Kenneth H. Cooper - Controlling Cholesterol the Natural Way: Eat Your Way to Better Health with New Breakthrough Food Discoveries

In addition to overseeing fundamental medical research at the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research and pursuing an extensive medical practice as founder of the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, I also frequently find myself exploring new scientific and medical frontiers in my books. To communicate effectively and accurately with the general public, I often have to get up to speed in new areas of investigationand this book is no exception.

As with my previous Bantam bestseller, Controlling Cholesterol, I have relied on the research and advice of a number of the world's leading blood lipid experts. These include two colleagues who are close to home in Dallas: Scott M. Grundy, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Center for Human Nutrition, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; and Dr. Ishwarlal Jialal of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

In addition, I am grateful for the contributions of scientists at other research facilities elsewhere in the United States and abroadespecially those who have done the recent groundbreaking research with nutriceuticals, or functional foods. As you'll see, these products are specially designed foods that have the power to prevent or heal cardiovascular diseases triggered by high or unbalanced cholesterol. Dr. Tu T. Nguyen, a leading endocrinologist and expert in blood lipids at the Division of Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, has been quite helpful in explaining his research involving Benecol nutriceutical products, which are being marketed throughout the world by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a unit of Johnson & Johnson. Dr. Ingmar Wester, vice president for research for the Raisio Group in Finland, has elucidated many of the scientific mysteries of the plant stanol ester process, which has made the production of Benecol possible.

The research staff at the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research in Dallas, which has participated in the basic research involving the nutriceutical Benecol, has once again helped significantly in expanding our understanding of how this functional food works, especially in conjunction with medications.

Thanks are also due to the professionals at McNeil, as well as at the Kellogg Company, the Dutch-based Unilever's Lipton unit, Forbes Medi-Tech of Vancouver, and other organizations that are developing nutriceuticals that can be used to combat cholesterol problems.

In producing this manuscript, I am particularly grateful for the help of my longtime professional literary collaborator, William Proctor, who has worked with me on twelve other books since we met almost two decades ago. Bill and I have wended our way through a wide variety of fitness and preventive health issuesfrom the latest findings on aerobic fitness to more traditional health concerns, such as hypertension and osteoporosis to rather controversial topics, such as antioxidant supplements and finally to our current topic, nutriceuticals. The proper role of nutriceuticals for the average patient will almost certainly dominate scientific discussions and research related to preventive medicine well into the next millennium.

Although our relationship has focused primarily on translating difficult scientific and medical concepts into understandable, readable language for the general reader, Bill and I have also become good friendsand have even found time in the midst of our labors to negotiate some rather difficult Colorado trails on mountain bikes.

The Book of Proverbs says, Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed (Prov. 15:22). As much as any human being, I've been blessed with marvelous advisers, and the most important adviser in my publishing efforts over the past three decades has been my good friend and literary agent, Herbert M. Katz. Herb and his business partner and wife, Nancy B. Katz, have gone far beyond the role of traditional agents, as they have entered into the creative process, made helpful editing suggestions, and done a remarkable job in arranging for the sale of my books in more than forty languages.

My secretary and administrative assistant, Cynthia Grantham, has become increasingly important in serving as my point person in managing the ever-more-complex challenges posed by my international travel schedule and my burgeoning responsibilities at our home base in Dallas. Her understanding of the capacities of the computerized management of documents and e-mail transmissions has made my research and publishing efforts much easier and more efficient.

The support of the publishing and editorial staff at Bantam Books has been superb. Bantam president and publisher Irwyn Applebaum has inspired all of us with his confidence and commitment to this project. Without his vision this book would never have been possible.

Our editor, Robin Michaelson, has gone above and beyond the call of duty with her expert and insightful editing. Her enthusiasm and energy have been infectiousand have sustained us through multiple deadlines and the many demands of the editorial process.

Finally, my wife Millie has once again provided the support and understanding at home that have enabled me to make it through another demanding literary endeavor, with all the attendant deadlines, late hours, and exhausting work.

My earnest hopewhich I know is shared by all those who have supported me in this enterpriseis that as you read this book, you will find helpful guidance that will improve your health, and perhaps even save your life.

Kenneth K Cooper, M.D., M.P.H
Dallas, Texas

To the research scientists and physicians
who are pushing back the frontiers of our
knowledge and increasing our understanding of