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Blocked Arteries
Blocked Arteries: Clean Them Out Naturally
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The Vegetarian Bandwagon Rolls
Vegetarianism is beginning to sweep the country. Millions of Americans have taken steps toward a
more healthful lifestyle in varying degrees. Many have gone all the way to the total vegetarian diet
and the other aspects of a healthful lifestyle. Vegetarian restaurants and health food stores are
proliferating. All major airlines now offer total vegetarian meals on request. The number of brands
of non-dairy foods such as milk and cheese made from wholesome grains is multiplying. Medical
insurance companies are beginning to cover costs of vegetarian lifestyle instruction and counseling for
heart patients. Community vegetarian cooking schools are increasing in popularity. Vegetarian
periodicals and cookbooks are being published in increasing numbers. The vegetarian bandwagon is
rolling and this is one you will not want to miss.
Medical insurance companies are recognizing that the vegetarian approach is much more cost-effective
than the alternative of surgery. Mutual of Omaha's expenses per heart patient is cut by over half by
covering the cost of lifestyle instruction for heart patients. They report that their health care
subscribers with chest pains that are on the program have a 65 percent decrease in the number
experiencing chest pain. For the remainder who still have it, the frequency and severity decrease
"often dramatically." They also report a significant drop in blood cholesterol with no medication;
heart scans show that many patients experience cessation or reversal of heart disease progression,
and exercise tolerance measured on a treadmill "improved 22 percent." This program is reducing Mutual's
health care costs while producing better health of its subscribers at the same time.
"Lifestyle Centers"
Some may feel that they would like formal instruction to help them in making the transition to the
ideal lifestyle. There are institutions known as "Lifestyle Centers" that are dedicated to performing
such a service. These centers accommodate guests with various aspects and severity of heart disease
and other ailments who stay for a number of days or weeks. Each guest is put on a daily exercise
routine tailored to the individual's need, fed a vegetarian diet, given instruction in nutrition and
other aspects of healthful living, and taught how to prepare healthful and tasty dishes to maintain
the diet after returning home. A list of names and locations of such centers is found in the
Appendix III.
Health Professionals - Get the Facts Out - Let the Patient Decide
Dr. Ornish is convinced that we should get the facts out to everyone as to how to prevent heart
disease, and inform those who already have it how to reverse it. His statement is quoted in
Figure 23: Ornish: Let us not Hide the Facts.50
Is lifestyle change for everyone? Yes, for everyone who has a deep desire for a full and happy
life that is stronger than the desire for short-term taste bud gratification. The taste buds will
adjust in a few weeks and will then respond with greater gratification than ever before.
Gone by the wayside is the obsolete custom of health professionals who "compassionately withhold"
the optimal lifestyle counsel--so as not to "burden" patients. Such an approach is not true compassion.
Today's health professionals need to more fully present all of the beneficial lifestyle options,
regardless of how difficult they think it may be for a patient to implement. Health professionals have
no right to withhold any information that could lead a patient to attain the highest level of health
that is possible for that person. My message to the health professional is "Transmit the potential
benefits of a healthy lifestyle clearly. Then let each patient decide for himself."
By analogy, if there was an ideal but expensive medication available to treat a condition, most
physicians, including myself, would inform the patient of the ideal drug, and advise the patient
of the expense. It would then be up to the patient to decide whether to take the drug.
References
50 Ornish D. First Annual Conference on the Elimination of Coronary Artery Disease, Tucson,
Arizona. October, 1991.
Notice of Credit
The article above is compliments of the Uchee Pines Institute, Seale, Alabama, a teaching and
treatment facility devoted to natural remedies. For mor information, call 334-855-4781,e-mail:
ucheepine@csi.com, or visit their Website:
http://www.ucheepines.org.
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