81 Comments

1. Amy on October 1, 2010 at 14:15

   The difficulty putting on or maintaining weight may be because he has some existing gut irritation issues due to the grains, legumes, and dairy that he still has in his diet. When your gut isn’t healed, it’s harder to absorb nutrients. If he wants to keep his carb intake higher than a typical Paleo-er, he can up the sweet potatoes and add other dense sources like winter squash, which won’t irritate the gut.

   
   
   
2. Laurie D. on October 1, 2010 at 14:27

   Unfortunately, he may not know that beans, soy products like tempeh, and grains, even soaked or fermented, may contain antinutrients that are not allowing him to absorb adequate nutrition from his other food. He also seems quite low in good fats as well. It doesn’t seem as if he has really attempted paleo/primal eating at all, but is following more of a WAPF plan. Nothing wrong with that if it works for him, but it doesn’t seem to be. Ugh, I hate to say it, but then there is that nasty little genetics thing. If his father had heart attacks at such a young age, he may be fighting some genetic abnormalities. Nothing wrong with sweet potatoes – he seems to think he should limit them? Maybe if he wants to lose weight, but that is not the case. Casein can produce gluten-like reactions – it is very similar in structure to gluten proteins. Perhaps a sensitivity there? He’s eating a lot of carbs – perhaps some leptin or insulin problems? Who knows? I guess if you want to try out a certain plan, then you need to do it at least for a time 100%, THEN modify it as needed.

   
   
   
3. Tony on October 1, 2010 at 13:55

   Reading this leaves me with two questions:

   1) what kind of doc is this guy seeing. if it’s a medical doc, then I am not surprised he’s seeing nothing.
   2) has he checked for food allergies? it sounds like he is eating the same things every week, possibly every day. this could have created some sensitivities to one or more of the foods. This could affect his nerves (energy, metabolism) and ability to assimilate nutrients rfom what he’s eating.

   Maybe one more question: how are his enzyme levels? these can diminish with age, organ deficiencies, or certain lifestyles.

   I’d think a naturopath could help, if he’s not already seeing one.

   
   
   
4. Lute Nikoley on October 1, 2010 at 14:24

   Wow, a lot of information. Long article? It’s a book. What I think is the carbs are way too high, along with some not so good stuff (beans, oats, too much fruit,) really low on meat protein and fat. My diet right now while laying on my back most of the time because of a ruptured disk, with very little exercise except for physical therapy, is unchanged. I’ve actually lost a few pounds, and I hope it’s fat and not muscle.

   
   
   
5. Andre Chimene on October 2, 2010 at 04:59

   Tommy and Carroll, look into taking fish oil from an amber bottle, nitrogen packed at sea. Brands like Carlson’s or Nordic Essentials. Take a teaspoon/day. All the capsules are air permeable…ie rancid. Keep the bottle in the frig after opening. With today’s technology, there is no fishy taste. Lemon, orange…it tastes “pleasant”. I won’t make a mayo with it but I can wash it down with a little red wine.

   
   
   
   • animal pharm on October 2, 2010 at 09:38

     Carroll, Andre has great information!

     
     
     
6. Tommy on October 1, 2010 at 15:00

   Hi guys,
   That’s my email. Thanks for the comments. First off I’d like to say that I don’t view myself as having any dietary problems. Maybe my email came off that way, sorry…but that wasn’t my intent. If I didn’t have a heart attack I probably wouldn’t ever even think of reading any diet related information. I feel great and have lots of energy. No problems, no upset stomach, no headaches or anything anyone would normally complain of. Actually I would say I was in great health and shape. I’m at a normal and healthy weight also. The reason I complain about my weight is because I prefer being a middleweight. I’d like to be a “big” guy, but that isn’t my genetics and when I did that for a few years it was uncomfortable….I’m not a natural heavyweight, so I settled at middleweight (5’10” 185 lbs). My complaints about my weight are only vanity. The point is (in my eyes) is that my eating habits work well as far as keeping weight down for me. Isn’t that what everyone wishes they can do? Most people look at me like I’m an asshole. “Oh poor baby is too thin…..screw you I wish I had your weight.” That’s usually what I get.
   I’m always a bit amazed when I see suggestions like above that I may have this or that, or allergies and so on. That leads me to believe that many people out there suffer from many things or believe I am feeling bad or ill in some way. I don’t. I eat and all is well, no discomforts and no problems. Ok….a heart attack is a big thing. But IMO that is still an unknown. My cardiologist says I couldn’t avoid it that genetics wins that battle….who knows. Right now I am trying to control genetics. As far as my doctor (someone asked) I see both a family doc and cardiologist. I eat fats. I have whole eggs, coconut oil, olive oil, whole milk, meat fish. I may not eat an overload of fat but I don’t eat it like I worry about it either. Like I said in my email, I stay middle of the road on everything. So I eat and what fat the meal contains I eat without trying to reduce it. But in that same vein I don’t look at it and say “wow, that’s not enough fat, give me a second steak and a mound of bacon” either. I just eat. I don’t buy low fat. Like I said, I feel good and healthy. Five weeks after my heart attack I was running stairs carrying a medicine ball…..10 flights. In 6 months I was doing that plus 6 x5 minute rounds on the heavy bag, plus 100 pushups and 100 crunches as well as burpees. I think I’m doing good, I’ll be 54 in 3 months. I remain interested in all of this because I am always looking for more knowledge and to remain healthy. Also to improve. Everything helps.

   
   
   
   • Glenn on October 1, 2010 at 17:58

     Hey Tommy, When i was reading your email, the impression i got was that you were pretty happy with your eating plan, but the plaque was of concern to you.

     The first thing i thought of was hawthorn berries.. evidently, they are fantastic from minimizing arterial plaque buildup. I have been taking them for a while and while i don’t necessarily believe in genetic 100%, its better to be safe than sorry.

     I first heard about Hawthorn Berries at the peoples chemist site. He is a no nonsense bio chemist or organic chemist he calls himself.. comes off as a no crap guy who tells it how it is.

     here’s the link to Hawthorn, but there is lots of other good info there too. This one is a press release about his book (good book by the way) but it does describe the function of Hawthorn

     overthecounternaturalcures.com/Press_releases.html

     thanks for your story

     cheers,
     Glenn

     
     
     
7. Tommy on October 1, 2010 at 15:14

   P.S

   How do some of you have photos/avatars attached to your comments/names?

   
   
   
   • Alex on October 1, 2010 at 16:08

     http://www.gravatar.com

     
     
     
8. Dexter on October 1, 2010 at 15:14

   I has a never bought into the idea that there is a genetic predisposition to heart attacks. I think that being raised in a home that has always eaten SAD results in a heart attack for the Dad and then a heart attack in the offspring. It’s the food in the family, not the genetics.

   That being said, it appears that this guy is not absorbing the meat and protein and fats he is eating. The fact that he is hungry after 1.5 hours indicates to me, he is still eating way too many carbs. He needs to substitute protein and fat from animals for his oats, quoina, etc. He needs to learn that there are no essential carbohydrates. needed to survive. He needs to read Lex Rooker’s postings about his Slankers diet of meat and fat…raw.

   Eat 4,000 kcal of meat and fat 75% fat, 25% protein and he will gain weight and keep it on. The fact that he does not track his intake is interesting. Most everyone I see uses http://www.fitday.com or some other food tracking program.

   About the malabsorbtion, Dr Art Ayers at coolinginflammation.blogspot.com/ talks alot about the gut flora needing to be optimized and healthy to absorb our nutrients. He talks about adding products with inulin in them to heal the gut. Inulin is chickory root, jerusalem artichokes, burdock root, jicama, zrtichokes.

   If he continues to eat as he says, in 5 to 7 years, its going to be another heart attack. Another one of those “fit as a fiddle”
   athleteand dead at age 60 guys.

   
   
   
   • Laurie D. on October 1, 2010 at 15:24

     Ah, inulin. Yes, you will know that those gut flora/fauna are working overtime when they produce lots of lovely methane. Jerusalem artichokes are particularly amazing. Not speaking from experience of course. ;P

     
     
     
9. Sarah Madden on October 1, 2010 at 15:18

   Hi Tommy,

   I’d recommend getting your LP(a) checked stat. Are you tall also? And love cardio? That would fit into the stereotype of genetic high LP(a) which is probably the strongest predicator of a heart attack. Dr. Davis covered this in one of his blog posts.

   That would be the best indication of whether your new diet was reducing your risk of another heart attack.

   Be well!

   Sarah

   
   
   
10. Ned Kock on October 1, 2010 at 16:03

    I’d suggest checking his postprandial (i.e., after-meal) glucose levels and see if there is anything wrong there. At least in terms of arterial stiffness, lipids are not even on the radar screen compared to postprandial glucose (not even HDL):

    healthcorrelator.blogspot.com/2010/05/postprandial-glucose-levels-hba1c-and.html

    The inability to put on weight, and hunger right after eating, reminds me a bit of celiac disease. Celiacs also tend to have good lipids, at least for a while.

    Finally, I’d consider taking niacin (link below to several posts). I am referring to the real thing here, the one that causes the “flush”. Preferably instant release.

    healthcorrelator.blogspot.com/search/label/niacin

    
    
    
11. John Troll on October 1, 2010 at 16:08

    Hey Tommy,

    You are a solid. Remember:

    You should not have a favorite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well. You should not copy others, but use weapons, which you can handle properly.

    Troll

    
    
    
12. Bill on October 1, 2010 at 16:14

    I would seek advice from Dr. Art Ayers.
    All that plaque build up. Sounds like alot of inflammation needs cooling….
    coolinginflammation.blogspot.com/

    
    
    
13. Tommy on October 1, 2010 at 16:25

    Hi again,

    Ned, I have been thinking about the niacin thing lately myself. Actually judging my my triglycerides at 43 and my LDL at 74 I’d say I’m only looking at niacin to raise my HDL but I’m giving it another few months to see if I can raise it myself. I’m looking for the 60,60,60 numbers.

    I am interested in the comment above about adding more sweet potatoes and cutting rice. I thought potatoes were bad (starchy). If not potatoes would be a lot easier than cooking rice.
    I find so much of all this almost contradictory at times. On one hand we say that carbs cause weight gain but on the other I’m being told that the rice (carbs) may be inhibiting weight gain. Which is it ? lol.

    Also (you can re read my comment a couple of comments above this), I can phrase this whole thing another way. Suppose I wrote this in another tone as if it were a post heart attack comeback ?(actually I think it is….I think some are reading it wrong). Shit, maybe I could write a book. Since my heart attack which will be a year ago in 8 more days, I have dropped my already low cholesterol and trigs to even greater numbers, and I have also dropped 15 lbs. I have boundless energy, I’m in great shape and fit as a fiddle. I mean that is the case after all….I am achieving what most people are looking for. It seems people are reading this as if it were a bad thing! However I am always looking to lower certain carbs like rice but prefer to keep enough to replenish me after workouts. if sweet potatoes are cool then I’m happy. Personally, I’ve done a good amount of research and I don’t really see brown rice (not overdoing it) being bad…or beans. I know opinions vary. I eat no processed carbs or sugar or refined crap….flour etc. None…nada zilch. Not even a little bit not even once and awhile.

    I think my downfall before the heart attack was the fact I thought my training (and constant good labs) made me invincible. On the weekends I would eat out and sometimes pig out. I would sometimes eat crap carbs knowing I would burn them off. I pigged out on a cruise and gained 14 lbs (lost it in less than 2 weeks training). I think I nickel and dimed myself to a heart attack. A few crackers here and there or corn tortilla chips. Pretzels etc.

    
    
    
    • Ned Kock on October 1, 2010 at 18:40

      Hi Tommy.

      There is another thing about niacin that not many people know. It is one of the only “drugs” out there that can have a significant effect of Lp(a). It is vitamin B3, but when taken in 1-3 g doses it is a drug, and unnatural (no way you would get that much from food).

      Robert E. Kowalski, a known cholesterol author who had a health history similar to yours, was actually able to measurably reverse plaque significantly in his arteries. His main tool was niacin.

      Unfortunately he died relatively young; at 65 from a pulmonary aneurysm. I don’t know if this is related to his untimely death, but I felt that he neglected glucose control, and he might have been somewhat insulin resistant.

      You cannot go wrong checking your after meal glucose levels either. If certain foods are raising them too much, it makes sense to remove them. My comfort threshold is around 140 mg/dl; luckily it is very hard for anything to raise my blood glucose that much.

      Good luck to you!

      
      
      
14. Jamie on October 1, 2010 at 16:25

    Interesting. He needs to get passed the whole “I’m not overweight, therefore I don’t need to go low carb” and “Eek, my weight is dropping, therefore I need to eat more carb” way of thinking. Once he is passed that and eats more Paleo, maybe trying to eat 60-70% fat, then I think he will have less of a fight to hold his weight. I wouldn’t make it too complex.

    
    
    
15. Walter on October 1, 2010 at 18:24

    If you learn nothing else from Art De Vany, you learn that genes express themselves in an environment and that gene expression is regulated by what you do or do not do.

    
    
    
16. Richard Nikoley on October 1, 2010 at 18:35

    I’ve, been out, having a late lunch of salad and steak with Patrick of Paleo Hacks who’s in town.

    What a great load of comments already.

    I am most impressed with the readers who picked up on possible non-absorption, malnutrition. I have absolute and in your face experience with that right now, with one of my dogs, and it would have gone completely over my head a few weeks ago.

    Finally a definitive diagnosis. Pancreatic insufficiency. His pancreas is not producing enough of the enzymes needed to properly digest and absorb food. Consequently, at 13 lb, he eats like an elephant and shits like more than an elephant, i.e., there’s a huge volume of dead bacteria. And he’s not gaining an ounce, though because he gets high nutrition is at least holding his own.

    I’ve been consulting with Peter at Hyperlipid and he’s been great. It’s very interesting, the contrast in Conventional Wisdom from local vets and Peter who knows fucking everything and why.

    
    
    
    • gallier2 on October 2, 2010 at 02:17

      Oh yes, Peter is certainly the brightest health blogger around. His metabolic knowledge is incredible and as he knows also metabolism of other animals, he can guess why and how different things can compensate lacking certain mechanism (like uric-acid as Vit-C replacement).

      
      
      
      • JimS on October 5, 2010 at 06:04

        I only ‘get’ about half of what Peter is saying, what with the arcana and the Brit colloquial style.

        Maybe you could translate for non-medically trained Yanks?

        
        
        
17. Dr.BG on October 1, 2010 at 19:01

    Tommy,

    Have you considered all sources of inflammation?
    –omega-3 deficiency (besides the occasional salmon)?
    –vitamin D deficiency?
    –any dental problems, gum disease, cracked teeth?
    –yes pancreatic or gallbladder insufficiency which prevents fats, protein and/or starches to be broken down and absorbed?

    The HDLs are lower now and likely secondary to ALL THOSE D*MN GRAINS. As Peter would probably highly suggest, if no problems digesting fats (or take a lipase/digestive enzyme supplement), consider increasing total fats to 50-60% with the saturated 25-30% (half).

    The benefits of lower carb are immense as well — you won’t lose weight if the fats are being absorbed. Lower carb will raise the HDLs. The Saturated fat will lower Lp(a) and raise the good HDLs which are mandatory for regression and control of plaque.

    What’s your BP? Is it getting better?

    Statins do not regress plaque. All CAC trials with statins fail to show regression except 1 out 12 trials that I’ve reviewed. The reason is that statins fail to improve the buoyancy of the particles, lower the fat soluble antioxidant Coenzyme Q10 and build faulty/dysfunctional particles. Niacin — yes it does work unfortunatly it may affect the liver, gallbladder, blood glucoses and insulin resistance. The same effect as niacin is achieved by lower carb, higher fat and protein.

    Fish oil is great stuff for regression as well. Check out the Robb Wolf calculator! At a high enough dose it lower blood pressure and improves insulin resistance in newer trials.

    When I observed changes at TrackYourPlaque, the great majority failed to achieve regression in 2-3 yrs of aggressive ‘treatment’ whereas those individuals who followed low carb, high saturated fat PALEO (or semi-paleo/primal/protein power) ALL achieved regression in < 8-12 months.

    The less pharmaceuticals the better, BTW.

    Good luck!

    G

    
    
    
18. julianne on October 1, 2010 at 19:16

    Just thought I’d throw in a real life success story with heart disease and diet: My father.

    My father does not have genetics on his side. His mother had numerous heart attacks and small strokes but managed to live into her 80’s. My father’s male relatives all died in their 50’s of heart attacks (no bypasses in those days). My father has always suffered from high cholesterol, familial doctors said. He ate normal ‘healthy’ food, and did a lot of exercise. He was slim, not overweight at all.

    At the age of 55, he suffered excruciating angina and was rushed to hospital for an emergency heart bypass. He had one almost blocked artery.
    After his bypass, he looked after himself even better than before, he took a relaxing time out each weekend with mum and went tramping in the forest. He rode his bike everywhere to keep fit. He followed the cardiac nutritional advice from the hospital and switched from butter to margarine. He upped his complex carbs and ate home made muesli for breakfast, lots of whole grains, some meat, not too much, and cut his dietary fat right down. 10 years later he was still fairly fit and slim, but his cholesterol was way too high and his doctor concerned. My father was looking at having to take cholesterol reducing medication, but not really wanting to take it.

    Around this time I’d completely and radically changed my diet from an almost vegetarian high carb diet (whole grain muesli for breakfast, pasta and salad for lunch, more grains, veggies and a occasionally a little chicken or fish for dinner. Oh and the cravings – I would crave red meat, then feel guilty for devouring a large steak.)
    Anyway, I discovered the zone diet, and in those early books Sears put all whole grains in the bad carbohydrate lists, so when I read his book and tried the diet out, it was pretty much meat, cottage cheese, fruit, non starch veggies, olive oil and avocado and fish oil. My life and health transformed. No more PMS or menstrual pain, weight loss, better energy…

    My father (a doctor by the way) became interested in what I was doing – and after reading Sears book decided to carry out a little experiment on himself. I followed the diet strictly including using best choice foods. He ate lots of fat compared to his previous diet, avocado and macadamias in particular, protein at all his meals, a ton of veggies and fresh fruit. His waist line shrank, his health issues cleared up and most importantly his cholesterol (high / out of whack his whole life) improved dramatically. HDL went up, LDL and triglycerides went down.

    Now 15 years later he (at my raving on about strict paleo choices) has recently cut out grains completely. However the good news is he is now almost 80. His markers are amazing, his arteries are clear, his fasting insulin very low, CRP below 1, cholesterol really good. He can bike up really steep hills and hike fast up a mountain. He is still working as a psychiatrist part time and shows little sign of slowing down. He still has a really sharp mind, and is known for his ability in staff meetings to do sudoko puzzles and attend to what everyone is saying at the same time. He comes camping with us every year and he and mum inspire everyone as they hike and body surf like they were 40 years younger. He commented 3 years ago – “At my age now, we had to start looking after my mother, she was no longer able to look after herself”

    Currently he has no signs of the genetic predisposition to high cholesterol and heart disease.

    
    
    
    • Kelly A. on October 2, 2010 at 06:25

      amazing testimony!

      
      
      
    • Dexter on October 2, 2010 at 09:54

      Another testimony that it isn’t the genetics that is the problem. Everyone’s genes are just fine. It’s the foods we eat that are not compatible with our genes. And the result is our bodies produce diseases…diabetes, heart disease, cancers. No one is predisposed to any disease. Saying one is predisposed to any malady seems to me to be a cop out.

      One story like Jullian’s dad does not make a study. But it sure does point to the possibility that..to paraphrase James Carvel, former advisor to President Clinton…”It’s the food, stupid!

      
      
      
    • DR.BG on October 2, 2010 at 10:06

      Awesome STORY!!!!! I love your blog btw too!

      
      
      
19. adam on October 1, 2010 at 20:48

    my opinion, from a bodybuilder’s perspective who gains muscle and loses fat on a predominantly paleo-ish approach during calorie restriction: highly active trainers DO require higher levels of carbohydrates. writer mentioned diet but not level/intensity/duration of training. Any time you push your VO2 max beyond 65% (for a man this age is probably above 125 bpm) anywhere near the 45-60 minute mark you’re beyond a sustainable level of recovery without a vast amount of calories specifically of the glucose producing variety. A lot of your “weight” lost while cutting carbs is most likely water loss and glycogen depletion. It’s almost impossible to gain lean muscle while glycogen depleted. It’s an mTOR pathway process inside muscle fibers that deals with fiber volume, which is determined by glycogen levels. Whole starches like yams or even regular potatoes are preferable depending on digestability on the trainer’s part. I would also add fats to the starches like butter, talow, bacon grease, sour cream, etc. to pile on calories. It might help with satiating that appetite as well. it sounds like he trains like an animal on a clean diet, a perfect recipe for getting leaner.

    As far as decreasing artery blockage, I’ve got nothing. Increase anti-oxidants?

    Random questions for training purposes: testosterone levels normal? D3 levels normal? thyroid? any enzyme supplementation? how much protein do you eat a day? did you know some trans fat is required for acute inflammation healing(i.e. CLA) from training, and that many paleo type diets lack in it unless you get TONS of grassfed beef and dairy or lamb? paleo diets reduce inflammation to the point it can be difficult to grow muscle.

    last, a statement: for well trained athletes 4000 kcal a day is nothing if you’re training hard. even if you’re not very heavy and eating well. if you’re losing over 10 lbs in two weeks it’s water or lack of food. that’s my two cents

    
    
    
20. Tommy on October 1, 2010 at 21:02

    RE: DR BG

    I take triple dose fish oil (about 21oo dha/epa per day, and have checked out the calculator you mentioned I also take extra vit D3. MY BP averages about 116/49 and HR around 59. As far as your mentioning of taking in sat fat of 5-30 % I’m at or above that already. Actually that’s probably even before my coconut oil (daily) which equals more than that.

    RE: exercise. I usually do interval type workouts. Some 10 minutes and some 30 or anywhere in between. It’s tough for me to get my HR up very high even at very high intensity. I ran 80 yard sprints yesterday four times with 30 second active rests and my HR only made 106 beats per min. Even if I work till I think I’ll pass out my HR doesn’t go that high. on my stress test they never got me up to where they wanted….I was running at 15 deg incline!! lol

    
    
    
    • DR.BG on October 2, 2010 at 09:56

      Tommy/healthnutheartattack,

      You are FIT and PHAT!! WOW.

      LOVE your avatar and fighting spirit :)

      HR — are you taking a beta blocker? These do lower HR. But you do sound fit and the variability in HR with exercise is good. Don’t worry about how low the HR is.

      Other points that adam and others have made are great!
      –gut dysbiosis from the grains/gluten/casein/dairy – get this fixed with probiotics, glutamine, digestive enzymes and food allergen AVOIDANCE
      –hypothyroidism v. hyperthyroidism (you may be hyper since you appear to lose weight so quickly — the Standard American Diet devoid of iodine, minerals, protein and saturated fats and EPA DHA are the best way to induce autoimmune hypo- and hyperthyroidism!) Have you read Broda Barnes for thyroid? He advises a very high saturated fat diet with lots of animal fat (rich in Coenzyme Q10, vitamins ADEK2). Coconut is great however it does not have the same nutrient profile as animal fats. I personally like lard leaf, ghee, duck fat, and bacon rendered grease over coconut oil!
      –magnesium deficiency? Anyone who has had an MI is mag deficient IMHO
      –zinc deficiency? Anyone who has had an MI is zinc deficient, the most common mineral deficiency in the U.S. per the NHANES III data and studies.
      –high glucoses, hyperinsulinemia? Anyone who has had an MI has high insulin and high glucoses with carbohydrates… sorry but consider a glucometer and check 30 to 60min after meals and keep it < 140. All premeals < 100.
      –vitamin K2 deficiency? CoQ10 deficiency? organ meats and fermented dairy and fermented soy beans are the best sources. Statins deplete both criticial fat-soluble antioxidants incl K2 and Coenzyme Q10.
      –sleep deficient? any apnea? Consider the value of melatonin because it helps the HPA-thyroid axis among many other anti-inflammatory and longevity benefits.

      My opionion: get the f*ck off the st*tin if you want instant more optimal health.

      For K2 — Dr. Tourgeman, Billy and I we all use LEF brand K2. I also take fermented cod liver oil and sometimes casein-free butter oil from GreenPastures. These are wonderful super sources of high quality nutrition advised by WAPF. They reverse any plaque. Richard and Stephan use the butter oil as well I believe.

      You are on a fantastic path! I'm so glad Richard posted your story which is all too common to hear these days. I'd love to continue to hear your progress!!

      G

      
      
      
      • DR.BG on October 2, 2010 at 10:04

        P.S. Here is an evolutionary cardiologist I respect and adore, Dr. Miller MD. He did a podcast as well with Dr. Su MD, a physician who reversed his own personal angina/CAD and high BP 180-200s/90s to normal with exercise and a high sat fat/lower carb diet.

        Dr. Miller’s ‘top 10’ supplements are well justified and studied:

        lewrockwell.com/miller/miller33.1.html

        donaldmiller.com/

        
        
        
      • Tommy on October 2, 2010 at 10:54

        I made a mistake on the fish oil. I don’t take 2100 mg DHA/EPA I take 2700. Three 900 mg capsules per day. I’m beginning to slow down my workouts. I don’t see the point of working so hard anymore since I’m not actively fighting anymore. In the past year, or since going back to training, I have lessened time to 30 minutes (sometimes 40) on my “big” day trainings and anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes other days. I do interval training, some weights…light/high rep and kettlebell etc. Sometimes I grab the 100 lb sandbag and walk a hundred yards or so. But I go pretty hard on my heavy day (the 30 minute day) doing bag work (kicking and punching) stair runs with and without weights, plyometrics, situps and crunches, medicine ball slams, and I usually use an active rest of 30 -45 seconds using crunches, pushups or speed bag or double end bag. I may opt for more shorter duration workouts and on my one “hard day” a little less intensity. I do sprints or hill runs also. I do the hill runs (60 yards up a steep hill) in 5 minute rounds. Run up at full speed and jog down for 5 minutes 1 min rest. I don’t need to keep increasing rounds on the bag or trying to make sure I’m in shape enough to survive a whole fight. I have to get over my mental issues…lol. My fighter instinct. But even at 54 I’m still that kid from the Bronx streets. It doesn’t leave you you know. But there comes a point in intense training when you start to get diminishing returns.

        I see the cardiologist in December , another stress test also. I’m gonna freak them out this year. After my heart attack about 2 months after I guess, I got a stress test and they wanted to get my HR up to 160 or so. I think my max was 168 (age adjusted). I was actually running at a 15% incline and they still couldn’t do it…lol. They kept saying “do you think you can give us another minute?” Great…keep challenging me…we’ll never get out of here…….I refuse to lose!!! hahah. They gave up. I think they barely made 150 bpm. Wait till this year…..I’m training for this one…LMAO!
        Anyway have been discussing with my wife already the last few weeks about coming off the statin and switching to niacin. I’m on 40 mg simvastatin. I may consider at least lowering it to 20 mg. After all, I never had high cholesterol even before my heart attack, I don’t see the point.
        The stain didn’t drop my trigs from 87 to 43 (87 wasn’t even bad) I did. But the cardiologist keeps saying that the statin keeps the plaque stable and helps it not burst. Even a little plaque, if it bursts it can be a problem. That is what keeps me reconsidering. I don’t feel any side effects.

        I take Lopressor but my HR was on the low side before or at least better than average. Actually when I first got on the lopressor after my attack they would be amazed that I wasn’t weak or dizzy because my BP was usually like 96/47 or some shit. My HR at most visits was 49. I’m only on 25 mg twice per day.

        
        
        
      • DR.BG on October 2, 2010 at 21:05

        Hey Tommy,

        Bronx street fighter! Talk about adrenal DEPLETION!

        Check out: Dr. Wilson’s Adrenal Fatigue

        Once the adrenals and gut get in line, then the thyroid and other organs can improve.

        DR. Harris MD below provides STELLAR insights too (see below).

        The low heart rate is most likely low thyroid AND low adrenals. Get that VERY SLOWLY AND GRADUALLY addressed. (I used to have low adrenals and I had LOW LOW pulse and BPs like yours)

        Nothing sudden because extra stimulation on the heart is not conducive immediately after an MI. In fact, too much too quick will cause fast heart rates, irregular beats and potentially arrythmias and atrial fib. No fun.

        It is a good thing you have considered the high value of are cutting back on intensity and focusing on more gentle exercise at this time. The body needs to heal not be jarred and j*cked… Be patient, you’ll be on the pavement in your element again (wiser, stronger, peaceful warrior! *chuckle*) but no need to rush :) Deep breathe… yoga and deep breathing reset the HPA-thyroid axis and immensely improve our subconscious mental state via the neural connections. Faulty neural connections (silent inflammation) are what lead to ventricular fibrillation (v-fib) in MIs and in SCD (sudden coronary death syndrome) which require an AED/defibrillation to recharge normal heart rhythms. Magnesium, meditation/deep breathing, gentle exercise and omega-3 help normalize this hyper spasticity.

        -G

        
        
        
      • keithallenlaw on January 11, 2011 at 18:08

        Best advise so far G. Sisson even preaches the same thing, coming from a history of being very competitive. And that is slow the fuck down. Your
        killing yourself with your compulsive nature to always be fighting and
        competing. Cardio kills along with those grains your eating. RELAX
        and enjoy life. Deep breath! Peace.

        
        
        
21. Elenor on October 1, 2010 at 21:07

    My first thought was: has he been checked for a tapeworm?! Maybe I’m just way older than some of y’all, but hosting a big parasite would certainly keep a lot of food-nutrients out of his system, even if he was swallowing a lot of food! And his repeated disclaimers that he’s just fine, oh-so-healthy, a good athlete, and doesn’t want to consider changing his diet put me in mind of Jim Fixx — who was real healthy right up until he died of a heart attack! (Granted … oh, well I was going to write: granted Jim Fixx was eating a lot of carbs — but then, so is this guy!)

    
    
    
22. Olle on October 1, 2010 at 21:15

    Of course the FDA doesn’t approve of coconut oil. The coconut oil I buy has the message “FDA doesn’t say this product can treat or cure any disease”. Yeah, okay.

    Watch the movie “Burzynski” by Eric Merola. The FDA tried to put Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski in jail because he discovered a cure for cancer using antineoplastons. Four grand juries refused to indict Dr. B because the evidence was undeniable…he was curing his patients of deadly brain tumors and cancers. If his protocol and antibiotics were “dangerous” and bogus, why would the US government try and file 10 patents on his protocol? Unless they wanted this for themselves. If you still think the FDA is your friend, do yourself a favor and watch “Burzynski”. I doubt anyone will be rushing to get some good ol’ chemotherapy.

    Ahem, sorry. I meant kill’em therapy. And I personally believe wheat is connected to cancer somehow. What’s the USDA feeding us? Oh, you know, just healthy whole grains with added vitamin D, antioxidants and over 5g of essential fibre per serving to keep you satiated.

    
    
    
23. Leonardo on October 2, 2010 at 11:25

    I find it very improbable that the diet prior to the heart attack was the culprit. If there was a form of intolerance and/or malabsorbtion those tend to manifest themselves in one way or another (bloating, skin rashes, extreme tiredness etc..)
    What made me curious was the cause of the heart attack, plaques. Without having more info of Tommy’s case, I draw on a study that I read a while back regarding plaques. The study was carried-out on marathon runners and runners in general who run extensively throughout the week (read, anyone who over exercises) . They had found their heart to be in a near state of inflammation and produced greater than average number of plaques. They did not conclude that this can lead to outright heart attacks since the study is relatively new, but do give the causation a distinct possibility. It may be that Tommys’ sporting activities could have been excessive and over time may have burdened his heart. One should also consider the likelihood that genetics no doubt played a vital role too and thus coupled with probable greater than average number of plaques in his system, you may have a possible explanation. Here is a link that refers to this study; “Adverse effect from long-term marathon runners, increase plaque in the coronary artery “

    
    
    
    • Nathaniel on October 2, 2010 at 11:42

      I was just looking for information about the death of Jim Fixx, the running guru of the 70’s. At least one physician, Dr. Kenneth Cooper, believed that overtraining ultimately caused Fixx’s death by coronary heart disease.

      “In the 17 years preceding his death,” Dr. Cooper notes, “Fixx had run 37,000 miles, including 20 marathons, and he was still running 60 miles per week up to the time of his death. Of course, it could be contended that if Fixx and other highly trained, older athletes had not been involved in marathoning and ultramarathoning, they might have succumbed to their disease many years before…. But increasingly, I have come to believe that there also may be a link between over-training and disease.”

      The mechanism is plausible… some suggests that aerobic overtraining causes overproduction of free radicals. Excess free radicals leads to oxidized LDL, which is a strong predictor of heart disease.

      
      
      
      • Andre Chimene on October 2, 2010 at 21:20

        Heres the wikipedia version.
        On 20 July 1984, Fixx died at the age of 52 of a fulminant heart attack, after his daily run, on Vermont Route 15 in Hardwick. The autopsy revealed that atherosclerosis had blocked one coronary artery 95%, a second 85%, and a third 70%.[citation needed] Although there were opponents of Fixx’s beliefs who said this was evidence that running was harmful, medical opinion continued to uphold the link between exercise and longevity.[3] In 1986, exercise physiologist Kenneth Cooper published an inventory of the risk factors that might have contributed to Fixx’s death [4]. Granted access to his medical records and autopsy, and after interviewing his friends and family, Cooper concluded that Fixx was genetically predisposed (his father died of a heart attack aged 43 and Fixx himself had a congenitally enlarged heart) and several lifestyle issues (Fixx was a heavy smoker prior to beginning running aged 36, he had a stressful occupation, he had undergone a second divorce, and his weight before he took up running had ballooned to 220lbs). [5]

        I remember picking up his book and in the chapter on nutrition he says “after one of these long runs treat yourself to a McDonald’s burger, fries and a milkshake, you just burn it off.” He was a friend and running partner to Nathan Pritikin and Pritikin was always yelling at Fixx to clean up his diet, which he didn’t. Pritikin was the precursor to Dean Ornish. Pritikin soon after died of luekemia. He was only 69. Point is, Fixx was high fat/high carb and Pritikin was high carb/no fat. Both were victims of the 70’s fallacious health information. Too much running, too many carbs not enough fat.

        
        
        
      • Nathaniel on October 2, 2010 at 11:44

        That should say “some RESEARCH suggests” at the end, there. Sorry.

        
        
        
24. Carroll on October 2, 2010 at 01:24

    Dr BG

    I had a look at Robb Wolf’s fish oil caculator before and was amazed at the quantities suggested (15 tablets per day ). Is that level really necessary? Seems a bit expensive. Also I struggle with the concept of having to take supplements. Anyone got suggestions for a good brand of high concentrated oil?

    
    
    
25. Rod on October 2, 2010 at 05:46

    Hey Tommy,
    It’s not all about what you eat. Type A? Relationships? Driven?Sleep?Do you know how to relax?Life is a pretty complex thing and it appears that sometimes people get hit by a bus.You are doing what you can do so dont look for a huge change from a small detail.If there is a nutritional secret for you it would be in the level of and ratios of the macro nutrients required to support your lifestyle and the consequences downstream.It might be a mismatch for your genetics.Good luck with it and make your peace with it because none of us win the race.

    
    
    
26. Tommy on October 2, 2010 at 06:24

    Hi,

    Thanks for all the comments. I see I should have not mentioned weight issues as it took my email off in a direction that has nothing to do with the point. lol
    I have always been thin and my weight as a middleweight was more manufactured than natural. I’m active and I burn off calories quickly. My body at the moment is just staying at it’s natural weight since I cut out wheat and sugar the last few months. I eat, I gain a half a lb or a lb in a day, then I workout and it’s gone again. Not a big deal other than I am used to being a little bigger….again, that is vanity not health related. Sooooo….once again. My email info wasn’t saying I have a problem. It was actually saying “I AM DOING GOOD” in weight and health since retooling my diet. I have no food allergies, no tape worms, nor am I not eating the nutrients from my food (that I can tell). I say this because I have energy, strength, my workouts are good, my bloodwork doesn’t show any deficiencies and I am overall doing great. What I am trying to do is figure out why I had a problem last year and had a heart attack and I’m trying to zero in on not having another. My eating habits are very different now than last year. And once again…my eating habits now are “working.” They work for me. Healthy weight, good labs, lots of energy, sleep well. Isn’t that a good thing? I have got some good info in your comments though…..I use everything….thanks. But I never got a reply for my question above about sweet potatoes. I have seen Paleo sites where they say they are forbidden yet someone above said I could replace rice with them? Yes, no? Confused.

    
    
    
    • Richard Nikoley on October 2, 2010 at 07:23

      Tommy, I would definitely go for the potatoes over rice. Gar more nutrition. I’m pretty agnostic about the white vs sweet thing, as you can see if you search my site for potatoes. Sweets are a better choice I agree, but I don’t think it’s a huge deal. Stephan at Whole Health Source has a 2-part series on potatoes that’s still on the front page of his blog.

      
      
      
    • Primitive on October 2, 2010 at 19:17

      Tommy,
      In your question, you said [sweet] potatoes having starch vs. rice having carbs! Well, both have starch = carbs; the differences are in the source ( grain vs. tuber), and nutritional profiles, as Richard mentioned.
      I’m also agnostic; so, in your n=1 regimen/experiment, see which one works better for you; personally, I use [sweet] potatoes and squashes as carb source, but if you have to have your [brown] rice, check our Stephen’s method for soaking+fermenting them.
      Best of luck, and don’t let your quest for a plaque free heart rob you of little everyday pleasures of life.

      
      
      
27. JLL on October 2, 2010 at 08:22

    Tommy,

    I don’t know if you incorporate berries in your diet, but they might help you with your HDL levels.

    – JLL

    
    
    
    • Tommy on October 2, 2010 at 09:35

      I eat straw berries…buy em every week.

      
      
      
28. Tommy on October 2, 2010 at 09:34

    I’m going to try and cut down on some of the rice for awhile and switch to sweet potato. When I look back at my diet before I got sick, I really “thought” I was eating good. Looking at how my weight is now and how I remain at around 168-170 lbs I guess I wasn’t eating all that great after all back then. I mean yea, I ate healthy ” but” I also, at times when hungry at work, run to the machine and get a bag of those nuts mixed with raisins and yogurt chips, or a granola bar etc. “Healthy” options/snacks (so called). those things plus a lot of the little things I ate in addition to my good foods all contained hydrogenated oils in the ingredients that I ignored because the nutrition label said no trans fats….duh. I guess it added up and not in a good way considering my genetics. Once I cut all that out my weight dropped…as it should….as in any “good” diet. Even the whole wheat bread i used to eat at every meal or Italian bread at restaurants. It all added up I suppose. But as for most of the carbs I was eating I surely burned them off in my training. I mean my glucose was always normal.

    Here is the funny thing. While in the hospital after my heart attack I would order my meals for the day every morning. The “heart healthy” meals I was “allowed” to eat consisted of a veggie burger for lunch. I ordered that and the chicken for dinner, or maybe it was roast beef, I don’t remember. The point is that I also asked for a slice of the low fat low sodium cheese on my burger. They refused saying that with my dinner choice I would be over my fat allowance for the day. Here is the kicker.
    That was a no no but I could order all the graham crackers, sherbet, cookies, angel food cake (with non fat whipped cream) and things like that I wanted. They actually pushed it…..are you sure you don’t want some cookies? No damn you! lol

    I eat a lot of calories and I figure things on percentages. I was told by the heart healthy “nutrition people that I couldn’t go above 50 grams of fat per day. I was like “what?” Grams? What about percentage of calories? She said that if I had olive oil or peanut butter as an example, I would already be deep into my daily allowance. Ok…says I…what if I added more “non fat” calories. Wouldn’t that up my total calories thus lower the percentage of fat calories? She had no clue what I was talking about.

    
    
    
29. Tommy on October 2, 2010 at 12:09

    The doctors said that my prior diet and conditioning saved me from a more serious event. My heart attack was called a moderate MI. I had a 100% blocked/collapsed PDA. They also said that because my heart was strong from working out that I sustained no permanent damage. My father did and I’m told that he had similar symptoms as mine, it too was a small artery and the whole thing was eerily similar. He was 49 and not in my shape or eating like I was yet I had a HA within 3 years of his age for his first. Strange.

    At the time I had been working nights temporarily (which I hated) for the last 3 months. I worked out a little at work that night by running 3 flights of stairs up and down for a 5 minute round. I remember my chest burned which was odd since I do the stairs all the time and always felt fine. In the AM I was told about something said by another worker that pissed me off and I went home and to bed thinking about it. I was mad. That was around 10 am. I woke at some point with pain in my mid chest but found a comfortable position and went back to sleep. I woke again and the pain wouldn’t stop. It was 1:45 pm. I got up and was doubled over walking around the house…I was alone. The funny thing was that I was still pissed off and was thinking “I can’t miss work tonight because I have to tell off that M- f-er!!” Finally I couldn’t take it and I got in my car and drove to the hospital half slumped over the steering wheel. But I did workout the night before. The whole thing is strange to me. One thing I am grateful for is that it didn’t happen to my brother or sister. She is 62 and he is 50. If anyone should have the messed up gene then better it’s me. I am better equipped to deal with it. It may have killed either of them.

    
    
    
    • Kurt G Harris MD on October 2, 2010 at 18:48

      You have identified the following risk factors that may have contributed to early atherosclerosis and an MI. I presume you posted to solicit input on how to avoid a second heart attack.

      1) Genetically predisposed to atheroscerosis on the SAD. Epigenetics are just that – they are on top of the genetic substrate – some of us are definitely more resistant than others to the neolithic agents.

      2) Excess linoleic acid – probably heavily oxidized. The chief clue no one has commented on – “lots of chinese food”. The rice may not be such an issue, but copious fried rice exposes you to lots of highly oxidized industrial vegetable oils. I doubt if your chinese food was cooked with goose lard.

      3) Unless you made attempts to eat gluten-free or ate nothing that came from a box before your MI, you were exposed to plenty of wheat, with its gluten proteins and WGA. As another poster has suggested, the ravenous appetite suggests the possiblity of malabsorption, one cause of which is celiac disease. You should be tested for this.

      4) Excess fructose? how much was in your diet before your MI?

      5) Contrary to the assertion of your physician, I do not think your physical activity saved you from a worse fate by “strengthening your heart”. One may “strengthen the heart muscle” while in fact putting it at risk of infarction by promoting the atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries that leads to heart attacks. I do not find it paradoxical that you are the most active of three siblings, and you are the one who had the MI first. As Nathaniel and Leonardo suggest, there is indeed some good preliminary evidence that excessive exercise may CAUSE atherosclerosis and even increase the risk of an actual heart attack. I have blogged about this in detail:

      archevore.com/panu-weblog/2009/11/1/cardio-causes-heart-disease.html

      It is conventional wisdom that Jim Fixx would have died earlier absent his running, but I think both he and Alberto Salazar were more likely put at risk by the pro-inflammatory state and indadequate rest their lifestlye of excessive “cardio” exercise engendered.

      If I were you, I would stick to resistance training maybe once a week and limit the frequency of my workouts.

      Finally, you say that your BG is normal, but did you measure postprandial BG before your heart attack? Could you have been a skinny diabetic? Have you had your HBA1c measured?

      You should also make sure your thyroid function is not out of whack

      Dr. BG has given you some good tweaks. Everyone should take magnesium and get enough sunlight. You shoudl probably take about 1.5-2 g DHA/EPA per day as fish oil – it can take 2 or more years to correct your 6:3 ratio after coming off a diet with excess linoleic acid (omega 6s).

      I think the most you can do – 80% of it – is to meticulously avoid the three neolithic agents of disease, wheat, fructose and linoleic acid. If you continue to have evidence of permanent metabolic (liver) damage from your prior diet- like hyperglycemia with starch consumption, then you should also limit total carbs to about 10% of caloric intake.

      Good Luck.

      
      
      
      • Tommy on October 3, 2010 at 06:27

        Thanks for that info. As for number 2…Chinese food. I never ate fried rice and 95% of the time ordered chicken and mixed vegetables only…no apps or anything. 75% of those orders were steamed with no sauce, salt, or ny other ingredients. But a lot of white rice.

        
        
        
      • Tommy on October 3, 2010 at 18:54

        P.S.
        6.3 ratio?? Were did that come from? before my heart attack I think I was 2.94 and my most recent was 2. something (lower than the 2.94) ..I can’t find the results at the moment. The one before that was 3.03 That’s by the standard Friedewald calculations. By Iranian, it’s even lower.

        
        
        
      • Kurt G Harris MD on October 4, 2010 at 07:59

        6:3 ratio means ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 PUFA in the diet. It’s good to have low overall PUFA and a ratio of less than 3:1. This is something that requires calculation with fitday or the like.

        
        
        
      • Tommy on October 4, 2010 at 12:45

        Thanks. Perhaps you’re right. But I think those were hidden PUFAs because I was watching most of what I ate. The problem is that I did ignore some of the hydrogenated stuff in the ingredients even though I knew it was deceptive compared to the nutrition facts that said zero trans fat. Funny thing is, I was the one warning others of that. I know better now. Actually I think I’m doing good and on the right course. ( yikes!! I’ve said that before, haven’t I?…lol)

        
        
        
30. Rod on October 2, 2010 at 13:40

    Lets see what we have so far. You are possibly genetically predisposed to mci, possibly an aggressive type A, followed well intentioned but probably at least partially wrong nutrional advice given your predisposition and lifestyle( loves to and has to use lots of calories ). Pretty much a smoking gun.Sounds like you have all the info you need to carry on into your final chapters. Calm down, moderate your obcessive approach to exercise(lots of good there too but relax about it),be a little stricter about paleo given the info coming out about risk factors for cvd, and try to make peace with mortality.You arent that unique,there are lots of us.

    
    
    
31. Ed on October 2, 2010 at 18:15

    Tommy,

    Read Peters blog, high-fat-nutrition.blogspot.com. Start with the oldest and read forward. The best diet and health science I’ve found on the Internet.

    
    
    
32. Jo tB on October 3, 2010 at 03:03

    Tommy,

    It hasnt been mentioned by other posters, but you should get your magnesium levels tested. ‘Heart attack patients used to get magnesium administered in their saline drips. I believe that doesn’t happen anymore, that statins are administered instead. Magnesium is the fourth most important mineral in the body and involed in about 300 processes. Research has shown that heart attack patients are often magnesium deficient.

    Arterial placque is caused among others by calcium circulating in the blood. We have always been told to eat lots of dairy to get plenty of calcium, but that doesn’t get digested properly and so stays in the blood. That may be happening to you. Our paleo ancesters never ate dairy products. Calcium from leafy green vegetables gets digested a lot better.

    While you’re about it get your vitamin D levels tested. As a former heart attack person you want your immune system working at primal levels and that means getting lots of sun in the summer and taking supplements in the winter.

    Lots to Google.

    Regards, Jo

    
    
    
33. Christ on October 3, 2010 at 07:07

    I don’t know much about anything but that C reactive Protein score is very high isn’t it?
    Mine was *point 3* as in .3.
    I too am also quite thin and don’t do well on low carb. It seems you are eating a huge amount of carbs.

    
    
    
34. andrew on October 3, 2010 at 10:52

    Tommy, I think you should take a look at Broda Barne’s work. He showed that hypothyroidism causes heart attacks. I think something like only one of his patients had a heart attack after following his treatment program. He also talks about how to treat people who have already had heart attacks. He criticizes the use of large doses in post heart attack hypothyroid patients. He also says you have to raise the dose very very slowly for people like you. You really can raise your metabolic rate by changing your diet, but I don’t know if it’s going to be enough for someone who has already had a heart attack. I’m certainly no expert on this, and I don’t think anyone on here is either. That said, a regular doctor is just going to fuck you up more, but I think you already know that. Good luck.

    
    
    
35. Dexter on October 3, 2010 at 12:12

    Tommy,
    If you want to search for a real doctor..one that goes against mainstream, Jimmy Moore has a list of low carb doctors
    at lowcarbdoctors.blogspot.com/ listing by state.

    
    
    
36. Tommy on October 4, 2010 at 05:21

    Lots of great replies. Thanks to Dr’s.BG and Harris.

    I’ve been thinking about it a lot. I have heard a good deal of advice “from the internet” ranging from the simple to far fetched diagnosis of why I may have had a heart attack in the first place. Personally, I think I’m going to with Occams razor on this one. My Father, and his brothers as well as his father had heart attacks. My mother had some heart problems. I had one. Runs in the family….period.
    People can speculate a whole lot on my diet prior to getting sick. Did it have bad points? Yes…the weekends when I ate out on Saturdays. I made healthy choices but you can’t control a restaurant kitchen. The rest of the time I think I ate pretty good. Much better than the bulk of the population. It’s not like I didn’t look into diet before. Too much bread…sure. But I worked a lot of stuff off. My weight was good. I didn’t suffer upset stomachs or any thing. I slept well and got 8m hrs per night. I took fish oil, ate little processed crap. What happened happened, genetics. My focus now is the future. The more I look on the “net” for answers the more I get pushed off my path. While I find some good info there are also many who I have no clue what their credentials are. They give hat seems like sound advice but for all I know they could be a smart 15 year old just reading something out of a book…lol. There are many ways in this world and I see a lot written about the eating habits of certain civilizations. For every “proof” there is of the nourishment of one source such as a tribe eating all fat and no grains there is a counter story for a tribe eating mostly grains and little fat. Still another society who eats mostly potatoes while another smokes cigarettes into their 90’s with no heart disease or cancer. My thoughts on that are “who knows why.” Personally I feel that you can’t copy their diet because you have no idea what other factors are important in their survival. I sometimes look at all this and get a little perplexed. Much of this evidence seems a bit like the Keys hypothesis that we all criticize. Looking at how some people eat and then assuming it must be good for everyone. Every society is different. This is why I always choose middle of the road. At the moment I am experimenting with lowering my carbs a little more. Not “no carb” but low carb. Not for weight purposes but to see what it does to my labs. I am also adjusting my workouts. Workout for health not to win a championship.

    Thanks all.

    
    
    
37. Christ on October 4, 2010 at 08:01

    How about that inflammation? Seems extremely high to me.

    do you feel that emotions/type A/fighter/over training/beating yourself up had anything to do with your heart attack or do you think it’s all genetics? Do you live in NY City? That in itself must be a risk factor.

    If you haven’t read Weston Price you should check that out.

    
    
    
38. Tommy on October 4, 2010 at 12:40

    My CRP was/is below 4. I thought 7 was the borderline for that.

    I have a good deal of uncontrollable stress in my life. That’s the way it is and that’s the way it will be. Family matters. I also drive 85 miles (1.5 hours ) each way to work and have for about 20 years. I can speculate for the rest of my life on what happened. It’s done….time to work on what’s ahead. Sure, finding out why may help preventing future events, but I’m not going to “stress” about it. Stay healthy….that’s my goal. I fought a lot, took a lot of hits in my time. I also fought full contact bare knuckle on and off for 11 years. I took a knee to the chest that had me in the ER coughing up blood for a few hours, about 2years ago. So my event could have been many things. I will go with genetics combined with the stress I was under at the time and getting that invincible feeling because I was in good shape and healthy . That led to too many times floating off the track. After a good blood work result I would celebrate by stuffing my face with celebratory junk. Sometimes I would prep my body for an assault. Eat good all week then eat a whole large Pizza pie by myself on the weekend. I’ve eaten a whole medium pan Pizza Hut pie myself before. lol. I really thought I could beat genetics and that I was ahead of the game. I thought my training would always wipe clean any mistakes I made. I ate good and healthy. “But” to that I would add not so good things. Well….now that I look back. I was the “healthy guy” and everyone looked to me for advice. I was the example. “Look at this guy….52 and still fighting….great health.” They made fun of the food I ate. They questioned me about nutrition. I guess my head became too big and I thought I could cheat here and there. My cheating was too big, like everything else I do. Oh, well.
    Next cardio visit I have questions for him and suggestions.

    I don’t live in NY anymore….Bronx boy originally. Been gone for years. Still work near the city. I’m in Pa now.

    
    
    
    • VeganWarrior/Stud on October 4, 2010 at 13:26

      Did you ever train at Renzo’s? Machado purple here.

      
      
      
      • Tommy on October 5, 2010 at 08:53

        No, I haven’t

        
        
        
    • Dr.BG on October 6, 2010 at 19:22

      Hi Tommy,

      Genetics is a loaded gun, but we provide the triggers! Some are unavoidable like toxins — everyone and ever child studies are full of teflon, petroleum based chemicals PCBs and plastic derivatives. How can our bodies maintain its function like a clogged carburetor?

      One thing I have learned over the years with anginal and heart patients is that gentle, gradual changes is key and don’t underestimate the power of our mind.

      We all do not digest food well. *CHUCKLE!!* That is the legacy of PIZZA, processed foods and cooked foods. Without the enzymes found in raw plants/meat… our bodies do not breakdown food parts well.

      Many people I’ve observed improve health with digestive enzymes. The technology is actually quite advanced right now. Anyway, try a gluten-free, dairy-free digestive enzyme product — this aids breakdown of not only fats, protein and carbs but ALSO this enzymes transport across the digestive canal lining to the blood stream, and like little PACMEN, start to digest unnecessary things (like immune complexes related to arithritis or food allergies or autoimmune diseases)… debris in arteries~!

      By getting better nutrition, your hunger will abate. You may not be absorbing the wonderful amino acids from a clean, organic, paleo diet because it’s undigested feeding the gut bacteria. Amino acids help to evenly release stable blood glucose for even mood, energy and muscle functions. Amino acids are necessary for lean mass and maintenance. Sounds like despite the great diet, the diet effects appear to indicate malnourishment IMHO. Anyway, Robb Wolf and I like the NOW Super enzymes. Many brands are excellent though. I never realized how important enzymes were but I’m doing some self study and apparently none of us may likely digest to our pancreas full potential (reserves depleted by cooked and processed foods or even children are born now without digestive ‘reserves’ of function) — THESE ARE REALLY REALLY amazing…

      You sound like a dedicated family member and they are so SO LUCKY to have you!!!

      Kindly, G

      
      
      
      • Richard Nikoley on October 6, 2010 at 19:46

        Soon I’ll tell the story about what happens when a dog gets an inflamed pancreas, damages (or destroys — we don’t know yet) his digestive enzyme producing cells, and so eats like an elephant and shits like two.

        It’s pretty amazing to see an animal crap more than two times the volume of food he’s given. He eats like crazy, insatiable, yet continues to loose weight and the crap is just enormous. Two things going on: undigested food fee bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, so the food is getting “digested,” but not for the benefit of the dog. Since it’s not being digested, fluid isn’t being extracted, so the volume is part huge numbers of bacteria, the food itself, and water.

        Stay tuned for the end of the now happy story. Hint: a little pig pancreas goes a long way.

        
        
        
      • DR.BG on October 7, 2010 at 08:21

        Dude, I like happy endings. J/k. Your dog is precious and precious pancreas enzymes go an unbelievable long way, eh? I’m so glad your puppy is better!! Update me w/details later!

        So what is the point us eating amazing evo/paleo diets and $$$$ supplements if they are not broken down to constituent microparticles?

        Add’l enzymes are an ‘extension’ of the immune system I just learned *LIGHT BULB* This explains many things.

        -G

        
        
        
39. Tommy on October 7, 2010 at 06:58

    The past week or so my weight has stabilized. This week (since Sunday 10/3, I have been eating a bit differently. I’ve been trying to eat less frequently as well as less carbs. I cut out the rice , oats and quinoa and added sweet potatoes. I’ve averaged about 31-35% cals from carbs. I am not contributing my weight stabilization to that though because it happened before the diet change. It coincides more with the lighter workouts. I have been trying to curb the frequent feeding thing I’ve been doing since the 90’s.It’s hard to break….I eat every two hours whether I’m hungry or not and it’s like a drug habit. Baby steps.

    However…cutting those inbetween meals means less overall calories so that isn’t good. I’m not trying to diet!!! So the inbetween meals have been added to my main meals. I’m having bigger main meals . Same food at the end of the day just spread out less. I’m not looking to be “Paleo” as I think it is too extreme. I’d rather be low carb or healthy carb or whatever….controlled carb? I get the idea of what we are meant to eat and not. But just because a caveman didn’t have access to something doesn’t mean I won’t come near it. He didn’t drive a car either (which to me is stressful) but I’m not giving that up…lol. Most times I won’t eat certain things….sometimes I will. I’m looking at overall, not minor details. I’m not looking to be anymore anal than I am already. Maybe 26 days out of a month without oatmeal for breakfast…maybe 29. maybe some months all 30….who knows. I’m not going to get crazy about it. I’m still experimenting. Thanks for all the info. Actually I have been looking at Dr. Harris’s 12 steps. It sounds reasonable. I like his approach. Dr. BG…thanks, you’ve been a great help also. All in all I have to think I’m doing real good. better than most.

    
    
    
40. Tommy on October 7, 2010 at 07:09

    P.S.

    I forgot to mention above. I measured my fat intake the other day and it was around 46% of cals. (carbs were 33). I’ve added more grass fed beef to my week and a few more fish servings among other things.

    
    
    
    • DR.BG on October 7, 2010 at 08:27

      Hey Tommy,

      You’re very welcome! I think you are doing great! I love Dr. Harris’ 12 steps. If one is ‘adrenally depleted’ however the small frequent meals is actually the best way to go. Moderate carb also will trump ‘low carb’ (or if you do low carb but with some cycling which is what I do for maintenance) for adrenals. personally my adrenals burnt out faster with intermittent fasting which is too stressful under certain circumstances. Consider the digestive enzymes if you haven’t tried yet.

      I think the fats fine for now. You’ve made great choices for the carbs — they are more slower releasing and won’t ‘spike’ huge glucose rollercoaster concentrations. For someone who commmutes 2 hrs daily, your diet is quite PRISTINE :)

      -G

      
      
      
41. Tommy on October 7, 2010 at 09:02

    Hey….that’s 3 hours driving!! lol. Well, I spend my last day off of the week preparing my meals for the week and I eat all my meals (accept breakfast and my first snack) at work. I’m at work 10 hours. I get up at 7:30 am leave at 9:30 and get back home at 10:30 pm and in bed at 11.

    RE: my family. As far as being dedicated maybe neurotic is a better word…lol. About 12 years of caring for a troubled daughter (love her very much) and after she gave me a grand daughter 3 years ago (which was the most amazing thing in my life) the stress continues. My concern for the future is never ending. Now I have a second (2 months) grand daughter. Because of her poor situation and an asshole boyfriend combined with my natural instincts I feel “not in control.” For a guy like me that is a bad feeling. I’m the parachute that guides my family safely to the ground. A hole in the chute can be devastating . Sometimes I feel like my fingers are slipping one by one.

    
    
    
42. DR.BG on October 7, 2010 at 10:58

    WHOAA!! 3 hrs!! You sound like quite a cook like Richard… Yes I can see how situational control (for someone who control is important??) might be lacking which appears to create internal, immeasurable conflict for you. That’s 2 tough circumstances — your daughter’s and yours! It sounds like you two enjoy a very close and loving relationship. Everyone has to make their own mistakes. At least she is lucky, it appears to me she feels secure she can rely on you (and your parachute). Not everyone is so lucky I hope she realizes! I have 2 daughters and you are giving me DOUBLE NIGHTMARES lol.

    
    
    
    • Tommy on October 7, 2010 at 11:14

      “Control” isn’t necessarily important for me. But I base much of my life on strategy and “defense” so to speak. My nature is to be aware of my surroundings and in control enough to “protect.” In certain life situations, especially with family members, in areas where you really can’t do anything about the course, the feeling of not being able to control the situation is stressful. It’s like trying to grip water in your hands. Especially when you know the potential dangers lurking ahead.

      As for daughters? They are great. Grandchildren? Unbelievable. Just wait…intense love. You can only provide knowledge to your children along with doses of guidance that doesn’t become annoying (thus ignored….don’t be a pain in the ass). They need a head full of “the right things to do” because there is too much influence out there from the wrong things. After that you have to hope they survive the rough seas of peer pressure. What helps them along that journey, even if they falter (it helps them to “get back) is what you teach them. They need a safety deposit box in their brains to refer back to.
      Ok…at least IMO…..I’m no expert. Strategy. ;)

      
      
      
      • Jason on October 17, 2010 at 02:38

        Tommy,
        Please look into taking Vitamin K2 – mk7. This vitamin can actually reverse plaque buildup. It takes
        the calcium from the plaque and deposits it in bone. Please research this, because you seem to be doing everything else right and this vitamin is specifically for reversing plaque buildup. (not any vitamin K
        only vitamin K2 MK7. Just google vitamin k2 mk7 and you’ll see all the research. All the best man.

        
        
        
      • Richard Nikoley on October 17, 2010 at 08:04

        I’d hedge my bet and take both mk4 and mk7, 4 being the subform found in animal products like liver, marrow, eggs (especially fish eggs), butter fat from grass fed cows.

        Lots of posts here on the blog about mk4, menetetrenone. Life Extension Foundation has a K2 complex with both 4 and 7, which is what I take. I don’t even have to order online because The Vitamin Shoope carries it locally.

        
        
        
      • Jason on October 17, 2010 at 02:48

        On taking Vitamin K2 mk7 for heart health and to reverse plaque buildup – I just checked the website
        is vitamink2.org. once there click on ‘scientific presentation’ it’s better to take the time and hear the entire scientific lecture; however, the parts specifically pertaining to you are – ‘k2 and vascular health’,
        ‘K2 inhibits vascular calcification’, and ‘K2 regresses vascular calcification’.

        
        
        
43. DR.BG on October 7, 2010 at 14:16

    Tommy,

    It’s great you understand your own mind’s psychology — you are a MAN and naturally you body guard your genes (your kids and their progeny). In fact, I was a complete B*TCH during my post partum — I think this is a natural defense actually perhaps and it keeps the babies safe IMHO. OK . . . *har har* i’m actually still a total f* b*tch… (hey too LATE — my kids think I’m a pain in the *ss but we do have fun even when I am intent on brain washing them to make good decisions, make them feel loved treasured and valued and to be STRONG FEMALE WARRIORS).

    In my opinion, no one is an expert but we sure learn deeply from other people’s tinkering/think-ering! Thank you for sharing your parenting and life insights. I think we all sense that the times now are rough — something certainly has shifted in our urban concrete jungles and terrain. It is imperative we prepare our kids b/c it S*CKS out there. The toxins of the mind may be more deadly than other pollution… you know what I mean.

    Warmly and hugs, G

    
    
    
44. Tommy on October 25, 2010 at 10:12

    Here’s an update. Since this thread I have cut out the rice and grains, legumes etc and added more eggs in the morning, beef at lunch, coconut oil (I had been using that already anyway) , have some full fat (16 g sat fat…yikes) greek yogurt etc. Actually this week I switched to pastured milk drinkable yogurt from my local farm.
    I had some blood labs done (VAP) a few days ago and have been waiting for the results. Meantime, I had some minor chest discomforts and spoke to my doctor about it. He told me to come right in. Next thing I new he was scheduling a stress test as soon as possible. I saw him on Thursday and had the stress test done this morning (Monday). Once again I get the comments from nurses and staff. “I can’t believe you had a heart attack.” Yea, well guess what. When I went to the waiting rom to wait for the doc to have a look the nurse comes out and says they saw something “different” then laat years test. The doctor wants to see me asap and I have to o back to see him later today. She says there is an abnormality that he wants to discuss (?). WTF?
    Meanwhile I just looked at my email and my labs came back. Last labs were in October and Total was 129. Triglycerides were 43, HDL 46 and LDL (calc) 74. These results this time are direct and also checked for particle size and LP(a).
    New numbers :
    Total 184
    LDL 98
    HDL 70
    VLDL 15
    Trigs 74
    LDL-R (I don’t know what that is ) 87
    LP(a) 4.0
    And it says I’m pattern A

    So I will bring this to the doc later. The numbers loo good to me so I have no idea what’s going on.

    
    
    
    • Tommy on October 25, 2010 at 10:21

      Correction:

      I said my last labs were in October….this “is” October…duh! My last labs were in August not October. This VAP lab work was last week.