Reversing Hypertension: A Vital New Program to Prevent, Treat and Reduce High Blood Pressure [Hardcover]

Julian Whitaker (Author), Julian Whitaker M.D. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 10, 2000

Using diet, nutritional supplements, exercise and other lifestyle changes, Dr Whitaker shows how to prevent or manage high blood pressure without recourse to drugs and their unwanted side effects.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Offering a practical and engaging guide for anyone fighting high blood pressure, Whitaker (Reversing Diabetes, etc.), founder of the Whitaker Wellness Institute in Newport Beach, Calif., clearly explains what causes hypertension, how it's diagnosed and how to treat it. He focuses not just on the obvious causes, including poor diet and stress, but on lesser known factors such as thyroid problems and insulin resistance. Whitaker devotes the second half of the book to his program, which includes a regimen of diet and exercise along with consumption of vitamins and supplements, including garlic and Vitamin E. For those with dangerously high blood pressure, he advocates a two-week diet of vegetables, fruit and rice--a radical approach recommended only for severely ill patients. Most people with hypertension are able to eat a well-rounded, varied diet that is low in salt and includes very little dairy. Whitaker provides a list of fruits and vegetables permitted on his diet as well as a brief appendix of selected recipes. This is an informative and useful book for anyone who wants to control blood pressure primarily through diet and supplements rather than prescription medicine. (Feb.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

According to The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects one in four American adults--about 50 million people. Of those with hypertension, about 68 percent are aware of their condition, but only 27 percent have it under control. Yet uncontrolled high blood pressure often leads to stroke, heart failure, or kidney damage. For those with hypertension, this book might be just what the doctor ordered. Whitaker, an affable family doctor who practices in Newport Beach, CA, presents a thorough, no-nonsense overview of what causes hypertension and realistic ways to control it using conventional and complementary medicine. In addition to explaining why hypertension should be taken seriously, Whitaker tells readers how to monitor their blood pressure, provides recipes for a two-week wellness diet, and includes information on antihypertensive drugs, a glossary, and other resources. Recommended for consumer health collections in public and hospital libraries.
-Valeria Long, Amberg Health Sciences Lib., Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids, MI
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1St Edition edition (February 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446522864
• ISBN-13: 978-0446522861
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #849,122 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #36 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Disorders & Diseases > High Blood Pressure

More About the Author

Julian Whitaker, MD, is founder of the Whitaker Wellness Institute, the largest alternative medical clinic in the US, located in Newport Beach, California. He is the author of 13 books and, for the past 15 years, has written the monthly newsletter "Health & Healing." An outspoken proponent of alternative therapies and medical freedom, Dr. Whitaker is also founder of the nonprofit Freedom of Health Foundation.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

165 of 171 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Healthy Hope for Hypertensives, April 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Reversing Hypertension: A Vital New Program to Prevent, Treat and Reduce High Blood Pressure (Hardcover)

I have been recently been diagnosed with severe hypertension at the age of 37. After being prescribed several drugs right away, I began a quest of knowledge on alternative treatments. I found Mr. Whitaker's book the most informative and well documented on research literature. His analysis on the different prescribed drugs and their long term effects was the best I have read.He describes the benefits and failures of these drugs that my own doctors did no inform me with.

He describes in length the many factors for hypertension which are easy to read and understand.

What I liked also about his book is the multi-step programs that one can follow. The reader can do a number of things that will lower blood pressure. Dr. Whitaker takes the approach that hypertension is absolutely reversible in most cases, and when you read the book it is hard not to believe him.

I have started his program and have found it to be the best so far.

59 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dr. Whitaker's Plan Works!, January 20, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Reversing Hypertension: A Vital New Program to Prevent, Treat, and Reduce High Blood Pressure (Paperback)

Was diagnosed with High Blood Pressure at 39 2001. 160+ over 100+. Came on very rapidly. Father had heart problems at 46 years old. I was a person who was exercising quite regularly (4-5 times per week swimming) It was not changing my blood pressure. My physician prescribed atenolol. First 25 mg then when it didn't work 50 mg. I thought that was that for the rest of my life.

I was at the library and I saw this book I was not looking for it. March 8 2003 read it and on March 9 went on the plan. Within three months I was down to 12.5 mg of atenolol. BP hovering around 120 over 75. I lost 25 pounds from 185 to 160 in four months. Waste went from 34 to 32. I weigh five pounds lighter than when I graduated HS. I was not expecting this but it was a great bi-product of the plan.

Today January 20, 2004 almost eleven months later I have maintained the same body weight 160. I am off all medicine for three weeks and my Blood Pressure is at 120 over 78. If it goes back up I will go back to the 12.5 mg but my Physician is amazed.

My Cholesterol was 212 with Triglycerides of 370 in July. At the end of December cholesterol was down to 173 and trig now 125. My LDL has stayed about the same at 110 which isn't to bad. My HDL is still low at 29. Not sure what I will do about that since I continue to swim 5 times a week anywhere from 6 to 10 miles per week. HDL is a much harder thing to move unfortunately and in my case it is familial as my father still alive at 78 has never been able to get his above 30 (tracked since 1972). He had six bypasses at 62 which is what I hope to avoid.

No matter this plan has given me great hope that I can avoid or at least limit the drugs. I feel great physically and I feel good about myself having lost the weight. It can be a tough plan to be on but I consider it to be my lifestyle now. One can still eat an awful lot of good food you just have to know what your eating and really avoid the salt and fat.

I think Dr Whitaker should market it as a diet plan as well because from what I can see the diet plans out there nobody can stick to long term. More people should know about this and Doctors should be promoting it. Thank you Dr Whitaker!

50 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A sound alternative approach to treating hypertension...but, February 23, 2002

By 

E. Davis "E. Davis" (Bloomfield, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reversing Hypertension: A Vital New Program to Prevent, Treat, and Reduce High Blood Pressure (Paperback)

Many people have "high normal" blood pressure and what they hear is only the "normal" and disregard the high. I am one of those.
I had a bad reaction two two blood pressure medications and am tolerating a third. My case is a classic one: high bp has caused an enlargement of my heart and the beginning of cardiac disease. My mother dies of an MI at 61 and my father had his first heart attack at 74. I have no desire to follow in their footsteps.
This book makes a strong case for hypertension being a lifestyle disease and accordingly, he prescribes serious lifestyle changes as well as a ton of supplements. Some people will not be amenable to the latter suggestion. Dr. Whitaker allows more fat than Pritikin or Ornish and his food program is a bit more strict than the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). It is a sane and sensible program, but not without the need for some clarifications.
He recommends herring and salmon, but most salmon sold today is farm raised and does not have the same nutritional content as wild salmon. Herring is almost impossible to find fresh. The bottled herring is loaded with sugar and/or high fructose corn syrup and salt, making it an inappropriate choice, but Whitaker glosses over this. He says it's okay to have decaf coffee, but decaf coffee has the same amount of trans fatty acids as regaular coffee. How come he doesn't know this?
It would have been helpful for him to include a chart showing how many daily calories one needs to maintain a specific weight. This book is an excellent choice for those wanting to try lifestyle changes to bring down their bp without drugs, despite my reservations. I am trying his approach and expect to discontinue my medications (including Lipitor) by the summer.