Book Description

According to the latest research, a diet rich in high-fiber plants can reduce cholesterol levels by nearly 30 percent -- as much as a statin drug -- in as little as 4 weeks. That's just part of the program in The Healthy Heart Miracle by Gabe Mirkin, M.D., author of the bestselling The Sportsmedicine Book, and nutrition expert Diana Mirkin. For those seeking to dramatically reduce their risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes, this simple 8-week program will work with or without cholesterol-lowering or blood pressure-lowering drugs. For people with heart disease, this program provides a roadmap for the lifestyle changes recommended by every cardiologist. The Healthy Heart Miracle was designed for busy lives. First, Dr. Mirkin explains the medical tests you need to understand your heart health status. Then you'll get a jump-start on positive results with the SHOW ME! Diet, a 2-week miniprogram offering dramatic improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Later weeks ease you into Dr. Mirkin's DASH Plus program. Menu plans, worksheets, and 50 delicious recipes make it easy to start and stay on this program -- with no calorie counting, fat or carbohydrate gram counting, or portion measurements! Dr. Mirkin's exercise plan is flexible for varied fitness levels. It promotes the newly accepted model of intensity followed by "easy days" for building muscle and reducing heart-harming belly fat. "The miracle of my DASH Plus program is your body's great capacity to repair damage and revitalize itself," writes Dr. Mirkin. "If you're on the road to a heart attack, my 8-Week Plan will help you make a U-turn."