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BOOK REVIEW Cholesterol Down: Ten Simple Steps to Lower Your Cholesterol in Four Weeks -- Without Prescription Drugs by Janet Brill Three Rivers Press - December 2006
Reviewed by Dr. Jonathan Dolhenty I have a personal interest in this particular subject so I was pleased to be asked to read and review Cholesterol Down, a book which definitely should be read by anyone with a current cholesterol problem and, for that matter, by anyone in the younger set who wants to prevent such a problem from occurring in his or her future. If I had had this information many decades ago, I probably could have prevented or at least delayed the coronary problems I am now fighting. After my first heart attack five years ago, I had to face the fact that some extraordinary changes were necessary and at the top of that list was diet. I was placed on a "Mediterranean" diet which is very similar to the diet which Dr. Brill recommends in her book. Dr. Brill suggests ten simple steps to lower one's cholesterol without resorting to prescription drugs. I am all in favor of that because nothing disturbs me more within the medical area of my life than the taking of prescription drugs. I try to avoid that sort of thing like the plague. I much prefer to utilize "natural" remedies whenever and wherever possible. So far I've been fairly successful, having to take only one prescription medication (an anti-clotting drug) and only because I have found no comparable natural remedy. This book is divided into two parts plus an appendix. The first part of the book provides the reader with information about cholesterol and heart disease, basically the scientific foundations upon which Dr. Brill's ten-step plan is based. This can be read first but it is not necessary. I read the second part first, which actually describes the ten-step cholesterol down plan, because I was specifically interested in reviewing what the author suggests; one can always go back to the scientific rationale later. Additionally, in the appendix, Dr. Brill provides some valuable aids such as a daily checklist, progress chart, a sample meal and exercise plans, some heart-healthy recipes (very important!), and a way of determining one's risk of heart disease. But for those fighting heart disease or wanting to try to prevent that scourge, it is the ten-step program that is the "heart" of the book (sorry for the pun!). Now, I'm going to briefly review the ten steps Dr. Brill recommends and add a personal touch to each one. If my getting personal bothers you, then this is the time to stop reading this review, purchase the book for yourself, and read your way to healthy living. Step One: Eat oatmeal. I am so glad that she favors this because that is exactly what I've been doing for the past five years. Actually I eat a double-helping six mornings a week (I'm a big guy and one helping just doesn't do the job). On Sundays, by the way, my cardiologist permits me to have a breakfast of two eggs, hashbrowns (cooked in Canola oil), and lean chicken. But the oatmeal is essential and I have it with a tablespoon of milled flaxseed, a handful of raisins, a touch of cinnamon (allegedly helps to control blood sugar), and some no-fat milk. Step Two: Eat almonds. I have not been doing this; it's the first I've heard about it. Based on the science behind this recommendation, however, I have to give it serious consideration. Step Three: Eat flaxseeds. OK, no problem here. I am getting flaxseed with my oatmeal and also with some other items I eat every day, including the whole grain breads and deserts I bake. I am sold on the flaxseed situation and would recommend it to everyone. It's a great way to get the essential omega-3 fatty acids so necessary to human life. Step Four: Take Metamucil. Well, I've never taken Metamucil in my life. And, to be honest, I have some personal concerns about this recommendation. Dr. Brill does, to be sure, present the science behind this suggestion, but I'm going to have to really think about this one. I've always looked upon Metamucil as a remedy for those with constipation problems and (thank the fates!) that is a problem I don't have to concern myself with, at least for now. But I will think about this recommendation, even though I don't intend to implement it immediately. Step Five: Eat beans. Absolutely no problem. I make my own bean and vegetable soup (using 16 different beans and, yes, made from scratch!) and eat a healthy helping every night at dinner. This is a definite must if you're serious about your cardiac health. Step Six: Eat apples. This should be no surprise to anyone. From an early age, I was forced to memorize the proverb "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." And so it apparently does. Since I was so indoctrinated from childhood with this prescription, I have pretty much abided by it. Fortunately I love apples. Step Seven: Eat margarine with phytosterols. No problem here. I use one of the newer products which are heart-healthy and has been approved by my cardiologist. Anyway, I was never particularly devoted to butter or traditional margarine. Step Eight: Eat soy protein. I normally get a certain amount of this in many of my meals. I admit to not getting the amount that Dr. Brill recommends. I have some concerns about the amount she suggests, especially since I've been reading some scientific reports lately that are critical of consuming large amounts of soy protein, particularly for those of the male gender. For the present, I'll confine myself to the amount I am currently getting. Step Nine: Eat garlic. Ah! -- music to my ears. I love garlic. I love the taste of garlic. I love the smell of garlic. I use garlic all the time in much of my cooking. I also take a garlic supplement. If there is a true "wonder drug" in nature, I will vote for garlic to assume that status. It is my favorite herb and I think the science clearly supports its beneficial properties, not only for cardiovascular disease but for prevention of cancer as well. I am happy that Dr. Brill recommends garlic to her readers. (But why is it number nine instead of number one?) Step Ten: Walk. Again, no problem. I either walk thirty or more minutes a day (weather permitting) or I do thirty minutes of aerobic exercises at home. This is easier for me to practice, of course, because I'm from a generation that didn't spend much time sitting on the couch. We were outside playing, roughhousing, and physically active (pre-TV-computer-video games, of course). So, considering that I have implemented or regularly practice seven out of the ten steps Dr. Brill recommends, I will give myself an "A-minus" or, at least, a "B-plus." Furthermore, I intend to keep my copy of this book on my kitchen bookshelf and use it as a continual reference about and a constant reminder of what I ought to be doing to maintain my own health. Cholesterol Down is a great self-help book and highly recommended. 
Read an Excerpt from this Book Order at Amazon.com Order at Powell's Books |
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Enrich your life with a book about politics and current events... Enrich your political & social life with a politics or news magazine... |
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