In Traditional Societies, Where People Don't Eat Processed Foods, Heart Disease Is Rare

Since heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in this country, you would think a cure that could dramatically reduce these deaths would have been discovered by now. However, the most effective remedy remains prevention..

"In traditional societies, where people don't eat processed foods, heart disease is rare," said Dr. Arthur Agatston, cardiologist and author of The South Beach Wake-Up Call. "If you start with a healthy diet in childhood, heart attacks are almost completely preventable."

Some studies have shown that up to 70 percent of heart disease can be averted with the right regimen, according to Dr. Walter Willett, chair of nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health. However, is diet alone as powerful as drugs? "Oh, no, it's much more powerful," said Dr. Willett during an ABC Good Morning America interview. " Statins, the most effective single medications for reducing heart disease, only cut risk by 25 to 30 percent. In fact, you would need a cabinet full of prescription drugs to bestow all the benefits of a serious heart-healthy meal plan. There's nothing a drug can do for your heart health that foods can't do, too," Dr Willett said.

A truly healthy diet that features a broad range of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes--seems to be the best way to prevent heart disease. Hippocrates understood the concept more than 2,000 years ago: "Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food."  

There you have it - food is more powerful than drugs. I have often wondered why we spend billions of dollars to find cures for health diseases if the primary cause is what we eat? I mean wouldn't the money be better spent on educating people to eat healthier to improve their health and prevent disease?  What exactly are the organizations that claim that they are researching to find a cure or treatment searching for? If you know, please tell us all.