The 8-Week Cholesterol Cure: How to Lower Your Blood Cholesterol by Up to 40 Percent Without Drugs or Deprivation

Rating:
Summary: It works
Review: A dozen years or so ago, my cholesterol was skyrocketing, well above an already too-high typical level for me. I read this book, followed it with care except that I took (with doctor's ok) only 500 mg. of niacin daily, NOT the much larger and much riskier doses advocated by Kowalski. In less than two months my total cholesterol dropped by 112 points, to the edge of the normal range, and it kept on dropping after that, even after I relaxed my very strict eating habits. Triglycerides also dropped sharply. But I was doing EVERYTHING right -- strict adherence to low-fat (*VERY* low saturated fat), cholesterol-free eating habits, high in fiber, including oat bran, plus significant daily exercise (escalated to 90 minutes a day on stair-climber/rower -- which is a LOT of aerobic exercise, and way more than I have the patience for now). All of it. When I slacked off the regimen some time later, the cholesterol did rise, but not as high as formerly. Kowalski is very big on oat bran, and that turns out to be the easy part because it is a pleasant hot cereal. A half cup of oat bran, some raisins or chopped dates, one cup of water, stir, heat in microwave oven on high (use a large enough bowl to avoid boiling over) for 2 minutes and 45 seconds. Stir, add some skim milk if you like. Very tasty. At worst it is a nice hot breakfast, and at best may actually contribute significantly to lower cholesterol. (You can also bake oat bran into muffins. A bit dry, but not bad. Kowalski offers a recipe.) You can search the Web for my little paper on "Fitness in One Lesson," which comments further on helpful ideas in this vein. In any event, my doctor at that time told me that "there is no such thing as an eight week cholesterol cure" when I told him I was reading and following the book. After I had dropped my cholesterol level by more than a third in 7 weeks, I found a new doctor. (There were other issues with him anyway.) But his point really was valid: this is not a one-time fix. You have to make permanent improvements in eating and exercise habits. That is why "diets" are a bad idea. Like vacations, "diets" are temporary. Proper eating and exercise should be forever. Kowalski provides a clearly written, inspirational, informative guide to valuable steps to take. Discuss it with your doctor.

Rating:
Summary: It works
Review: A dozen years or so ago, my cholesterol was skyrocketing, well above an already too-high typical level for me. I read this book, followed it with care except that I took (with doctor's ok) only 500 mg. of niacin daily, NOT the much larger and much riskier doses advocated by Kowalski. In less than two months my total cholesterol dropped by 112 points, to the edge of the normal range, and it kept on dropping after that, even after I relaxed my very strict eating habits. Triglycerides also dropped sharply. But I was doing EVERYTHING right -- strict adherence to low-fat (*VERY* low saturated fat), cholesterol-free eating habits, high in fiber, including oat bran, plus significant daily exercise (escalated to 90 minutes a day on stair-climber/rower -- which is a LOT of aerobic exercise, and way more than I have the patience for now). All of it. When I slacked off the regimen some time later, the cholesterol did rise, but not as high as formerly. Kowalski is very big on oat bran, and that turns out to be the easy part because it is a pleasant hot cereal. A half cup of oat bran, some raisins or chopped dates, one cup of water, stir, heat in microwave oven on high (use a large enough bowl to avoid boiling over) for 2 minutes and 45 seconds. Stir, add some skim milk if you like. Very tasty. At worst it is a nice hot breakfast, and at best may actually contribute significantly to lower cholesterol. (You can also bake oat bran into muffins. A bit dry, but not bad. Kowalski offers a recipe.) You can search the Web for my little paper on "Fitness in One Lesson," which comments further on helpful ideas in this vein. In any event, my doctor at that time told me that "there is no such thing as an eight week cholesterol cure" when I told him I was reading and following the book. After I had dropped my cholesterol level by more than a third in 7 weeks, I found a new doctor. (There were other issues with him anyway.) But his point really was valid: this is not a one-time fix. You have to make permanent improvements in eating and exercise habits. That is why "diets" are a bad idea. Like vacations, "diets" are temporary. Proper eating and exercise should be forever. Kowalski provides a clearly written, inspirational, informative guide to valuable steps to take. Discuss it with your doctor.

Rating:
Summary: It really works
Review: I am like many. My cholesterol was 274 and my doctor wanted to put me on Lipitor. I told him I wanted to try to lower it with my diet. He gave me 3 months. I read the 8-week Cholesterol Cure and 3 months later I am at 176 from the same lab. I didn't like the idea of taking niacin so I didn't and lowered my cholesterol just by eating the proper foods. I used to eat fast foods and bakery and everything that was wrong. Stay away from the fat and eat the oat bran and fish and olive oil and turkey and chicken breast and everything spelled out in the book and the cholesterol will come down. I also lost 15 pounds in the process. The best part is I like what I eat and I am not deprived. Thank you- it worked for me.

Rating:
Summary: Easy Method For Lowering Your Cholesterol
Review: I bought this book because my partner has high cholesterol and I love it! It has very clear, easy instructions for what you need to do. There are many different books on the market that can help lower cholesterol, but they either a) go on and on without going straight to what you need to know or b) the recipies they recommend are either difficult to make or simply don't taste good. That leads me to the main reason to buy this book - the recipies. They taste great and are easy to make with only a few ingredients in each one. I cook quite a bit and have found that when you try to cook healthy, the food can sometimes be cumbersome to prepare. No so with most of these recipies - with the help of a food processor, most of these meals can be made in under half an hour....

Rating:
Summary: I lowered my colesteral by 70 points!!
Review: I did not believe that a small diet change and oat bran muffins would bring my colesteral down, but after 10 weeks it went from 260 down to 191. I only took 1g of the enduracin vitamin B that the author recomends but ate lots of muffins.

Rating:
Summary: OK--want to see numbers?
Review: I got this book after my doctor had threatened toput me on statins because my cholesterol had been 250+ for over a year. I saw the book and figured since it had been out for a while I could verify the claims on the Internet. It checked out so I followed the recommendations. Want numbers? On 2/20/01 I had my cholesterol checked. Total Cholesterol 256, LDL (bad) 185, HDL (good) 38, triglycerides 167. FIVE WEEKS LATER I went back on 3/31/01 because I had the flu and wanted to make sure I wasn't getting pneumonia or something and asked them to run the test again. Total Cholesterol 149, LDL (bad) 87, HDL (good) 52, triglycerides 52. Since then I HAVE been working with my doctor and I HAVE been getting the liver function tests recommended. Later I lowered the amount of niacin some and continued following the recommendations. From 5/24/03: Total Cholesterol 167, LDL (bad) 104, HDL (good) 47, triglycerides 79. I've let several friends read the book and all but one have seen big changes. I understand there is a newer book out there, but this one solved the problem for me.

Rating:
Summary: I got my results yesterday and it works!!
Review: I saw all these reviews back in November as I desperately looked for some help to lower my cholesterol through diet...and took a chance on this book and it works. I started in mid November and had my cholesterol checked again at the beginning of March and it dropped from 267 to 204! I certainly followed the book, and made a batch of oatbran muffins each week...but also cooked from standard low cholesterol cook books, and had 1 day a week where I could treat myself to my favorite things that weren't part of the diet. I never tried the pills he mentioned...I don't like to take pills. I certainly recommend this book to anyone trying to lower their cholesterol!!!

Rating:
Summary: Simplistic but Lifesaving Advice
Review: Oat Bran, Niacin, and moderate exercise are the writers claim to a healthy heart.I exercise regularly, take vitamins, and try to be aware of what I am eating. Yet my last doctor visit claimed that my cholesterol was 260 Total-109/HDL-151/LDL and tryglyercides at 374. The doctor wanted to put me on lipitor. I argued a bit. Got a month reprieve from taking the medication. Bought this book and on my next visit my total cholesterol was at 189, bad cholesterol went from 136 to 85, good cholesterol was at 55, with my triglyercides at 102. The only thing that I know that I did differently was follow the advice from this book. My doctor was shocked and is now telling other patients about my success before putting them on lipitor, in many cases, for 120 days. Feel very relieved. THANK YOU!

Rating:
Summary: Don't buy this one - there is a newer version
Review: Robert Kowalski has a new updated version, called "The New 8-Week Cholesterol Cure"

Rating:
Summary: How to Lower Your Blood Cholesterol
Review: The 8-Week Cholesterol Cure: How to Lower Your Blood Cholesterol by Up to 40 Percent Without Drugs or Deprivation by Robert E Kowalski and Albert A Kattus has lot of information on one of the most dangerous diseases our times. The beauty is they are treating this condition without any medicine and their program works excellently. They also give you some recipes which are very effective. All you have to do is to make some changes to your life style, exercises and stick to them. It will help you to maintain your blood cholesterol at the desired level.

My BF bought me this book and a great tasting beverage to drink it with. Since he knows I quit coffee recently, he's been really wonderful helping me in cope with my mood swings. S o y f e e is made from soy beans that is roasted just like coffee. I enjoy the taste and don't miss coffee one bit. Look for it online at www.s oyco f f e e .com.