlan M. Krumholz's "The Expert Guide to Beating Heart Disease: What You Absolutely Must Know" (2005).These books are more up to date and provide far more useful information.

Great Book
When I follow the diet and work on the other aspects of the program I feel better, lose weight, am happier and have better test results.The book is easy to read and understand.The program is not for the die hard meat lover.It takes commitment to follow.From the reviews I have read and comments from coworkers and friends, it also takes an open mind and balanced attention.I am currently purchasing this book for my adult son.It all depends on what a reader is looking for.Dr. Ornish does not give a quick fix.I am a believer. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Coronary heart disease    3. Diet / Health / Fitness    4. Diseases - Heart    5. General    6. Healthy Living    7. Prevention    8. Relaxation    9. Vegetarian cookery    10. Coping with illness    11. Health & Fitness / Healthy Living   

Editorial Review

Mehmet Oz is a Renaissance man of cardiac care, combining yoga, aromatherapy, hypnosis, energy healing, music therapy, acupuncture, and visual imagery into his surgery practice at the Complementary Care Unit of New York City's Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. He's adamant that the relationship between traditional and alternative medicine should be symbiotic, not mutually exclusive. His patients are proof of this: when treated holistically, not as just "another transplant patient" with a plaque-addled heart, they perceive less pain during surgery and recuperation, are less likely to suffer depression, and heal more quickly.Read more

Reviews (11)

The Heart Can Thrive on Positive Thoughts.
Dr. Oz, the heart wizard, is of Turkish descent and attempts to combine East and West traditions of healing during post-surgery.He is a heart surgeon located in New York City.First of all,he is searching for the elusive one universal healing endeavor.Some things we all need are recommended such as Love is a major healing force, as is religious faith in one God.He is of the opinion that modern medicine is not perfect.Nothing is perfect, not even beauty, he says.
A Good Combination
The view that all types of medicine (western and eastern) working together makes sense.This book seems to encorage a balance between both.I enjoyed it.

Not For Me
I think Dr Oz is a fantastic doctor and I have heard him speak on tv but I did not find any useful information in this book for my life. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Therapies    2. Alternative medicine    3. Alternative treatment    4. Cardiology    5. Consumer Health    6. Diet / Health / Fitness    7. Diseases    8. Diseases - Heart    9. Health & Fitness    10. Health/Fitness    11. Heart    12. Biography & Autobiography    13. Health & Fitness / Alternative Therapies    14. History of medicine   

Editorial Review

Ingeniously disguised as a weight-loss manual, this bestselling guide to preventing--and in some cases, reversing--heart disease through diet, exercise, and soul nourishing comes from renowned cardiologist Dr. Dean Ornish, the first doctor to prove that there are alternatives to surgery for clearing clogged arteries--namely, diet, exercise, and stress management. Citing his own published research findings, Ornish concludes that eating a vegetarian diet with only 10 percent of the total daily calories from fat is the first step to healthier, happier living. The other key elements--moderate exercise, fostering social support, and reconnecting with the self--take more time and care. For these, Ornish offers about 75 pages of encouraging words, again backed by numerous research findings and his personal experiences. Read more

Reviews (53)

Great diet.
Wonderfully healthful diet, and with a little exercise (my wife and I walked for about 25 minutes, three times a week) you'll lose like crazy.We added fish to the diet (not fried) and still did really well.One thing:the recipes in the book are a little tough.We recommend his everyday recipe book to solve the problem.

Eat More, Weigh Less: Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Losing Weight Safely While Eating Abundantly
I'm familiar with Dr. Ornish's other books.This one did not come up to standard.
Finally some common sense
Some of the reviews I read before I bought this would make you think Mr. Ornish is a Nazi.In a society where we are looking for a pill to cure everything instead of using a little self discipline I suppose you could think that.This book is a simple straight forward approach to eating the way nature designed us instead of the way fast food has trained us.If you're looking for a healthy life and maybe to drop some pounds too, and you are ready to be realistic about it, buy this book and his cookbook.The food is great and you won't miss the stuff you give up. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Health & Fitness    3. Health & Healing - General    4. Health/Fitness    5. Low-fat diet    6. Nutrition    7. Recipes    8. Reducing diets    9. Weight Loss    10. Health & Fitness / General   

Reviews (14)

Eat great with no guilt
In order for this book to make sense you need to read Dr. Ornish's other book (Eat More, Weigh Less).This book is full of great food that is simple to prepare and very healthy.You won't miss the stuff you leave out.

It works.90 pounds worth for me
Ah.Poor soul below me. Don't eat this or that. How about just plain good food and eat all you want of that?
Transformed my "Meat and Potatoes" husband!
I checked this book out from the library after seeing the auther on "Oprah."I don't have heart disease, but I am always looking for more healthful ways of cooking.My husband was very skeptical about eating vegetarian.He has loved everything that I have made from this book.Now when we menu plan for the week, he goes through and picks three or four things from the book!Everything is easy to make and there are not a whole lot of strange ingredients like some other vegetarian cookbooks. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Diets - General    4. Health & Healing - Low Fat    5. Low-fat diet    6. Quick and easy cookery    7. Recipes    8. Vegetarian - General    9. Vegetarian cookery    10. Health & Fitness / General   

Reviews (2)

Low-Fat Diets Are Dangerous For 25% Of The Population
Right after a massive heart attack, my cardiologist put me on the Ornish Program.Yes, my total cholesterol dropped, but so did my HDL (good cholesterol).My LDL (bad cholesterol) increased.Most alarmingly, in less than a month, my triglycerides more than doubled!My cardiologist had no explanation for this phenomenon.So, I ate even less fat (down to 5% of total calories).My blood chemistry did not improve. Saved my life!
I read this book when it first came out, shortly after I was told I would be dead in two years.I followed it and am fine, my heart has not got any worse, and other factors of my health have improvedRead more

Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Coronary heart disease    3. Diet therapy    4. Diets - Special Conditions    5. Diseases - Heart    6. Exercise therapy    7. Health/Fitness    8. Prevention    9. Medical / Preventive Medicine   

Reviews (23)

Informative and fun...not boring
Books that deal with preventative health issues are of great interest to me because I learn so much and my life always improves.This is one of those books that is not boring, but such a great joy to read.A physician friend recommended it because it deals with the whole issue of how and where we eat and not just what we should eat. WHAT YOU EAT HAS A PROFOUND AFFECT--AND EFFECT
This book is a new kind of nutrition guide. It starts with an overview about how so many of us have spun out of control with food--66% are overweight or obese and even more Americans obsess about food by what Kesten describes as "counting calories, watching weight and figuring fat--both in food and our bodies." It then goes on to explain how diet can radically affect more than physical health, that it also influences how a person feels emotionally, even spiritually. The antidote to our disordered eating is the remainder of the book, which turns to science and story-telling to explain long-lost secrets about the many ways food heals. Finally, this book offers a step-by-step, practical solution to eating well and to actually enjoying your food at the same time. This book is highly informative and enlightening. My only criticism: This isn't a cookbook, but I would've liked to see some recipes. Still, it brings up and answers a lot of diet and food questions that other books on the subject miss or ignore completely. It's a gem.

DEMYSTIFYING OPTIMAL EATING
Unlike most books about food and diet, this book is a celebration of the intelligence inherent in both food and in human beings. The approach and guidelines outlined in this book could save you years of confusion about the best way to eat. By merging food wisdom of ancient civilizations and religions into an effective and scientifically validated approach, this book has had a profound influence on my life, the role of food in it, and my health--both mental and physical. I found the "Personal Food Profile" quiz to be an invaluable tool for feedback. Read it--no, savor it--for a new understanding of food. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Dinners and dining    3. Food habits    4. Healing    5. Health & Fitness    6. Health/Fitness    7. Naturopathy    8. Nutrition    9. Psychological aspects    10. Social aspects    11. Diets & dieting    12. Mind, body, spirit: disciplines & techniques   

Features

• Audiobook
• Unabridged

Subjects:  1. Audio - Exercise / Health    2. Audio Adult: Other    3. Diet Therapy    4. Diseases - Heart    5. Medical    6. Unabridged Audio - Misc.Nonfiction    7. Psychology    8. Self-Help & Practical Interests   

Reviews (4)

This book has started me on the path to better eating...
I lowered my cholesterol from 290 to 246 after using the recipes in this book for 2 months.It has really helped me out tremendously, I just feel better.The recipes are quite tasty and easy to follow.My favorites so far are the black bean soup, the 2-bean enchiladas, and the Apple crisp.I like the fact that the recipes are separated by the seasons as it makes it easier to know where to look when I want to make something for a hot summer day, or cold winter day.I highly recommend this book if you need to change your eating habits to a more healthy option!

This is the book that finally got me cooking.
I'm a total beginner in the kitchen and I'm glad I found this book.It's so fully of clear, valuable information, that the recipes seem almost a bonus.The only problem I have is rememberingeverything I read and it's sometimes a little hard to locate it again.I'm not sure the organization by seasons is better than organization by meal or food type, such as soups, entrees,etc. or ingredients, i.e., beans, greens, etc.One thing, despite some of Dr. Ornish's provocative book titles, his integrity comes through and apparently his regime really works.Ask people like Bill Moyers who started following Ornish's program after severe heart problems.

Outstanding and easy to follow!
This is my favorite cookbook which I use often. I have given it to friends as a gift and received raves. The program is a great way to live and eat. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Low-fat diet    4. Quick and easy cookery    5. Recipes    6. Vegetarian    7. Vegetarian cookery    8. General cookery   

Editorial Review

Many people know Dean Ornish as the doctor who proved that symptoms of heart disease can be reversed with a regimen of a low-fat diet, exercise, and stress reduction. In Read more

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• Large Print

Subjects:  1. Diet / Health / Fitness    2. Diseases - Heart    3. Healing    4. Health & Fitness    5. Health/Fitness    6. Interpersonal Relations    7. Intimacy (Psychology)    8. Longevity    9. Love    10. Love & Romance   

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• Audiobook

Reviews (1)

This is Not a Book
It is not clear anywhere when ordering this "book" that it is not a book but instead an audio cassett tape.I was very disappointed upon receiving it. To summarize, it should be made more clear in the caption that this is an audio cassette and not a book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Misc. Nonfiction    2. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    3. Diseases - Heart    4. Health & Healing - General    5. Low-fat diet    6. Quick and easy cookery    7. Recipes    8. Unabridged Audio - Misc.Nonfiction    9. Vegetarian cookery    10. Health & Fitness / General   

Editorial Review

Until recently, there was little women could do to prevent breast cancer. After years of research, nutrition is emerging as one of the most important weapons to fight this deadly disease. Now, in Read more

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Reviews (47)

An important word on the "American Council for Science and Health"
I have not read Arnot's book. However, to those reviewers who cite the attacks made against the book by the American Council for Science and Health, you need to know the shaky credentials and corporate sponsorship of that particular organization.Go to their website: there you will find articles saying that pesticide in foods poses absolutely no health risks, and articles saying that vending machines in schools should be allowed to continue selling soda and a whole range of snack foods in the interests of a free market system. This Council appears to be nothing more than a highly-financed mouthpiece for various corporate interests. I have been highly skeptical of any of their "scientific" claims for a while now. Finding out that they do not support Arno's book actually makes me more interested in checking it out myself, so I have ordered a copy.

An outstanding resource for those dealing with breast cancer
Having just been diagnosed with a recurrence of non-metastatic breast cancer, I decided to seek out resources that might help me make the lifestyle changes I failed to make after my first episode, in order to prevent yet another recurrence. Since I'm in a doctoral program, I decided to take a course on alternative medicine and immediately began reading the texts, which led to this excellent resource.
Better now, than later...
First,every woman I care about, my friends, sisters, mom, etc., will be getting a copy of this book as their next gift from me! Dr. Arnot gives example after example of medical research PLUS lifestyles of women all over the world showing better health than most Americans, revealing what scientists believe attribute to it! Unless every word and Doctor,or school referenced are all liars, this book is a LIFESAVE.Scientist have come a long way.They don't just say "don't eat this,but eat that" and you'll be fine. That's too simple.They know much more than that now and we need to take advantage of that. If they say breakfast is important, always eat SOMETHING,than that's what we should do! Ifyou want a fiction book,or an easy fix, or if you want to ramble about how research in mice has little to do with humans,than keep fooling yourself. I'll take all the help a reputable doctor or scientist or medical college wants to give to prolong my life AND give me GOOD HEALTH at the same time.Many of us ae having our children late in life.My youngest was born when I was 38.I've got to live a long time to be there for her.My mother had me at 18!She's 70 now and I love having her around.I trust there is nothing in Dr. Bob's book that will hurt me -- but that will only help me. Should I still go to the doctor?OF COURSE!!!I have been getting yearly mamograms for 15 years, and only this year did I have a a small spot.I'm to get another exam in May 2002.I'm worried.They think it's nothing and say MOST OF THEM ARE BENIGN. What if i'm one of those woman not so lucky? I am not sure about Soy Isoflavones (the dosage) although Dr. Bob talks about it.Thanks, and KEEP READING!!... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Exercise/Health    2. Audio - Exercise / Health    3. Audio Adult: Other    4. Audiobooks    5. Breast    6. Cancer    7. Diet therapy    8. Diets - Special Conditions    9. Diseases - Breast Cancer    10. Diseases - Cancer    11. Health & Fitness    12. Prevention   

Subjects:  1. Diet / Health / Fitness    2. General   

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Subjects:  1. Diet / Health / Fitness    2. Healing    3. Interpersonal Relations    4. Love & Romance