A lot of top docs now believe the problem isn’t with high cholesterol itself - the plaque build-up is caused by inflammation on the artery linings, and the inflammation is from the foods we eat.
#1 culprit being sugar.
Not a doc, never played one on TV, but did have a triple-bypass after years of being a runner. Never had heart issues of any kind, but when they discovered a defective aortic valve and went in to replace it, they said I had blockage and while in there they were replacing 3 arteries. I was shocked.
Because I had a runner’s heart in great shape, I was walking a mile a day one week after open heart surgery; 3 miles a day 2 weeks after, 5 miles a day 3 weeks after surgery. Running again 13 weeks from surgery.
Mainly grains and sugar. Eliminate them both from your diet. Eat like a caveman.
You are absolutely correct about the sugar. And more specifically, fructose, especially the high fructose corn syrup.
For those who have heard about what Arlis is saying about sugar, accepted it, but don’t know the details, and nevertheless have allowed themselves to choose to eat it, knowing “it’s bad, but I want it anyway!” (Like I was for too long!) - here is some I-guarantee-you-eye-opening information:
Read anything by Dr. Robert Lustig.
One of our favorites is “Fat Chance.”
There is also a wonderful series of lectures of his which can be found on youtube. In his lecture “The Bitter Truth,” he actually proves that high fructose corn syrup is a long acting poison with 8 out of the 12 problems we associate with the poisoning caused by ethanol (drinking alcohol.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM
It is about 1 1/2 hours long. Worth every minute.
You might also want to view “Sugar, the Elephant in the Kitchen.” It is only about 20-23 minutes long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmC4Rm5cpOI
I am sorry to hear about your recent surgery, but grateful to hear you are well on the way to mending!
“#1 culprit being sugar.”
I’d call it #2, with wheat, specifically today’s wheat being #1. Stay clear of wheat and 80% of the issues go away (and just to be clear, that includes “whole grain”). Stay clear of processed sugar too, it’s 95%.