Syndrome X: The Silent Killer: The New Heart Disease Risk [Paperback]

Gerald Reaven (Author), Terry Kirsten Strom (Author), Barry Fox (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0684868636 | ISBN-13: 978-0684868639 | Publication Date: August 7, 2001 | Edition: 1

Is Your So-Called Good Diet Slowly Killing You?

If you have Syndrome X -- and 60 to 75 million Americans do -- the widely recommended low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet may be the surest route to a heart attack. Now, Gerald Reaven, M.D., the pioneering Stanford University doctor who discovered Syndrome X, explains why:

• Even if your total cholesterol level is perfect, it may not shield you from a heart attack.

• Carbohydrates can be just as harmful as red meat or butter.

• A diet high in "good" fats (as much as 40 percent of calories) is actually better for you.

• The Zone diet, the Atkins diet, and the American Heart Association diet can each be dangerous under certain conditions.

• The failure of insulin, the body's "sugar cop," to process blood sugar is the key to Syndrome X.

• The Syndrome X diet and exercise program will keep you healthy and protect your heart even if you do not suffer from insulin resistance.

Tested in carefully controlled research settings and in practice, the Syndrome X program is safe, effective, and easy to follow.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Walter C. Willett, M.D. Chairman, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health Dr. Reaven provides powerful evidence that low-fat diets can actually increase our risk of heart attacks. We ignore his advice at our peril.

About the Author

Gerald Reaven, M.D., Professor of Medicine at Stanford University, discovered Syndrome X. A world-renowned endocrinologist, he has received a wide array of scientific awards and has served as director of the division of endocrinology and metabolism, among other posts, at Stanford's School of Medicine. He lives in Stanford, California.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1 edition (August 7, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684868636
• ISBN-13: 978-0684868639
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #642,636 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Barry Fox is an internationally published, best-selling author, ghostwriter and editor of many books that have been published by Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins and other major publishing houses - as well as numerous self-published books. His works include two New York Times bestsellers: The Arthritis Cure, which reached #1 on the list, and Healing the Addicted Brain. Another of his works, Diana and Dodi: A Love Story, was printed in several different languages and published in numerous countries.

Barry is best known for his health books, which include Alternative Cures That Really Work (Rodale, 2006), The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide (Broadway Books, 2007), What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Hypertension (Warner Books, 2003), Syndrome X (Simon & Schuster, 2000), Arthritis For Dummies (Wiley, 2004), and Cancer Talk (Broadway Books, 1999). Barry also has extensive experience writing and editing books and articles in the inspirational/motivational field, where his work has been praised by giants such as Richard Carlson, Ph.D., (author of the best-selling Don't Sweat the Small Stuff and many other books), the Rev. Norman Vincent Peale, the Rev. Robert Schuller and Norman Cousins. Among Barry's projects in this field are Elizabeth Kubler-Ross's Life Lessons (Scribner, 2000), Handbook for the Soul (Little, Brown, 1995) and Beyond Positive Thinking (Hay House, 1991).

Based in Los Angeles, California, Barry does quite a bit of ghostwriting on behalf of physicians and other professionals

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I read 5 books on Syndrome X, February 1, 2002

By 

"dsample7" (Lombard, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Syndrome X: The Silent Killer: The New Heart Disease Risk (Paperback)

and this was by far the most informative and didnt deliver any mis-information. The other 4 books often refer back to Dr. Reaven a lot, and with some interpretation variations. Its wasnt quite as easy reading as some of the other books, but it was the most correct and informative, after all Dr. Reaven as it turns out was a founding father of Syndrome X. It made me think twice before dieting especially since the Syndrome X diet is so different than others such as Zone and Atkins etc., that typically make Syndrome X much worse. With estimates as high as 1/3 of the country having this Syndrome X to one degree or another it is just about an epidemic so this book will only be even more useful in the future. So if you have CHD at an early age, high cholesterol that just wont come down, sky high triglycerides, and the start of early type 2 diabetes, then this might provide a lot of answers.

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Info, December 21, 2001

By 

Henry Tassotti - See all my reviews

This review is from: Syndrome X: The Silent Killer: The New Heart Disease Risk (Paperback)

The bad points about this book: It didn't tell one if
coffee was to be avoided, nor did it discuss sodium in the
diet or water. It was also very technical reading and a little "dry"
On the other hand, I learned a lot about insulin and the
heart. Dr. Reaven has wonderful qualifications to be writing
on this subject. There is a diet section which will be very
helpful. It's not a terribly long book, so a lot can be
learned in a short time. His diet recommendations are well

tested and effective. He also does not pull any punches
and makes it clear that your MUST lose weight and exercise
regularly if you are to be heart-healthy. I kind of liked that.
For added incentive he well describes what a heart attack
feels like and the type of permanent damage it does.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Bible for Insulin Damage, August 29, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Syndrome X: The Silent Killer: The New Heart Disease Risk (Paperback)

This is a great book that will remain the "Classic" long after all others on this subject have faded. It's written by the physician who found Syndrome X and gives straight-up information on the subject of how uncontrolled insulin and glucose levels damage our health. Although there is a wealth of information on the internet, much of it is inaccurate or partially inaccurate, and that's the case with Syndrome X. All the other Syndrome X books that have been written were knock-offs published after this one by authors who knew far less about the subject. What you get in this book is 100% quality information and solutions that you can trust. However, it's not necessarily written for the customer who wants only touch-feely anecdotes; it tells us the real scoop. Reading the medical journals of new research emerging confirms everything in this book, and shows that high insulin levels can cause other horrible diseases besides Syndrome X, type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease, such as all these new ones that have been added to the list: colon cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, sleep breathing disorder, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, impaired cognitive (brain)function, polycystic ovary syndrome, and a couple of others disorders. This book is the best of the bunch.