Cardiovascular disease (CV) is the number one killer in the Western world. But it doesn’t need to be. The truth is that more than 75 percent of cases of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular disease events are preventable. In The Whole Heart Solution, America’s Holistic Heart Doc Joel K. Kahn, MD, reveals more than 75 simple, low-cost things you can do right away—from drinking your veggies to opening your windows to walking barefoot—to make yourself heart attack proof.
Dr. Joel K. Kahn is a plant-based cardiologist and is the Professor of Medicine at Wayne State University
He passionately lectures throughout the U.S.A. about the health benefits of a plant-based anti-ageing diet inspiring a new generation of thought leaders to think scientifically and critically about the body’s ability to heal itself through proper nutrition.
He has written articles for Reader's Digest and for his own blog at drjoelkahn.com/blog/ and other places.
I’ve become a student on heart health. This book in addition to Michael Greger’s “How Not to Die” are the two best resources on heart health I have found. I’d read this one just for the resources.
This book could have been a solid four star if not for the last section that deals with the use of supplements.
For the most part, Kahn, a cardiac specialist, promotes approaching heart disease through diet (plant-based nearly vegan, whole foods diet) and exercise (& in come cases supplements), as opposed to emphasizing only meds and various medical procedures.
There is a lot of good advice here that ultimately gets lost when he starts talking about supplements. Listen, I get it. There are likely alternatives to traditional meds that may be safer and ultimately better for us. Maybe. But by Kahn's own admission, the supplement industry is so poorly regulated, you don't always know what your getting in the pill or potion from the health food store.
I also get that he is trying to cover a lot of ground and that the supplements he is recommending aren't meant to apply to every patient with a heart problem. But the discussion and the way it is presented seems to take away from the books most redeeming quality which is that it celebrates the preventative and curative power of a heart healthy diet.
Supplements are not regulated for the most part. There is no concrete proof that supplements are any less harmful or more helpful than traditional pharmaceuticals. And like traditional pharmaceuticals, you probably shouldn't be taking supplements unless you are being monitored by a physician to determine what supplement is indicated, how much is indicated, and if it actually impacts the body in the desired way. Bottom line, if a supplement is indeed exerting a therapeutic effect, what makes it substantially different than other pharmaceuticals? I'll tell you what makes it different. The pharmaceutical companies actually have to have some evidence to back up their claims. They are also required to maintain quality-control. But when it comes to supplements, there is very little regulation and almost no standardization and/or testing for safety and possible side-effects.
In that sense, Kahn should have stopped when he said, and I'm paraphrasing, that it is best to get the nutrition we nee from the foods we eat. Period.
This is a fantastic book that everyone should read no matter their age or health status. I learned so much about our heart health. The author is funny and explains things well without being boring or dumbing it down too much. I love that he promotes a vegan diet for everyone and explains why in great detail with references to many scientific studies.
A great book. . .Clearly written with lots of suggestions and ideas on how to treat your heart better.
Most of the suggestions relate to following a whole foods plant-based diet, but the solutions go beyond that, including lots of ideas on how to destress, to remove contaminants, and maximize exercise. I've read several books about heart health and this is the best.
Excellent read. I am blessed to have Dr. Kahn as my cardiologist. He is amazing. Reading this book has helped to give me new insight and hope daily for my health issues. Very well written.
I began the Heart Disease Herbal Treatment from NaturePath Herbal Clinic, and the results have been nothing short of incredible for my condition. After using the treatment for nearly four months, I experienced a significant improvement in my heart health. Symptoms such as chest discomfort, shortness of breath, and fatigue gradually diminished. I now feel more energetic, and my overall well-being has greatly improved. I highly recommend reaching out to NaturePath Herbal Clinic through their website: www.naturepathherbalclinic.com. Their natural approach truly made a difference for me.
This book offered everything needed for a truly heart healthy lifestyle, and one that is so needed with our current heart disease epidemic. With a family history of heart disease, it is now going to be my new lifestyle. ❤
I'm having trouble finishing this book. Once I read the dietary advice, I lost all respect for the author. NOT everybody will benefit from cutting back on fat and animal protein. I know my own body, and what happened when I went vegan for a few months, and how my health improved when I added more meat to my diet.
I'm sure that the rest of the lifestyle advice is still valuable, but I'm not sure I'll be able to bring myself to read it with an open mind.
I did manage to finish the book, and a lot of what he suggests is good. But I still trust Dr. Stephen Sinatra and Dr. Peter D'Adamo a lot more.
Pretty much everything I've dug up over the years about caring for your heart, laid out in an orderly and worthy fashion. Here are the additional nutritional and holistic steps to take after your doc prescribes medication and tells you to lose weight - or before you have that heart attack. Choose a little or a lot, it's all helpful.
This was a gift and it's good. If you know a lot about plant-based eating and how nutrition works you might want to skip it, although I found some good new information.