[jensen123]

Caldwell Esselstyn has proven that it's possible to cure heart disease such as angina with a low-fat, plant-based diet. He's written a book about this 20 year study: Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: The Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven, Nutrition-Based Cure.

I find it interesting that most doctors are continuing to recommend things like cardiac stenting. Maybe it's money? I wonder if they even mention diet to their patients? Or is it the patients that are the problem - even if doctors mention diet, do many patients continue to eat unhealthy?

[chris_wot]

I don't disagree that diet is important in reducing heart disease (and a lot of other things besides) but I'd be very cautious before listening to someone who claims he has a "revolutionary" cure.

In the case of Caldwell Esselstyn, a quick Google search took me to my favourite skeptic blog: Science Based Medicine:

https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/bill-clintons-diet/

Get about halfway down. I remain skeptical!

[ehnto]

My anecdotal inference is that they will recommend pills and surgery more often than diet and excercise, because most people want the quick fix solution and that it is very difficult to get someone to adhere to diets and excercise.

Again anecdotally, but consider the stories from people with diabetes who still won't eat well even when their foot was just amputated due to that behaviour.

[karmicthreat]

An important part of a treatment is patient compliance. Even if a treatment is 100% effective, if the patient can't or won't comply then it is useless. A 100% Plant based diet would be difficult for most people. Also it would take quite a bit of time for the diet to be effective. A stent is an immediate solution.