Insulin

There's a new book just released in the bookstores by the Hellers, called something like the Carbohydrate Addicts Healthy Heart Program. It it co-authored by a cardio-vascular surgeon name Vagnini.  It seems to be well documented and cited.

Its an interesting concept they present about cornary artery disease.  They claim that heart disease is the end result of too much insulin in the blood stream, which is caused by too many carbohydrates in the diet. As a result, excessive insulin causes people to become overweight, high blood pressure, etc. which then if coupled with other factors (stress, heredity, et.al.)lead to artheroscloerosis.

I also just finished reading a book about Homosysteine, written by I beleive McCliane.  It's also new in the bookstores.  It states that high levels of Homosysteine cause the artergy damage inititialy and as a result, plaque build-up easily happens. This is attributable to poor diet which lacks the B's and Folic Acid. His answer is to eat more vegatables with B vitamins and supplement.

I had a bypass a year ago, I am overweight by 40 pounds, and have loved carbs all of my life. (Ice cream, crackers, pretzels, potatoes, corn, etc. I am 53 and have gained that 40 pounds over the past 25 years.  My blood pressure is normal. My blood sugar is normak. I do not have a family history of cardio problems.  I do have stress in my life. I do work out faithfully.  

As a matter of fact, I did Ornish diet religiously for 4 months, (low fat/vegetarian, and my cholestrol went up 10% (208) and my tryg. went up 100 points to 300. I stopped the vegatarian diet, and my tryglicerides went down 100 to about 200, and my other lipids remained the same.  

I am getting very frustrated and confused about what to eat and who to believe.  I do think that I am a carbohyradate addict, and have heard that there is something called Type IV hypolidemia, which supposedly is a condition that may have.

Would you comment on these two new books.  Would you also comment on my condition.

[CCF CARDIO MD JMF]

the first book brings up the entire concept of insulin resistance and the fact that insulin can be toxic to arteries.  It is  generally a very interesting look at this problem.  


The second book on homocysteiene is also of value.  Homocysteine can be easily reduced with a folic acid supplement.


In general,  the media barrage on all these different causes of heart disease can be quite confusing.  The best advice would be to stick to a sensible diet with a moderate amount of carbohydrates, lose weight and check to see that you are not prediabetic.  this can be done easily with a hemoglobin a1c level  that your internist or cardiologist can do.

For some good general nutrition advice, you may want to look for articles or bookswritten by Kristine Napier, MPH, RD.