A review from the book "Acidity Theory of Atherosclerosis: New Evidences", 2012 (Kindle Edition)

A Must Read for Anyone Taking Statin Drugs

By Dr. Stephanie Seneff, Senior Research Scientist, MIT*. Review at Amazon.com

This is a fabulous book, highly recommended for anyone who has the slightest doubt about the lipid theory for cardiovascular disease. The book is jam packed with fascinating observations at every page turn. The writing is not dumbed down for the masses (not an "easy" read), but on the other hand the author does not get caught up in biological jargon that might cause the non-expert to get lost.

The basic premise of the book is that cardiovascular disease is caused by the build-up of acid in the blood, which, in turn, is caused by excitation of the sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight response). Each chapter is short and compelling, building on the theory with support from a different slant. While details are left out, a long list of references at the end of every chapter allows the interested read to delve further if they so desire.

The book effortlessly explains many observed associations with heart disease. For example, cigarette smoke is a risk factor because nicotine excites the sympathetic nervous system. Meditation reduces risk because deep breathing promotes the expulsion of carbon dioxide, an acid promoter. A newly learned fact that I relished is that the adrenal glands produce a natural cardiac glycoside similar to digoxin, which is used therapeutically to treat heart failure. Cholesterol is the substrate, and statin drugs interfere with its synthesis, which may help explain the observed association between statin therapy and heart failure.

By the time you arrive at the final chapter, you have seen clearly how all the risk factors for cardiovascular disease can be explained by the acid theory, and this is where he lays it out "plain and simple" and ties it all together. After having read this book, you will never again believe that lowering LDL levels has any merit in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

*Homepage of Dr. Stephanie Seneff at MIT:
http://people.csail.mit.edu/seneff

*Dr. Seneff essay on sulfur and heart disease and other chronic diseases:
http://people.csail.mit.edu/seneff/sulfur_obesity_alzheimers_muscle_wasting.html

*Dr. Stephanie Seneff interviewed by Dr. Mercola:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/09/17/stephanie-seneff-on-sulfur.aspx

A review from the book "Acidity Theory of Atherosclerosis: New Evidences", 2012 (Paperback)

By Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Man "Jimmy Moore"*. Review at Amazon.com

Rethinking What Really Contributes To Heart Disease

For the past few decades we have been led to believe that the reason why people develop heart disease is because they are consuming too much saturated fat and cholesterol in their diet that it has led to "clogged arteries" that give us a heart attack and puts us one foot in the grave. The weeping and gnashing of teeth that takes place over this has people scared half to death to consume any fat or cholesterol anymore. But what if that theory of atherosclerosis was just plain wrong? This is what author Carlos Monteiro explores in his book ACIDITY THEORY IN ATHEROSCLEROSIS: NEW EVIDENCES (VOLUME 1).

Monteiro does a brilliant job at examining other aspects of vascular health that people may not even realize exists. Try some of these on for size and see if you knew they had any relation to the health of your heart:

- People with Down's syndrome tend to have very little heart disease
- Diabetics are more likely to develop heart disease
- If you a man with ED, then you are very likely at risk for heart disease
- Wanna make your heart healthier? Marry a comedian
- LDL cholesterol plays a lot less role in a cardiovascular event than people realize
- Salt intake is pretty much irrelevant in whether you develop heart disease or not
- If you have rheumatoid arthritis, then you are at greater risk for atherosclerosis
- The health of your teeth can play a factor in developing heart disease

For some, the information contained in this book will rock your world and make you rethink most of what you thought was true about the development of arterial plaque. Monteiro's alternative theory that this is really all about acidity in the body and that this leads to a chain reaction of events the increases LDL oxidation which makes atherosclerosis become a reality is absolutely plausible if not probable. And lest you think this book is just full of a bunch of opinions by a wayward voice, think again. Monteiro does an outstanding job of providing literally hundreds of excellent scientific references for you to do further research on each of his points.

This book should be required reading for every first-year medical school student so they can have a much broader focus on some of the true causes of atherosclerotic development that can lead to myocardial infarction. And here's the headline-making secret that you don't hear many people talking about--it's not necessarily about what your LDL or total cholesterol is! That's why statin medications are pretty much useless in preventing heart attacks from happening and why you need to read the ACIDITY THEORY OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS for an alternative viewpoint that just might be spot on. It's time we start rethinking what REALLY contributes to heart disease.

* Jimmy Moore Blog & Podcast

http://www.livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog
http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/shownotes
livinlowcarbman@charter.net
Author of "21 Life Lessons From Livin' La Vida Low-Carb: How The Healthy Low-Carb Lifestyle Changed Everything I Thought I Knew" (BookSurge 2009) Order Jimmy's book at Amazon.com