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Loading ...“Out of the top six causes of death… four are preventable by dietary changes.” – Dr. Marc Katz
In this video, Dr. Marc Katz, Cardiac Surgeon and Chief Medical Officer for the Bon Secours Heart and Vascular Institute, talks about his decision to adopt a no fat, vegan lifestyle.
Cardiovascular diseases kill more people each year, worldwide, than all other illnesses combined. More than half of those deaths are preventable by dietary changes alone.
Blockages occur over time, as poor diet causes fatty deposits to develop in the arteries. When those blockages, in arteries that feed the heart, rupture a massive heart attack occurs.
One of the best ways to combat the risk of blockage is to eat a diet rich in whole foods. Rather than subscribing to what Dr. Katz refers to as “fad diets” – those that stress the avoidance of things like carbs or inclusion of things like grapefruit – we should focus on eating a mostly plant based diet.
As first steps that can have a significant impact, Dr. Katz recommends:
- Whole grains – whole grain breads, brown rices, cooked grains such a quinoa or bulgur
- Whole foods – avoid refined carbohydrates like white bread and white rice. Avoid processed foods
- Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables – a challenge due to convenience factor, but a critical part of a healthy diet
In addition to increasing the consumption of whole foods, Dr. Katz suggests reducing the consumption of red meat and carefully considering other meats which may also be high in fat.
Learning how to read labels is an important tool in developing a healthy diet. According to Dr. Katz, “everything on the front of the packet is false.” In processed foods, sugar may not be listed as a primary ingredient itself, although it may be broken into its many forms and listed separately. When added up, they become a primary ingredient. Look for foods with 10-30% or less of calories from fat.
Following a heart healthy diet is not hard, but does require some change. Dr. Katz acknowledges that finding foods we enjoy eating and enjoy cooking go a long way to helping us stay consistent. Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn’s Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease is packed with tips and recipes. http://www.heartattackproof.com/
In the end, making subtle changes to our diet will have a dramatic effect on protecting the delicate cell walls that line our arteries and will certainly help prevent heart attacks.
For an appointment with Dr. Katz, call 804-359-WELL
To learn more about Dr. Katz, visit his website here.
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