Cholesterol Down: Ten Simple Steps to Lower Your Cholesterol in Four Weeks--Without Prescription Drugs

From: www.BasilAndSpice.com Book Review: Cholesterol Down by Dr. Janet Brill Cholesterol Down is for the 105 million Americans who have high cholesterol. The author, Dr. Janet Brill, a registered and licensed dietitian/nutritionist, exercise physiologist, and certified wellness coach has spent years counseling patients on cardiovascular disease prevention, researching, and writing on the subject of cholesterol. Her work has been published in the International Journal of Obesity and the International Journal of Sport Nutrition. Cholesterol Down provides readers with the information they need regarding cholesterol -- what it is and how it works both for and against the body. It is significantly endorsed by Dr. Jennifer H. Mieres, the National Spokesperson for the American Heart Association. She states, "The simple, consistent, and inexpensive lifestyle therapy outlined in her {Dr. Janet Brill's} Cholesterol Down Plan could be the most important investment you make in your future health." Dr. Brill explains LDL, the bad portion of cholesterol, and offers an effective combination therapy of foods, scientifically based, that are as effective as statins. Besides lowering LDL, the following ten-step program also offers further health benefits. First, eat 1 cup of oatmeal every day. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends three whole-grain servings daily. This is linked to reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, obesity, some cancers, lower blood pressure, and improved bowel movement. Oatmeal lowers LDL, may raise HDL--the good portion of cholesterol, and studies show that the more consumed, the greater the benefit. Second, eat a handful of almonds daily, approximately 30. In addition to warding off heart disease, they also are particularly preventive toward colon cancer, and help with weight loss. The FDA, American Heart Association, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute all recommend eating almonds to lower heart disease risk, possibly by 50%. Third, eat at least 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed daily. Flaxseed has been shown to be preventative toward breast, colon, and prostate cancers, and is known to lower LDL cholesterol and aid in brain functioning. Fourth, consume 3 grams of psyllium husk daily, gradually increasing to 10 grams. For the average consumer that means Metamucil. Dr. Brill states that psyllium husk, the active ingredient in Metamucil is "the most powerful LDL-lowering viscous soluble fiber in existence....For every 10 grams of total dietary fiber intake per day, risk of heart attack dropped by an estimated 14% and risk of dying from the disease by 27%." Metamucil also promotes digestion, moving toxins out of the body quickly. Fifth, eat ½ cup of beans, peas, or lentils daily. Legumes help reduce blood pressure, provide minerals and vitamins, phytochemicals, and antioxidants. Beans help fight obesity, diabetes, constipation, hemorrhoids, and various cancers--lung, colon, breast, esophagus, an

On 11/30/2007 my total cholesterol was 220, LDL 166, HDL 43, and triglycerides 53. My Doctor recommended that I start Lipitor. Before staring Lipitor I researched the drug and side effects and decided that there must be a better way. Today 2/5/2008 after using the "Cholesterol Down" recomendations since 12/15/2007 my cholesterol total is 134, LDL 91, HDL, 31, triglycerides 58. This is an amazing turn around. I did not use the Metamucil as recommended because I was prescribed a blood pressure med at the same time. The concern was that the Metamucil would bind to the blood pressure medication and limit its benefit. I am thrilled and have thanked Janet Brill for showing me the way without drugs. Let me tell you however that you must be dedicated to the diet. It worked for me.

The book promises "10 Simple Steps to Lower Your Cholesterol" and it delivers. The first section of this book deals with what cholesterol is and what it does, and as this reader-friendly author suggests, "If science is not your cup of tea, simply cut to Part II." Part II is the meat of the book, listing the ten simple - and they are - steps to lowering your cholesterol. Not only simple, but affordable, too - much more so than prescribed medicine. With each step, the good Doctor explains how each process helps us reach our medical goal, gives the medical proof that exists for each, presents case histories, and lists further options and tips on how to additionally simplify each step. Yet, if you're not into the medical jargon, this section of the book is formated so you can skip over much of the material presented and get the basic information you need in a few short paragraphs. She does make it easy. The third and final section of the book offers charts to help you follow this course, if you're into such regimentation. There are also a few dozen healthful recipes, few of which appealed to me. Now here's the bonus part: as Brill explains, each of these steps will also help in lowering blood pressure, aiding diabetics, fighting obesity, forestalling aging, even stopping hair loss. So, if you suffer from any of these ills and more, you can't go wrong with this basic recipe for good health. After five weeks on this regimen, my cholesterol numbers were back to normal. The one problem I found with this diet, it was almost too much to eat. Well, not too much, but very filling. I have followed a modified version of the plan, mainly keeping in the oatmeal and heart-friendly orange juice, and my numbers continue to be where they should be months later.

CholesterolDown is a most remarkable book. By following Dr. Brill's 10 simple steps, I was able to lower my cholesterol 30 points in a few weeks, and go off statins. There is an excellent chapter on recipes to lower cholesterol, all of which happen to be relatively simple to prepare as well as delicious. The book is well-written, easy to follow, with appropriate touches of humor. I heartily recommend this book for all who wish to live a longer, healthier life, without enslavement to prescription drugs.- Alma H. Bond, Ph.D., Author of Old Age is a Terminal Illness, Camille Claudel, a Novel, Tales of Psychology, etc. etc.

I have a personal interest in this particular subject so I was pleased to be asked to read and review "Cholesterol Down," a book which definitely should be read by anyone with a current cholesterol problem and, for that matter, by anyone in the younger set who wants to prevent such a problem from occurring in his or her future. If I had had this information many decades ago, I probably could have prevented or at least delayed the coronary problems I am now fighting. After my first heart attack five years ago, I had to face the fact that some extraordinary changes were necessary and at the top of that list was diet. I was placed on a "Mediterranean" diet which is very similar to the diet which Dr. Brill recommends in her book. Dr. Brill suggests ten simple steps to lower one's cholesterol without resorting to prescription drugs. I am all in favor of that because nothing disturbs me more within the medical area of my life than the taking of prescription drugs. I try to avoid that sort of thing like the plague. I much prefer to utilize "natural" remedies whenever and wherever possible. So far I've been fairly successful, having to take only one prescription medication (an anti-clotting drug) and only because I have found no comparable natural remedy. This book is divided into two parts plus an appendix. The first part of the book provides the reader with information about cholesterol and heart disease, basically the scientific foundations upon which Dr. Brill's ten-step plan is based. This can be read first but it is not necessary. I read the second part first, which actually describes the ten-step cholesterol down plan, because I was specifically interested in reviewing what the author suggests; one can always go back to the scientific rationale later. Additionally, in the appendix, Dr. Brill provides some valuable aids such as a daily checklist, progress chart, a sample meal and exercise plans, some heart-healthy recipes (very important!), and a way of determining one's risk of heart disease. But for those fighting heart disease or wanting to try to prevent that scourge, it is the ten-step program that is the "heart" of the book (sorry for the pun!). Now, I'm going to briefly review the ten steps Dr. Brill recommends and add a personal touch to each one. If my getting personal bothers you, then this is the time to stop reading this review, purchase the book for yourself, and read your way to healthy living. Step One: Eat oatmeal. I am so glad that she favors this because that is exactly what I've been doing for the past five years. Actually I eat a double-helping six mornings a week (I'm a big guy and one helping just doesn't do the job). On Sundays, by the way, my cardiologist permits me to have a breakfast of two eggs, hashbrowns (cooked in Canola oil), and lean chicken. But the oatmeal is essential and I have it with a tablespoon of milled flaxseed, a handful of raisins, a touch of cinnamon (allegedly helps to control blood sugar), and