Question for Moderators and Experts - British Heart Fou...

British Heart Foundation

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jimmyq profile image
14 Replies

I have read "How Not To Die", written by Dr Michael Greger and I am following the advice therein. It is working for me: My BP has come down, my heart rate came down to a point where my GP had to reduce my beta blocker dosage and I don't even breathe hard on my daily walk where I used to have to stop and rest after a steep hill.

My question is: do the rules of HealthUnlocked allow me to recommend this book to people posting on here?

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jimmyq profile image
jimmyq
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14 Replies
Marc68 profile image
Marc68

I think you just have. lol

jimmyq profile image
jimmyq in reply toMarc68

Oops!

It does say that it's a question for moderators, etc.

skid112 profile image
skid112Heart Star

Hi there,

The community guidelines are here healthunlocked.com/bhf/post....

Fyi it's been posted before so it's not new to some on here. What works for one doesn't mean it works for all.

Cheers Mark

jimmyq profile image
jimmyq in reply toskid112

Thanks Mark

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star

I would not have thought there is a problem recommending a book unless it was felt to be total quackery! However, a review would be useful to others.

Kimlouise profile image
Kimlouise

Hi Jimmyq, I bought this too and have been following the general guidelines, though not as slavishly as in the first couple of months after my diagnosis! (CAD). I have asked my cardiologist about it, & he feels it talks a lot of sense. He is following a plant based diet himself.

I haven’t had any test results since I start d following the diet, but I have lost 10lbs whilst still feeling full with eating loads. Generally feeling more energetic, and that I am doing something positive to help myself. I do have a piece of lean chicken about once a week, which isn’t in the book!

I can only speak for myself obviously, but I haven’t had any problems with changing my diet and don’t regret it. Good luck anyway.

jimmyq profile image
jimmyq in reply toKimlouise

Hi Kimlouise,

My BP is down (115/70), cholesterol is down (2.7), pulse is down (low 50s), my weight is down to the same as in my 20s (12st10lb). My doctors have reduced my doses of Atorvastatin and Bisoprolol and taken me off Indapamide altogether.

Kimlouise profile image
Kimlouise in reply tojimmyq

Wow... Well done! I am still on statins and bisoprolol but haven't had any testing done since I started eating more plant based. I've definitely slipped a bit over the summer but I would say 80% there.

Helen_BHF profile image
Helen_BHF

Hi jimmyq - no issue with this :) All the BHF team would ask is that any recommendations like this are in line with medical advice (and not a replacement for seeing your GP!) which you've made clear.

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star

I checked this book out on Amazon where it rated an average 4.8 (out of 5) with over 500 reviews. Having tried going vegetarian once and giving up after a few weeks its not really for me. |I also worry about any dietary regime that requires you to take additional vitamins and minerals to stay healthy. Each to their own!

jimmyq profile image
jimmyq

The only vitamin supplement necessary is B12. You can get everything else from your food. Any vegans and possibly some vegetarians should supplement with Vitamin B12 so this regime is nothing special in that. To get a flavour of what the book is about you could watch the film "Forks Over Knives". It is on Netflix.

Gordon99 profile image
Gordon99

My daughter bought me this book. It contains a wealth of good advice and understandable explanations. My problem is high potassium and since this is in everything plant based it means I have to be quite selective as many low potassium options don’t suit my choice because of sugar,salt, fatcontent.

jimmyq profile image
jimmyq

Sorry to hear that! My father-in-law was on a low potassium diet. It was bloody boring!

No heart patient should follow anything in a book without consulting their doctor. I have purchased a lot of heart health books over the past 12 years and many focus on lifestyle changes - smoking cessation, healthy diet, moderate exercise, relaxation etc - pretty much what we are taught in rehab and endorsed by the World Health Organisation. The biggest problem with books is that they date very quickly and what is bad today is good tomorrow (e.g. eggs) and vice versa. A good doctor or specialist will be up to date on the latest research and recommendations.

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Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.