Eat Fat, Be Healthy: Understanding the Heartstopper Gene and When a Low-Fat Diet Can Kill You

Eat Fat, Be Healthy: Understanding the HeartStopper Gene and When a Low-Fat Diet Can Kill You is the incredible story of one man's medical odyssey and how he came to understand a mysterious genetic condition that pushed him to the very brink of death-and how that knowledge can save your life. At forty-five, Matthew J. Bayan appeared to be in robust health. He exercised daily, ate a low-fat diet, never smoked, and avoided excess stress. But in the early hours of May 9, 1996, he was jolted awake by a massive heart attack. Rushed to a nearby hospital emergency room, Bayan was close to death; in fact, he did die -- his heart was restarted by doctors more than six dozen times. As he recovered, Bayan received the usual treatment for heart patients, which included a very low fat diet -- one that Bayan followed faithfully. But to Bayan's and his doctors' growing concern, his badcholesterol and triglyceride levels worsened on the very low fat diet. Something was clearly wrong. What Bayan discovered was that he carried the apolipoprotein B gene, a gene that could destroy his heart by triggering his system to produce more bad cholesterol on a very low fat diet than on a diet higher in certain kinds of fat. Bayan also discovered that not only he has this killer mutation, which he dubbed the "HeartStopper gene," but that an estimated 20 percent of the population carries this gene as well -- and the vast majority don't even know it. Armed with this newfound information -- of which many doctors and cardiologists are unaware even now -- Bayan took control of his own treatment. He found a new cardiologist and started on a regimen that included a diet higher in fat, medication, exercise, and stress management. As a result of their commitment and diligence, Bayan and his cardiologist have been able to keep Bayan's heart disease in check, and Bayan is healthier today than he has been in years. In Eat Fat, Be Healthy Bayan: Explains how this killer gene is identified Reveals what he and his doctor learned during their experience finding the best treatment for him Outlines the specific diet, exercises, and medications that were most effective in combating the defect Includes useful charts and easy calculations to help you determine if you are at risk -- and what to do if you are With the HeartStopper gene still largely unknown in the medical community, this inspiring book -- an exhortation to everyone to become better informed and more involved in their own medical care -- will be a lifesaver for thousands of people. Part medical memoir, part cutting-edge scientific self-help book, Eat Fat, Be Healthy is a book with a powerful message: You can save yourself from heart disease.

Matthew J. Bayan has more than twenty-five years of experience managing nutrition and health programs in the public and private sectors. Since his massive coronary, he has been at the forefront of experimental treatment for the genetic defect he has named the "HeartStopper Effect." He lives with his wife in Reno, Nevada.