Heart disease, is still a big problem here in America.  To give a brief history of this disease.  It develops in the lining of the arteries. There, endothelial cells manufacture a compound called nitric acid, that accomplishes 4 tasks crucial for healthy circulation. 1) Keeps blood smoothly flowing rather than becoming sticky and clotted. 2) Allows arteries to widen when the heart needs more blood. 3) Stops muscle cells in arteries from growing into plaque. 4) Decreases inflammation in the plaque.

The type and amount of fat in the typical western diet from animal products, dairy foods and concentrated oils, assults endothelial cells, cutting their production of nitric oxide.

You can prevent, stop or reverse heart disease with a plant-based diet.

Here's what you can't eat and what you can:

FOODS YOU CANNOT EAT:

1) No meat, poultry, fish or eggs (you can get plenty of of protein from plant based sources)

2) No dairy products (no butter, cheese, cream, icecream, yogart or milk even skim milk (contains animal protein)

3) No oil of any kind-not a drop.  That includes all oils, even virgin oil and canola(14% of olive oil is saturated fat, every bit as aggressive in promoting heart disease as the others. A diet that includes oils, including monounsaturated oils from olive and canola oils may slow the progression of heart disease, but it won't stop or reverse it.

 4) No nuts or avocados. (you can have moderate amounts of nuts and avocado's as long as yourcholesterol is below150 mllgrms x deciliter.

FOODS YOU CAN EAT:

All VEGETABLES.

LEGUMES-beans, peas, lentils.

Whole grains and products that are made from them, such as bread and pasta. As long as they donot contain added fats.  Do not eat refined grains, which have been stripped of much of their fiber and nutrients.  Avoid white rice and "enriched" flour products, which are found in many pastas, breads, bagels and baked goods.

FRUITS-but heart patients should limit consumption to 3 pieces x day and avoid drinking pure fruit juices.  Too much fruit rapidly raises fruit sugar, triggering a surge of insulin from the pancreas, which stimulates the liver to manufacture more cholesterol.

BEVERAGES-including water, seltzer water, oat milk, hazelnut milk, almond milk, no fat soy milk, coffee and tea.  Alcohol is fine in moderation (no more than 2 servings x day for men and 1 for women).

SUPPLEMENTS- for maximum health it is necessary to take the appropriate supplements in the am

1) multivitamin/mineral supplement

2) Vit B12-1,000 micrograms

3) Calcium-1,000 milligrams (1200 mg if your over 60)

4) Vitamin D3-1,000 IU

5) Flaxseed meal (ground flaxseed), 1 tblspn for the omega-3 fatty acids it provides.  Sprinkle it on ceral.

THE CHOLESTEROL CONNECTION:

If you eat the typical, high fat western diet, even if you take a cholesterol-lowering statin drug, you will not protect yourself from heart disease, because the fat in the diet will damage the endothelium cells that produce nitric oxide.

RECCOMENDED:

Eat a plant based diet, and ask your doctor if you should also take a cholesterol-lowering medication.  Strive to maintain a total cholesterol of less than 150 and LDL (bad one) below 85.

SUPRISING:

Research shows that people who mantain a so called low fat diet of 29% of calories from fat have the same rate of heart attacks and strokes as people who don't. 

Plant based nutrtion is the only diet that can effectively Prevent, Stop and Reverse heart disease.  It also offers protection against stroke, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, diabetes, senile mental impairment, erectile dysfunction & cancers of the breast, prostate, colon, rectum, uterus & ovaries.