Eat Fat, Be Healthy: Understanding the HeartStopper Gene and When a Low-Fat Diet Can Kill You [Hardcover]

Matthew Bayan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 22, 2000

Apparently in robust health at age forty-five, Matt Bayan exercised every day, ate a low-fat diet, never smoked, and successfully avoided excess stress. But in the early hours of May 6, 1996 he was jolted awake by a massive, unexpected heart attack. In a nearby emergency room, Bayan's heart had to be restarted more than six dozen times, as doctors fought to save his life.

It was only later, as he was recovering, that Bayan learned of new research revealing the existence of a gene that actually causes some people to produce more bad cholesterol on a low-fat diet than on a higher-fat one. Not only did Bayan carry, this killer gene, but so does an estimated 20 percent of the population. While the standard low-fat approach to preventing and treating heart disease works for most people, for carriers of the Heart-Stopper gene, it can be deadly -- as it nearly was for Matt Bayan.

Bayan explains how the killer gene works, how it can be detected through a simple blood test, and how the gene's effects can be countered by a combination of diet, exercise, and medication. With the gene still largely unknown in the medical community, even among cardiologists, this inspiring book -- an exhortation to all patients to become better informed and more involved in their own care -- could be a lifesaver.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The title of this book is misleading: Bayan's story does not give license to eat fat. Instead, it exemplifies why patients need to become their own doctors and be active in taking good care of themselves. What Americans don't know can kill them, as first-time author Bayan demonstrates in his book, which is part medical memoir and part how-to advice. Cutting out fat is recognized today as one of the keys to promoting heart health, but a low-fat diet is also a recipe for disaster for the minority of people who have the ApoB gene, which actually raises the level of LDL (bad) cholesterol. Bayan, a public health manager who regularly exercised, never smoked and vigilantly watched what he ate, was unaware that he had the ApoB gene (which he dubs the "Heart-Stopper") until it was almost too late. Revelation came in the form of a massive heart attack that nearly killed him at age 45. Up to 20% of Americans carry the Heart-Stopper gene, but many doctors are unfamiliar with the technology that can be used to detect it--and potentially save patients' lives. Parts of the memoir are overwritten--the drama of the situation really ought to speak for itself--but Bayan does a fine job translating medical terminology and, with a keen sense of humor, explaining how people can integrate healthy behavior into everyday life. (Feb.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A wonderful book. It reads like a novel. Beautifully written." -- Layna Berman, Pacifica Radio Network, June 20, 2000

"Appealing." -- Entertainment Weekly, January 21, 2000

"Matthew Bayan's book is as gripping as a heart attack and packed with valuable information that could save your life." -- George J. Pratt, Ph.D. co-author of INSTANT EMOTIONAL HEALING

"This book is astonishing..." -- Dallas Morning News, August 28, 2000

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Scribner (February 22, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684865270
• ISBN-13: 978-0684865270
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,608,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on heart disease, February 18, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Eat Fat, Be Healthy: When A Lowfat Diet Can Kill You (Paperback)

I read this book after I had a heart attack. Like the author, my first heart attack was ignored by the hospital doctor and I was sent home. It was only after the third one that I was referred to a cardiologist, who had me flown to a hospital by air ambulance for angioplasty, which opened up the 90% clogged right main artery.

You need to read this book if you have any family history of heart disease, stroke or diabetes, even if you follow a healthy lifestyle, exercise and watch your diet. This book is not about eating fat, its about newer, more accurate blood tests that can find risk factors that standard tests do not.

Since reading and following this book, I have dropped my triglycerides from 700 to 66 and my cholesterol from 230 to 146. My waist has gone from 38 to 34. I still need to raise my HDL from 35 and lower my lipoprotein (a), which I will do with niacin and more exercise.

The air ambulance cost me $9500, the angioplasty $17,000 and the emergency room, hospital stays and rehab another $10,000. I still get angina from time to time. I will always face the prospect of restenosis. It will be cheaper for you if you buy the book.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful incentive to do something about heart attack risk, March 4, 2001

By 

Dr. Suzanne C. Lawton (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eat Fat, Be Healthy: When A Lowfat Diet Can Kill You (Paperback)

For about 20% of the population, eating a very lowfat diet will cause increased risk of heart disease. Who are these people? These are primarily men whose grandfathers, fathers and older brothers had heart attacks before age 50. They have high blood pressure and high triglycerides and cholesterol despite eating a good diet. And they are the ones who just might have the apolipoprotein B gene - a gene that predisposes them to all these conditions.

This is a great book for people who fit this profile. Matthew Bayan's description of his own heart attack is a powerful incentive to do something about the risk of a heart attack. He explains why his attempts to eat a low fat, low cholesterol diet only increased his cholesterol. If these people don't eat some cholesterol in their diet, their bodies will produce a great quantity of cholesterol on their own. Unfortunately, not all physicians know about the apoB gene and it`s significance on diet. But this book will provide enough information to help the informed patient to communicate better with his physician.

So no, if you thought this was a book saying it's okay to eat a fatty diet, it's not. It's a very sensible person's journey through the medical maze back to health - which just might help about 20% of the population.

Dr. Suzanne ...

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Life Saver, February 1, 2000

By 

Julie Holzman, MS, RN (Frederick, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eat Fat, Be Healthy: Understanding the HeartStopper Gene and When a Low-Fat Diet Can Kill You (Hardcover)

I've worked ER and the idea that someone could survive seventy-two defibrillations was (pardon the pun) a shocking thought. The author is a miracle man indeed! I've never seen anyone brought back from cardiac arrest that many times, or even close to it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this man's sense of humor. He truly captured the sometimes circus-like atmosphere of a hospital. And his interactions with the nurses ring true. I laughed out loud at a couple of places where his wit rightly lances some pompous and absurd aspects of our medical system.

His explanations of the science behind how cholesterol is formed and how it functions in the body are simple, to the point, and very understandable. This is the best explanation of how our bodies manage fat that I have ever read. I wish doctors could be this clear to their patients.

Mr. Bayan has uncovered a truly dangerous disease and has unflinchingly told his story, even though I am sure it was difficult to do. I hope his book is successful in reaching the millions of people who unknowingly carry this dangerous affliction. This book could save many lives.