Fast food, processed food. It's every where and it's killing our country. Doctor Joel Fuhrman does an incredible job of breaking down the risks of the standard American diet in his book, Fast Food Genocide. I read this book about a year after my heart attack and there are times when I thought the good doctor was writing just for me. Give it a gander if you are interested in the who, what and why of the causes of so much heart ache and what we can do in order to heal.
The China Study, is one of the books that led me to a whole food plant-based way of eating. The China Project was the most comprehensive study ever undertaken of the relationship between diet and the risk of developing disease, and in the book that came from it, The China Study, it became clear that you can dramatically reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes just by changing your diet.
The book that began my "comeback" was given to me by my dear friend Tom while I was still numbed out on morphine in the ICU. Born to Run, written by Christopher McDougall is not about Bruce Springsteen, it's the true life story of the reclusive Tarahumara Native Mexican tribe in the Mexican Copper Canyons. After being repeatedly injured as a runner himself, McDougall marvels at the tribe's ability to run ultra distances (over 100 miles) at incredible speeds, without getting the routine injuries of most American runners. This book also delves into the human development related to traveling long distances as well as other research that is both interesting and fun to read. Everything comes together when a group of American runners travel to the Copper Canyons for a one of kind race with the locals. This book was the spark that lit the trail running fire under my cheeks.
By far the heaviest book I've read in a long time. Both in physical weight and topics covered, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari is a fascinating tale of a history that you thought you knew. It's expertly written and well researched. The author asks some provocative questions and finds the answers littered throughout history. The tome guides us through human development by taking a look at three significant revolutions, cognitive, agricultural and scientific. This books get to the truth, even when it hurts.
Samantha Cassetty's new book, Sugar Shock is out now and it has been getting some great reviews. The book gives us over 100 healthy swaps for cutting back those sugar cravings and improving our health. Grab a copy for you or your favorite sugar fiend friend.
Kate Bee, our featured guest in the Season Two debut is also a published author. If you are curious about how to achieve a sober life then Kate's book, How to Go Alcohol Free: 100 Tips for a Sober Life is for you. It is packed with usual tips and real world guidance as we all navigate the daily stresses life throws our way. Buy it for yourself or for someone you love. Leave a review, and let me know what you think after you read it. Good luck.
Atomic Habits, by James Clear is the next book you need to read. It's the first time in my life I finished a book and went right back to the beginning an started reading it again. This book is all about changing our habits to get the most out of life. After 60 pages I was making my bed daily, something no woman has ever gotten me to do. After 100 pages I had ditched all electronics in bed. I can't wait to see what becomes of me after a second reading.
The Bypass Book Club is intended to be a source of information for you as you learn more about heart disease and what it takes to halt the world’s number one killer. The books run the gamut and it is my hope you are able to extract some useful knowledge and share it with those that you love.
If you click on the Red book titles you should be transported to the Community of Amazon where you can buy a copy for yourself. If you do, Gorey Bypass may even get a shekel or two as a kickback which would be greatly appreciated. Happy reading, and if you have any thoughts on these titles or would like to recommend one drop me a line.
The wicked smart folks at the Harvard Medical School published Mind Your Heart about 15 years ago, but it remains a comprehensive primer on what a total body approach to heart health should look like.
Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease was a mind bender for me, and a book I stumbled upon exactly one year after my heart bypass surgery. Doctor Caldwell Esselstyn is a legend in the plant-based medical community, and after you read his nutrition based remedy for curing heart disease you will understand why.
Dean Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease is the granddaddy of works that show us the way out of the abyss that is heart disease. This book not only shows you how to reverse your chronic disease but it shows you the research to back up its claims.
The China Study is a massive work whose research spans generations. The father and son team of Colin and Thomas Campbell show us how our lifestyle choices impact disease and prove once again that we can control our health with our forks.
The End of Heart Disease is Doctor Joel Fuhrman’s approach to assist those of us with heart disease. The good doctor shows us that eating nutrient dense foods can help change the course of our lives by improving our health. Easy to read with practical advice we can all use.
The Whole Heart Solution and The Plant-Based Solution are both from Doctor Joel Kahn. These books are as approachable as they are mind blowing, as Doctor Kahn shares what he has learned regarding how heart disease can be tackled with informed lifestyle choices.
After you get the run down on what heart disease is doing to your body and how you can help it through your daily choices I would like to steer you toward two amazing women that published cookbooks in the recent past.
The Gorey Bypass copy of The First Mess from Laura Wright is by far the most crinkled, tagged, and worn out cookbook in our kitchen. Amazing plant-based recipes that are easy to make and taste delicious. One Part Plant from Jessica Murnane was the first plant-based cookbook I was given after my heart surgery (by the author no less, that was rad) and the one that proved to me that I could live a life without taking another life. Jessica’s podcast is just as tremendous as her book.
On the moving your buttcheeks front, the book that began the shift in my brain was Born to Run, given to me in the hospital by one of my best friends. From that book I found Finding Ultra by Rich Roll and that completely changed my life. Running Man by Charlie Engle is another great read that showed me that whatever life throws at you, if you are honest with yourself and put in the work great things can come your way.
I read every night and will add to this list as life goes on.