Q: Dear Dr. Mao,
Three years ago I had a successful coronary artery bypass surgery. I want to keep my arteries healthy many years into the future. What should I do to avoid clogging? I stopped eating highly saturated fats and meat and became a vegetarian. Can you recommend anything additional that would be beneficial?
A: I am glad that you have taken the necessary steps to increase your potential for a long and prosperous life. I will give you some additional recommendations. First, an all-vegetarian diet often strips the individual of many essential amino acids found only in animal products. I suggest you either find a proper supplementation for these essential elements or you incorporate some organic animal products into your diet. You can consult a nutritionist for the proper course of action.
To maintain good cardiovascular health, I recommend the following:
1. Avoid stimulating foods, fatty foods, spicy foods, coffee, smoking, and alcohol. Also, reduce simple carbohydrates, including sugars, sweeteners, and white flower. Be sure to get ample sleep.
2. Incorporate more brown rice, black fungus, sea cucumber, Chinese black dates, peanuts, vinegar, shiitake mushrooms, celery, parsley, seaweed, cassia seeds, lotus roots, chrysanthemum, and hawthorn berries into your diet.
3. Take garlic oil pills to protect your arteries.
4. When you are thirsty, drink tea made from chrysanthemum, cassia seed, and hawthorn berry.
5. Go on a watermelon fast for three days.
6. I also suggest incorporating tai chi or qigong exercises, as these can help with energy metabolism and glandular functions.
You might also try out the following products from the Traditions of Tao web site: “Super Clarity”, “Blood Builder/Fatigue” and “Fatigue” and “Heart”. Of course, discuss with your physician before beginning any new health regime.
