The Spectrum: A Scientifically Proven Program to Feel Better, Live Longer, Lose Weight, and Gain Health (Paperback)

~ Dean Ornish M.D. (Author)
Key Phrases: nutrition spectrum, health initiative study, healthiest end, United States, Preventive Medicine Research Institute, The New England Journal of Medicine (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

First published in 1990, Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease presented scientific evidence that lifestyle changes alone can reverse even severe heart disease without surgery and medication. Subsequent research convinced Ornish that his program could be applied to other conditions with similar success. Ornish's philosophy has gained the respect of colleagues and patients, but critics say it is too difficult for many to sustain. Perhaps to counteract this notion, Ornish offers choices along a continuum of physical, mental and spiritual health. Marred somewhat by a defensive tone and repetition, the book shows readers how to tailor his recommendations to their needs, goals and preferences. Ornish's spectrum consists of nutrition (extremely low in fat, vegetarian), exercise (aerobic, resistance training and flexibility), stress management (yoga, meditation) and nurturing relationships, and he describes how they influence specific conditions. Recipes contributed by Oprah Winfrey's personal chef, Art Smith, ground Ornish's principles with dishes based on fresh, seasonal ingredients and ways to adapt them to a person's place along the spectrum. No doubt, putting Ornish's philosophy into practice is the best way to banish visions of the diet police. Given the research and heartfelt testimonials from patients reproduced here, the evidence is on Ornish's side. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

Advance Praise for
THE SPECTRUM
A Scientifically Proven Program to Feel Better, Live Longer, Lose Weight, and Gain Health

“In 1993, Hillary asked Dr. Dean Ornish to consult with us on improving our health and well-being and to train the chefs who cooked for us at The White House, Camp David, and Air Force One. I felt better and lost weight when I followed his recommendations. As this book illustrates, my genes may have been improving as well! If you want to see where medicine is likely to be five or
ten years from now, read this book today.”
–President Bill Clinton

“The Spectrum is absolutely fantastic. Time and again, Dr. Dean Ornish has scientifically proven that what was once thought to be medically impossible is, in fact, possible. His work is truly revolutionary.”
–Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Professor of Surgery & Director, Cardiovascular Institute, Columbia University Medical Center
author, You: The Owner’s Manual and You: On a Diet

"Dr. Ornish's wonderful new book, The Spectrum, can make an important difference in the health of the world at a time when it most needs it."
–Gro Brundtland, M.D.
Former Director General, World Health Organization, United Nations
Former Prime Minister, Norway

“Dr. Dean Ornish knows more about inspiring people to eat well, live well, do well, and be well than anyone on the planet. The Spectrum is a powerful book for living longer and better and shows how to live a healthful, joyful and loving life. As Frank Sinatra once told me, “Live each day like it’s
your last, and one day you’ll be right.”
–Quincy Jones

“In this book, Dr. Dean Ornish continues to establish himself as a pioneer in the medicine of the future. He breaks well-established myths in the field of biology by sho... --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; Pap/DVD Re edition (December 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345496310
• ISBN-13: 978-0345496317
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #22,265 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

253 of 258 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring & Well-Documented, December 29, 2007

By	R. M. Draper (Taos, NM) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Spectrum: A Scientifically Proven Program to Feel Better, Live Longer, Lose Weight, and Gain Health (Hardcover)

I've been following Dr. Dean Ornish's work for many years. His books have helped transform my life for the better.

What I especially love about this book (which I think is his best by far) is that it provides a full spectrum of diet and lifestyle choices that are grounded in science (much of which he and his associates have conducted themselves and published in leading medical journals) yet it's easy to understand and fun to read.

Having been on and off many diets over the years, I like his "spectrum" approach because it doesn't tell me what to eat and do. Instead, it provides a range of choices that allow me to decide what's best for me. It treats the reader with intelligence, which I find empowering and motivating.

One of the main points of this book is that pleasure and joy are sustainable, not fear and guilt, and the recipes in this book (by Art Smith) really reflect that. Works for me!

89 of 89 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars strongly recommend, January 10, 2008

By	ShadyLady "avid reader & gardener" (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Spectrum: A Scientifically Proven Program to Feel Better, Live Longer, Lose Weight, and Gain Health (Hardcover)

I found this book to be engaging and helpful. It covers ways you can improve your nutrition, your exercise, your stress management, and your attitudes. Research shows that making improvements in all these areas can significantly prevent and even reverse medical conditions. Furthermore, the more you improve, the greater your results! (Exercise is somewhat of an exception, because you get 99% of the results by walking 30 minutes a day plus doing a bit of strength training.) Ornish stresses the importance of making improvements in all the areas. The concept of the "spectrum" increases the likelihood you will actually follow through on making improvements. For example, Ornish lays out 5 groups of foods, Group 1 being the healthiest, Group 5 the least healthy. You assess which of these groups' foods you are now eating, i.e. where in the spectrum you are now eating. Then you do what you can to move to a healthier position on the spectrum. Even moderate movements toward the healthier side of the spectrum will significantly help prevent disease, especially if you improve nutrition AND exercise AND stress management AND attitudes at least a little. You figure out where you are on the spectrums, and how much improvement you can do. You can make extreme improvements, i.e. move all the way over to the healthy end of the spectrum(s), which is advisable if you are aiming to reverse a medical condition. You can make moderate improvements which may be enough to prevent medical conditions. It's a user-friendly concept, enticing. I found the book a real eye-opener, and very interesting, almost fun to read, and inspiring. The general advice and the research were quite engrossing, I thought. I highly recommend it to anyone.

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All the Dimensions of Good Health, Quality of Life, and Longevity, March 19, 2008

By	Professor Donald Mitchell "Jesus Makes Me a P... (Boston) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

This review is from: The Spectrum: A Scientifically Proven Program to Feel Better, Live Longer, Lose Weight, and Gain Health (Hardcover)

Dr. Ornish has written some landmark books including Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease; Eat More, Weigh Less; and Love and Survival. Within those books, you will find life-changing scientific perspectives:

1. With proper diet, your health will improve without drugs or surgery.
2. With nurturing relationships, you'll feel better and live longer regardless of your health issues.
3. You don't have to feel hungry to lose weight.

Since Dr. Ornish first wrote those important lessons, other researchers have found more reasons for hope:

1. With diet and exercise, even genes that could harm you will be re-set to be helpful.
2. The combined effects of healthy living can multiply into more joy, energy, good moods, and excellent appearance.
3. Many more diseases can be reversed with diet, exercise, relationships, mindfulness, and stress reduction.

In addition, Dr. Ornish has done his own new research showing that prostate cancer can be slowed and somewhat improved through healthier living.

The Spectrum combines these lessons into one book, one source of scientific references, and one way of living for the first time. If you want to live a healthy life that will take you to your full physical and mental potential, The Spectrum is that book.

I've met Dr. Ornish. In person, he's a kind, gentle man who wouldn't ever say a harsh word to anyone. In public, critics have challenged his past ideas about reversing heart disease by saying it's too hard to keep on his pathway.

The Spectrum responds to the critics by explaining how much flexibility we have in each of these areas, depending on what our current health is. For most people, you don't have to be extreme or rigid.

I am concerned about enjoying good health, and I was struck that I was already doing 80 percent of the program in The Spectrum. It wouldn't be hard for me to get to 90 percent of the ideal program, yet I don't really have any serious health problems (thank God!) even though I'm in my sixties.

If you do have a health issue (high cholesterol, overweight, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, prostate cancer, and breast cancer), there are specific sections suggesting what you should do.

The overall program is easy to follow. Foods are in various categories and how much you need to do of the other life-style management options is spelled out. It's much simpler than other books I've read in that sense.

If you cannot imagine how healthy foods can be attractive and tasty, Art Smith has contributed recipes and some photographs to help get you started in seeing other menu choices. It's not as much as a cookbook, but I'm sure you'll get the idea. I think that the more extensive South Beach cookbooks could be used to supplement these recipes.

Bravo, Dr. Ornish! You've done a great service through this book.