Product Description

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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Avoid Diabetes...Avoid Death...Read Syndrome X!
This is the first book review I've ever written...Anywhere!However, if my experience can help anyone, I feel I must write a review on this book.
I am not a good writer!My writing style is a reflection primarily of the writing I do most, research notes.I never have to write papers, so my style is for me alone.I'll try to be concise and to-the-point and still add enough seasoning to give a flavor as to why it was important to me and why I wish I had been exposed to these studies and findings years ago.
First of all, this is not a bathroom book that one can read a couple minutes here and a couple of minutes there.I started reading it on the hour-long drive back from the doctor's office where I got the book while my wife drove.Before we got home I realized that I would need to read it as a textbook and not as a novel!For that reason, I set it aside until I could.I carried it on vacation and to business trips hoping to have time to devote to it...Jury duty provided that time.I was right!It did require reading it as a book!I made many margin notes, underlinings, cross-references, and lists inside the front and back covers.I only regretted not having a computer to take more detailed notes.I'm doing that on the second reading.
When I discovered I had high insulin, I started reading all I could about high insulin, type II and insulin resistance.There is a lot of information...Especially on the Internet... But, much of it disagrees with each other.I look primarily for actual studies and not opinions or guesses.Some of those sites provide good information, charts and diagrams to other sites that can be verified by actual studies... I also like to be able to look at the study.Many times what is written about a study isn't what is actually in the study...Especially government studies.Many government studies are even miss-reported by the government!But that's just me.It's the way I try and weed out good information from junk, realizing that I'll still accept junk at times and reject good, but that's why pencils have erasers...I can always change my conclusions whenever new information shows errors in those conclusions.
The problem with antidotal information is that it may be ignoring key parameters that were never considered and never measured, but may be key to the results observed.

My first physical was during the Vietnam War.My blood test results required a Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT).The GTT results were fine.Since that time, occasional blood tests have also resulted in GT test....Each time, the GTT passed fine.Now, I suffer from what would normally be considered serious diabetic symptoms without being diagnosed with diabetes (even with the new diagnostic guidelines.)Both my blood sugar and A1c tests are below the diabetic guidelines for type II.
"Syndrome X" explains it all!MY next step is not to criticize the parts of the book that were difficult to read, but to put it into practice and see what happens.
Take this review for whatever it might be worth to you...I really don't care!I'm not selling anything.I don't care how many books are sold.

The expert on insulin resistance
The lead researcher on HOW too many refined carbs can lead to coronary heart disease.His description of the HOW is quite valuable, if a little repetitive.His prescription for action is adequate with some useful material, but not really his forte.See the reviews of the hardcover version, which has a slightly different title.

The Bible for Insulin Damage
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.

This book is inaccurate and possibly dangerous.Avoid it!
OK, so I'm not an expert.I am a person who has learned about good nutrituion through a lot of comparative research and experimentation.IMHO, this book is -- and this is a mild, technical term -- Hogwash.It is bad science, bad nutrition and, perhaps worst of all, bad writing.Don't waste your money.

Not As Good As I Thought
The book was ok, but with all the information at our fingertips on the web and also knowing some things about the heart and other conditions, I felt like I wasted my money except for the diet part of the book.He didn't really list anything that I didn't already know and he didn't give any symptoms, except for tests.I guess you have to go by that, but I just felt let down by the book.I wanted more from it.I know about the chambers of the heart and techniques used to treat heart problems.I just felt all of that could have been left out.I want to know more about the disease and how they came across it and how people's lives are doing now with the diet and things like that. I just felt like he was a doctor giving advice, but it lacked that punch that keeps you wanting to know more.He didn't give a good review on meds and he just didn't sound like a good writer.I felt like he was saying the same thing over and over at times and he just didn't need to explain all the stuff about the heart and how we burn calories and stuff like that.It just seemed redundant.Some people may want to know all of that stuff or they may already know it.I just felt like I was reading a boring book that had things in there that were of not any use to me.I hope I'm not being to harsh, but I just was so let down. ... Read more

Product Description
Gerald Reaven, the discoverer of Syndrome X, and a panel of world-class investigators thoughtfully summarize our current understanding of how insulin resistance and its compensating hyperinsulinemia play a major role in the pathogenesis and clinical course of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease-the so-called diseases of Western civilization. These distinguished authorities detail, for the first time, the pathophysiological consequences and the clinical syndromes, excluding Type 2 diabetes, related to insulin resistance. They also examine the genetic and lifestyle factors that contribute to the wide differences in insulin action that exist in the population at large. Timely and authoritative, Insulin Resistance: The Metabolic Syndrome X illuminates the full importance of insulin resistance as a major cause of hypertension, heart disease, and polycystic ovary syndrome.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Review copy request
Can we review this book and then either purchase or return the book?Iwill write the review within 3 days of getting the book.Please send us areview copy as soon as possible.

Thank you,

Ralph La Forge, M.Sc. DukeUniversity Lipid Clinic 8 North Poston Court Durham, NC 27705 (919)490-3794 ralphlaforge@msn.com

IR; The hidden resistance in a diversity of diseases
It was in 1986 at the end of his Banting Memorial lecture that Reaven said: "At first blush it appears outlandish to suggest an association between hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia and hyperinsulinemia.." Hiswords have rung in my ears ever since! Yes hyperinsulinemia is now widelyunderstood to be the measurable outcome of insulin resistance, now known bythe international acronym "IR". Insulin resistance is the"hidden resistance" that leads to an incredible diversity ofclinical disorders which "at first blush" appear even moreunlikely; these disorders in fact range from diabetes to polycystic ovarydisease; and from hypertension to unwanted facial hair in women to namejust four conditions! It is highly appropriate that Reaven has now giventhe world the benefit of his understanding of this ubiquitous MetabolicSyndrome. This syndrome has baffled science for decades and has lead to anincredidible explosion of research papers on this theme; it is almostimpossible to even read and understand all the abstracts for "insulinresistance" on Medline let alone read the published papers! Reaven'sbook is a welcome addition to our resources. ... Read more

Product Description

Millions of Americans follow the "best" medical advice every day to prevent heart attacks -- eating the standard low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet so widely recommended by doctors -- but in fact they are placing themselves at greater risk for heart disease. In Syndrome X: Overcoming the Silent Killer That Can Give You a Heart Attack, Dr. Gerald Reaven, the world-renowned physician who identified and named this silent killer, explains why the standard heart-healthy diet can be dangerous and lays out a simple six-step program to reduce the risk of heart disease for everyone.

The problem stems from a little-known cluster of metabolic abnormalities known as Syndrome X. The insulin resistance that lies at the heart of the syndrome can turn normal rules of good health upside down and dramatically increase the risk of heart disease. Fortunately, Syndrome X can be cured.

This important book explains how to identify the disorder and provides a program of diet and exercise (plus medication when necessary) that can render Syndrome X harmless. Tested in carefully controlled research settings and in practice, this remarkable new approach has the ability to reduce the risk of heart attacks and heart disease for all of us.

Dr. Reaven shows how eating a diet relatively high in "good" fats (40 percent of calories) can dramatically lower the risk of heart disease if you have Syndrome X. The approach seems paradoxical: Everyone "knows" that fat is bad, so how can more fat possibly lead to better health? The answer lies in the type of fat and the body chemistry of the people who consume it. If you have the abnormal metabolism called Syndrome X, eating a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet to lower your LDL and blood fats won't protect you. In fact, doing so will increase the odds of heart disease.

Millions of Americans have the potentially deadly, yet easily identifiable signs of Syndrome X -- but few cases are detected in time, because most physicians don't know what to look for. This trailblazing book will change that, making doctors and patients aware of the problem -- and its easy solution, an integrated program of diet and exercise that simultaneously reduces all the risk factors for heart disease, including Syndrome X.

Dr. Reaven's discovery of Syndrome X has shown us that the standard approach to preventing heart disease is dangerous for many of us. Now, his safe, proven new approach explains how millions can drastically reduce their risk of heart disease. His program works not only for those who have Syndrome X, but also for anyone who simply wants to reduce the risk of heart disease.Amazon.com Review
The phrase "insulin resistance" entered the pop lexicon a few years ago.Unfortunately, few people understand what it means, and some of theprescriptions for dealing with the problem actually make it worse.

As Dr. Gerald Reaven, a professor of medicine at Stanford University, explains,insulin resistance is part of Syndrome X, a once-mysterious killer ofmillions. Someone with Syndrome X has very high insulin levels, along withhigh blood fats and unusually small and dense particles of LDL (low-densitylipoprotein)--the dangerous stuff. Diets high in carbohydrates orprotein--like the American Heart Association and Zonediets--actually lead to more insulin production. Reaven says this starts achain reaction in people with Syndrome X that leads to damaged arteries and eventually to heart attacks.

Since the late 1960s, Dr. Reaven has methodically assembled the variouspieces of the Syndrome X puzzle. Almost immediately, his research wasbastardized to promote the notion that insulin makes you fat. But, as Dr.Reaven emphasizes in Syndrome X, you don't have to be fat to haveinsulin resistance, nor are fat people necessarily insulin resistant.Although 25 to 30 percent of Americans have insulin resistance, it'sprobably not the people you think have it: those at greatest risk are ofnon-European origin.

The solutions to the problem start with a low-carbohydrate diet that's highin unsaturated fats--fish, nuts, oils, and margarine and mayonnaise madefrom safflower oil. Reaven also recommends the usual suspects: moreexercise, no smoking, less drinking.

The payoff? A longer, healthier life. And the superiority that comes withactually knowing what "insulin resistance" means. --Lou Schuler ... Read more

Customer Reviews (38)

Good information, but dietary guidelines not user friendly
This was the first book that explained to me what was happening with my health. I knew that my blood sugar was subject to highs and lows, and that I needed to lose weight, but when I tried, I would always fail. I was trying to follow the standard low fat, high carbohydrate diet advice, but was subject to carbohydrate cravings. When I tried high protein, I had kidney problems. This book showed me how to get on the right track.

There are problems with it though. It's not terribly user friendly. There are menus in the back of the book, but no instruction on how the translate them to your own menus and recipes. You have to figure that out on your own. A general guideline as to how much protein, fat, and carbohydrate to eat at each meal, for each calorie level, would have been helpful. I'd also like a listing of safe fats to consume. I was able to find this information elsewhere, but it would have been helpful if it had all been listed in this book. The diet is good, once you figure out how to follow it. I give this book five stars for the information, but only two stars for the dietary section.

E-Book:Diet Menus Illegible!
Do not buy the digital version of this book if you intend to use the Diet Menus.MS Reader will not allow you to magnify the Diet Menus so you won't be able to read them properly.
Buy the hard copy instead.

2 Major Booboos
While Dr.Reaven correctly challenges low-fat,high-carbo orthodoxy his book suffers from 2 major errors:

(1)In his discussion of dietary fats he fails to make a distinction between omega-6 fatty acids(doubling in use in U.S. since the 1960s)and omega-3 fatty acids(in U.S.1/10th consumed of the amount required for normal functioning;20% have O-3 levels so low as to be undetectable;World Rev.Nutr.+Diet 1991(66) 205-216).Essential fatty acids go on to form eicosanoids.These hormone-like substances are involved in every aspect of life.The current imbalance of the O-6/O-3 ratio in our fat consumption promotes "bad"eicosanoids ie.those promoting inflammation etc.

(2)He neglects to mention glucagon,one of the pancreas'other hormones besides insulin.This omission by the"inventor"of Syndrome X who has worked in endocrinology for 35 years is likely due,as another reviewer has suggested,to this book being a rush job to cash in.Glucagon is influenced by dietary protein. Its action should be understood by anyone undertaking a self-help program.The Protein Power books by the Eades thoroughly cover this.

For a better understanding of the importance of essential fattyacids and the omega-6/omega-3 ratio good sources are The Omega Plan by Artemis Simopoulis and the Zone books,principally the Anti-Aging Zone by Barry Sears.

The ommission of information about glucagon may explain why Reaven sets his protein percentage at 15% and labels the Zone's moderate recommendation of 30% as being high.

Reaven doesn't put much emphasis on the variation in carbohydrates.For a fine explanation of why grains and grain products should be de-emphasized in favor of more nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables one should check thedrsears web site and search for glycemic load.

Sour Grapes
Over the last year I have dropped from 262 to 185 following a ketogenic/calorie restricted diet. While losing this weight I have gained both muscle mass and strength through weight lifting and running (yes I know that is supposed to be impossible). I have read, I think, every "low carb" diet book on the market.

This book could be re-titled, "Sour Grapes - How I Never Cashed In On The Low Carb Diet" Dr. Reaven did the research on the health evils of high carb diets that Atkins/Eades/Sears have used to pad their books out. That said, this book ads nothing to the discussion and contains an a description of "Syndrome X" which is inferior to that offered by Eades.

If you have read any of the above authors you already know what's in this book. If health is your goal it's OK. If weight loss is your goal it's lacking, and actually has some surprising errors. The content of this book would fit in about 30 pages. Poor Dr. Reaven apparently hoped to cash in as well, but though he did the original work, this book is pretty bad..

Again, having "done it," and having spent countless hour's reading these books I can recommend two:

The Ketogenic Diet by McDonald and the Protein Power Life Plan by Eades

Amazon has both, suggest you read Eades first. The Zone books seem to be written by a staff, and are sometimes contradictory, but for the long haul the "Life Extension Zone" is probably worth reading.

Finally getting a handle on my weight has been the single best thing I have done for myself. These two books were the key.Do make sure to take mineral supplements, calcium, potassium and magnesium- not optional.

Excellent material
As a medical writer (author of EAT FAT, BE HEALTHY: When A Low-Fat Diet Can Kill You), I found Dr. Reaven's book highly informative on this specific cause of heart disease.In many cases, insulin resistance causes the symptom of small-particle LDL syndrome which dramatically increases heart attack risk.The good news is that this blood lipid anomaly can be reversed more easily for patients with Syndrome X than with other forms of heart disease.Weight reduction, exercise, and diet changes usually reverse Syndrome X.

However, it's important for readers to realize that only a fraction of lipid disorders are caused by Syndrome X.Roughly 25% of the population carries the genes that cause a more serious form of small-particle LDL syndrome that usually requires multiple-drug intervention to reverse.The normal lipid panel is highly innaccurate in diagnosing this serious condition.A more accurate form of blood test called cholesterol subclass testing is helpful in diagnosing and treating Syndrome X, but is absolutely essential in diagnosing the more dangerous forms of small-particle LDL syndrome.END ... Read more