How 40,000 People Reverse Heart Disease

Written by the Editors at Weight Loss Buddyï(R) In about half of the participants
Press in colaboration with Hans A. Diehl, DrHSc,with type 11 diabetes, a dramatic reduction in
MPH, FACN, CNSneed for insulin and hypoglycemic agents
It is well known that about two-thirds of the U.S.ï(R) Lowering of high blood pressure
population is either overweight or obese. The U.S.levels
Surgeon General has stated that approximatelyï(R) Diminishing of angina
75% of Western diseases, such as heart disease,ï(R) Reduced levels of depression
stroke, hypertension, diabetes, gout, arthritis,and increase in self-esteem
excess weight gain, hypertension, diabetes, someClass & Video Lecture Schedule
cancers, impotence, diverticular disease,Week 1
constipation, heartburn, and gallbladder disease, areModern Medicine: Miracles, Medicines, &
?lifestyle-related.? They are directly correlatedMirages
with our high fat diet, inadequate amounts ofThe limitations of high-tech medical approaches in
exercise, smoking, high intake of caffeine, anddealing with lifestyle related diseases
high amounts of stress coupled with insufficientPortrait of a Killer: Onslaught from Within
support.Atherosclerosis, the culprit in many lifestyle
Hoping to address this alarming situation, morediseases
than 20 years ago, cardiovascular epidemiologistStalking the Killer
Hans A. Diehl, DrHSc, MPH, created the CoronaryReviewing the risk factors for coronary heart
Health Improvement Project (CHIP). Since then,disease
this 40-hour community-based lifestyleEat More and Weigh Less
intervention program has helped more thanBasic guidelines for healthy, sustained weight loss
40,000 people rediscover their health byWeek 2
preventing, arresting and reversing their diseases.Going Up in Smoke
It has been conducted in more than 150 NorthSmoking ? the most controllable risk factor for
American cities as well as in Bangalore, India,coronary heart disease
Australia and Switzerland. Depending upon theThe Magic of Fiber
needs of the group, the meetings are held eitherThe role of fiber in preventing and reversing
?live? with Dr. Diehl delivering the programlifestyle diseases
personally (usually meeting four times per weekReversing Hypertension
for four weeks) or as a ?video-based? programChanging the major risk factors for high blood
with certified CHIP facilitators (normally two timespressure
per week for eight weeks). In addition, Dr. Diehl isDisarming Diabetes
a best-selling author ? To Your Health, DynamicLifestyle factors that can arrest or reverse
Living, and Health Power (co-authored with Aileendiabetes
Ludington, M.D.) -- as well as the executive editorEffective Cholesterol Control
of a 24-page quarterly Lifeline Health Letter; heDietary factors that prominently affect blood
has produced scores of health videos. CHIPlevels of cholesterol
empowers people through itsFats in the Fire
scientifically-documented, educational andThe role of excessive fat intake in lifestyle
inspirational program that addresses commondiseases
western diseases -- those that used to be seenWeek 3
primarily later in life. Today, these diseasesFit at Any Age
increasingly appear at far younger ages. CHIPBenefits of regular exercise in preventing and
may make all the difference in one?s life -- evenarresting disease
the difference between life and death.Boning Up on Osteoporosis
In 1999, CHIP launched a ?community healthCause and prevention of this so-called ?disease of
transformation template? in Rockford, Illinois, aaging?
city with a population of 130,000. The intentionLifestyle and Health
was to transform Rockford into the healthiestClinical studies that demonstrate how lifestyle
city in American, thereby enabling it to serve as achoices are related to health
model and template for cultural transformation onThe Optimal Diet
a community-wide level. Recently, CHIP wasPositive dietary guidelines for the prevention and
recognized as just such a model by HHSreversal of Western diseases
Secretary Tommy Thompson and wasWeek 4
?approved? under the National Institutes of HealthDiet and Cancer
(NIH) and Centers for Disease Control andDietary factors in the development and
Prevention (CDC) as a ?STEPS to a HealthierUS?prevention of common cancers
applicant. In addition to ?live? CHIP, a series ofAtherosclerosis of the Mind
CHIP videos are offered through schools,The importance of adaptability in achieving and
churches, corporations, and hospitals. In Rockford,maintaining optimal health
CHIP is sponsored by the Swedish AmericanThe Gift of Forgiveness
Health System?s Center for ComplementaryHow a spirit of forgiveness enhances emotional
Medicine.and overall health
Who is the typical CHIP participant? Generally,Building Self-Worth
CHIP participants are over the age of 40. MostThe development, preservation and role of self
are between the ages of 50 and 59. There areworth in a healthy person
twice as many women as men, and almost 90%Connie Thebarge?s Story
are married. Clinical research, published in peerAt the age of 59, Connie Thebarge, a patient at
review journals, has found that they have thethe Ottawa Heart Institute in British Columbia,
following lifestyle diseases:Canada, was told that her doctors could no longer
ï(R) 10% report having heart diseasehelp her. After all, in addition to suffering from
ï(R) 27% have elevated blood sugarhypertension, she had diabetes and painful diabetic
ï(R) 42% are overweightneuropathy. She had two heart attacks followed
ï(R) 49% show evidence ofby a triple coronary bypass surgery and an
hypertensionunsuccessful angioplasty. Every day, she had to
ï(R) 60% are obesetake 27 pills. Not surprisingly, she was also
ï(R) 89% are cholesterol abovedepressed.
160mg%Yet, today, more than a decade later, Thebarge
Over the course of the program, strict adherentswalks three miles a day, swims twice a week,
are likely to experience significant clinicaldances, and travels to Florida and Europe. No
improvements such as the following:longer depressed, she also requires far fewer pills.
ï(R) Serum cholesterol reductionHow was this accomplished? Thebarge
average 15 ? 20%participated in CHIP and transformed her life.
ï(R) Average weight loss of sixCopyright ? 2005, by Weight Loss Buddy Press
poundsMay be reproduced and distributed as is.