He describes in length the many factors for hypertension which are easy to read and understand.

What I liked also about his book is the multi-step programs that one can follow. The reader can do a number of things that will lower blood pressure. Dr. Whitaker takes the approach that hypertension is absolutely reversible in most cases, and when you read the book it is hard not to believe him.

I have started his program and have found it to be the best so far.


This book helped me so much   June 12, 2001
 48 out of 51 found this review helpful

I went to the doctor about 4 weeks ago and he told me that my blood pressure was high. I was shocked. My mom started taking high blood pressure pills 3 years ago and I didnt want to believe that I could be effected by high blood pressure so early in life. Well I began to panic and my blood pressure continued to rise. My doctor scheduled a follow up appt for me 2 weeks after my initial appt. He wanted me to measure my pressure on my own. Well I panicked so much my pressure was up and down the whole two weeks so he prescribed high blood pressure pills for me. I took one pill and it made me feel awful so I searched on the internet for anything else and I found Dr Whitakers book and I bought it. I started applying the principles in this book and I never took another pill and my blood pressure has been normal every since. I thank God that I found this book and read it in time before I started taking those high blood pressure pills.


Good advice, Bad heart (greedy)   April 7, 2005
 46 out of 55 found this review helpful

This book seems be based on research done by other doctors who do not own a supplement company.
I bought this book because I could not get good advice on supplements from my doctor.
The advice is very good, although copied, but the supplement advice points the reader toward the Whitaker Institute, which seem to do more research on how to sell vitamins for more moeny than research on curing heart disease
The supplements sold by Dr. Whitaker's company are much higher priced than the exact same supplements sold by other reputable supplement comapanies like Puritan's Pride, The vitamin Shoppe, Swansons vitamins etc.
I prefer other books on this subject sold by amazon, particulary one written by Dr. Houston, who runs a hospital research institute and does not own a supplement company.
I find it hard to believe the advice on supplements from a man who is charging triple prices for the supplements that he reccomends in his book.

Elwin Bagley




A sound alternative approach to treating hypertension...but   February 23, 2002
 45 out of 49 found this review helpful

Many people have "high normal" blood pressure and what they hear is only the "normal" and disregard the high. I am one of those.
I had a bad reaction two two blood pressure medications and am tolerating a third. My case is a classic one: high bp has caused an enlargement of my heart and the beginning of cardiac disease. My mother dies of an MI at 61 and my father had his first heart attack at 74. I have no desire to follow in their footsteps.
This book makes a strong case for hypertension being a lifestyle disease and accordingly, he prescribes serious lifestyle changes as well as a ton of supplements. Some people will not be amenable to the latter suggestion. Dr. Whitaker allows more fat than Pritikin or Ornish and his food program is a bit more strict than the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). It is a sane and sensible program, but not without the need for some clarifications.
He recommends herring and salmon, but most salmon sold today is farm raised and does not have the same nutritional content as wild salmon. Herring is almost impossible to find fresh. The bottled herring is loaded with sugar and/or high fructose corn syrup and salt, making it an inappropriate choice, but Whitaker glosses over this. He says it's okay to have decaf coffee, but decaf coffee has the same amount of trans fatty acids as regaular coffee. How come he doesn't know this?
It would have been helpful for him to include a chart showing how many daily calories one needs to maintain a specific weight. This book is an excellent choice for those wanting to try lifestyle changes to bring down their bp without drugs, despite my reservations. I am trying his approach and expect to discontinue my medications (including Lipitor) by the summer.


Dr. Whitaker's Plan Works!   January 20, 2004
 34 out of 35 found this review helpful

Was diagnosed with High Blood Pressure at 39 2001. 160+ over 100+. Came on very rapidly. Father had heart problems at 46 years old. I was a person who was exercising quite regularly (4-5 times per week swimming) It was not changing my blood pressure. My physician prescribed atenolol. First 25 mg then when it didn't work 50 mg. I thought that was that for the rest of my life.

I was at the library and I saw this book I was not looking for it. March 8 2003 read it and on March 9 went on the plan. Within three months I was down to 12.5 mg of atenolol. BP hovering around 120 over 75. I lost 25 pounds from 185 to 160 in four months. Waste went from 34 to 32. I weigh five pounds lighter than when I graduated HS. I was not expecting this but it was a great bi-product of the plan.

Today January 20, 2004 almost eleven months later I have maintained the same body weight 160. I am off all medicine for three weeks and my Blood Pressure is at 120 over 78. If it goes back up I will go back to the 12.5 mg but my Physician is amazed.

My Cholesterol was 212 with Triglycerides of 370 in July. At the end of December cholesterol was down to 173 and trig now 125. My LDL has stayed about the same at 110 which isn't to bad. My HDL is still low at 29. Not sure what I will do about that since I continue to swim 5 times a week anywhere from 6 to 10 miles per week. HDL is a much harder thing to move unfortunately and in my case it is familial as my father still alive at 78 has never been able to get his above 30 (tracked since 1972). He had six bypasses at 62 which is what I hope to avoid.

No matter this plan has given me great hope that I can avoid or at least limit the drugs. I feel great physically and I feel good about myself having lost the weight. It can be a tough plan to be on but I consider it to be my lifestyle now. One can still eat an awful lot of good food you just have to know what your eating and really avoid the salt and fat.

I think Dr Whitaker should market it as a diet plan as well because from what I can see the diet plans out there nobody can stick to long term. More people should know about this and Doctors should be promoting it. Thank you Dr Whitaker!