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Click Here to see Spring 2009 Feature on Megaheart's Chef Don — Courtesy Heart-Healthy Living Magazine.
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Hi Don,
Here is a low sodium vegetarian recipe I concocted that was really good. I thought I would send it to you and maybe it would work in the newsletter. You would would of course need to do lots of work on it. I am guessing on the amounts and did not calculate the sodium, but I know you have a program that does that.
I have finally retired from Kaiser, but want to let you know that I used the cookbooks you gave me in almost every class I taught on CHF and hypertension. And I believe many of my patients followed through and bought a book. When I left in October I gave the books to some of the other educators.
I use my books almost every day. Thanks for making my job of cooking for my husband much easier and better. — Mary Lou Bailey, RN
Hi you guys! Wow, what busy, busy hobby lives you both lead!! I'm impressed!!! The coupons are awesome and represent some very usable products. Thank you!
I agree with you. February flew by! So, a very Happy St. Patrick's Day to you both. Don't forget your green!! — Betsey Dunne
Dear Chef Don,
I just wanted to thank you for the recipes and resources at Megaheart.com. My mother, who suffers from both heart disease and kidney failure, was put on a restricted sodium diet of 500 mg a day last week. Your website has been a godsend to us. We have already tried several of the recipes there and have ordered two of your cookbooks from Amazon. What seemed impossible now seems very doable with your resources.
— Debra Zimmerman
I just made your Glazed Nuts recipe. First I used Splenda instead of
sugar (for my low carb and low sodium diet). Then I thought I had the
Chinese five spice, but did not, so I used no-salt Spike. They just
came out of the toaster oven, baked just like your directions say. They
are WONDERFUL! Thank you so much! Even my 2 daughters liked them,
which really is too bad for me, ha! Thanks again. I still enjoy your monthly newsletter. — Nancy Comita
Don,
Thank you so very much for timely response. I will be ordering your books. I've reviewed Healthy Heart Market & have ordered quite a bit to replace staples & then some. I've always liked to cook & make my own bread. However, l must be careful if I want to stay low- glycemic, just a preferred choice. This has been a tremendous learning curve. Your website has been the only one I've found helpful, extremely. The cardiac nurse from the hospital called this morning. I told her about your website & she was very interested in reviewing. Again, thank you! &mdash: Kathy
Donald, You're amazing!!!!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm trying this. All I have to do is find the malted barley flour tomorrow. I'm so excited to try this, and eat it warm.
— Diane Richmond
In response to the following reply to Diane:
Here ya go:
White Whole Wheat Bread
Bread Machine Recipe
No Sugar, Very Low Sodium
Lacto Ovo – 1.2 Carb Choices
Makes 1 Loaf
Sodium Per Recipe: 92.5 mg)
Sodium Per Slice (14): 6.6 mg
Carbohydrates Per Slice: 18.5 g
7⁄8 cup filtered, warmed water (105° F to 110° F) (trace)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (trace)
¾ cups white bread flour (1.875 mg)
2 cups white whole wheat flour (12 mg)
¼ teaspoon ascorbic acid* (trace)
1 large egg, room temperature (70 mg)
2 tablespoons cider vinegar (1.49 mg)
1 tablespoons malted Barley flour (1.114 mg)
1 teaspoon flaxseed meal (trace)
1 tablespoon bread machine yeast (6 mg)
Place all ingredients into your bread machine pan in the order listed or in your manufacturer’s order and set machine for 2 pound loaf, medium crust, whole wheat.
When done roll out on rack to cool. Warning: If you eat bread right out of the oven you may have to make another loaf for others. J
*Or 3 crushed vitamin C tablets
Nutrient Data Per Slice: Calories: 111.5, Protein: 3.924 g, Carbohydrate: 18.5 g, Dietary Fiber: 2.546 g, Total Sugars: .13 g, Total Fat: 2.842 g, Saturated Fat: .471 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1.166 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: .878 g, Cholesterol: 15.1 mg, Trans Fatty Acids: 0 g, Total Omega-3 FA: .02 g, Total Omega-6 FA: 0 g, Calcium: 9.691 mg, Potassium: 101.7 mg, Sodium: 6.606 mg, Vitamin K: .792 mcg
What you did from the time of 1997 to now is outstanding and you should get a medal for all the people you have saved by following your lead. I found your book at the library order desk and ordered it immediately. It took forever to come in and I have read it from cover to cover since this past Thursday, 14th when I picked it up. — William Macmillan
Dear Donald and Maureen,
These last years since the heart attack have brought challenges and opportunities. You two have been a blessing!
Continued good health and productivity—Michael Isaacson
I make the Ten-Grain Bread with Walnuts from your N0-SALT, LOWEST SODIUM BAKING BOOK every other week. I prefer using my bread machine to mix the dough and then bake in two loaves.
When they're cool I slice them into 16 slices each and freeze them, taking out two slices at a time. We love this bread!
—Judy Schneider
Aloha! Thanks for all your efforts. My Aunt was recently diagnosed with CHF and I have sent her to your website. Mahalo for all you do. You are an inspiration!—Lorin Muze (Kaiser NP)
God bless you! I have no words to express how grateful I am for your answer. I feel so much more confident in moving forward and dealing with Earl's CHF.
Best regards— Martha
Your site was so helpful to me when I had to be on a low-sodium diet for many years; I am well now (thank goodness!) and so I have returned to a normal diet - thank you so much for your
information and if I ever need to return to this diet your site will be my first stop! — Mc
Thanks for your help and thanks for sharing your knowledge to help other CHF folks.
God bless—Robert Mortensen
Hi Don,
Yours is an incredible story.
I am so happy that you are here for your grandchildren.
That was my goal too. I wanted to be here for my kids.
You and your website have been an inspiraton to others like us.
Thank you for the mention of Dave's products in your August newsletter.
John made us a salmon Caesar salad . He used David's Fierce Marinade as a
base on the fish and then the spicy rub.
He cut it up and mixed it with the lettuce, David's Dynamite Caesar Paste
and Olive Oil.
It was really good.— Patricia Miller
Don,
It has been a little over a year now since my hubby Bill's diagnosis of CHF and I am happy to report that because of your wonderful cookbooks and monthly advice we are doing extremely well. There are not enough words to say or express how grateful we are and so should be the world for your concern, help, advice, tips, recipes, etc., etc. and YOUR SERVICE.
I wrote you a question "way back when" and you answered so quickly that I was surprised. I now have a new question and it is something that is important to us but probably not very many others.??
We are avid fish eaters and our fish is all fresh caught "ourselves" from Alaska, (Halibut, Salmon, Sea Bass, Ling Cod) and also from the Oregon Coast, ( Tuna, Halibut, Salmon). Over the years and years, we smoked some of each and used as a treat to guests and ourselves. Being that is not possible now on the CHF diet, Bill just asked me wondering if "YOU" had ever explored a way to smoke fish (in our Little Smoker) without using Salt?
Our standard recipe calls for a ratio of 4 to 1....of Turbinado Sugar (4c) to Kosher Salt (1c). The fish pieces are marinated in this mixture for 1 hr on each side and then air dried on the smoker racks for 1 hr......then smoked for 8-10 hrs. with alder wood chips.
Is there anything in your brain that you could share with us about a way to do this without salt? Is there anything on the market that provides a way of substituting the salt in this type of recipe with similar results? It is that time of year and we are missing it so.
Bill just got home from his annual trip to Alaska and brought home a bucket load of Halibut....so yummy! Sea Bass is on the dinner plate tonight (fresh out of the water) yesterday.. Oh sooooo good. Please quit drooling and "help us".
Once again, Don, thank you for being there for us to ask you questions and help us learn to heed your advice. My Bill is down to 199#, (starting from 246# in Dec 2010) Thanks to you and your cookbooks. We are hoping and praying that you and your family's health are good. You are a remarkable man and we thank you! Thanks also to your wife for her being by your side.
Sincerely, —Linda & M GY SGT Bill Robinson
Don, I want to update you about my miraculous healing, for which I give praise and thanks to God. On January 23, 2011, I came within two hours of dying from
congestive heart failure. My ejection fractions were 20-25. After four months of using your cookbook and changing my lifestyle by exercising (and of course, being
on medication), my EF was 44, which my doctor had said would be a miracle. Now, 16 months later, my ejection fractions are an amazing and miraculous 60-65!
This boggled my mind! I wanted to thank you again for your work. You have helped to save my life. I also wanted to encourage others who are considering your diet.
— Susan R., Utah
Hello Don, I contacted you few months ago regarding my husband who had heart failure related to ARVC (age 47). We have used your website and recipes and have not
deviated from the strict no sodium lifestyle for nearly 6 months. In addition, Dave is being treated with ace inhibitors and beta blockers and has had a defibrillator implanted.
The results are IN now. His ejection fraction has moved from 39% to 62% as of the results we received today. All I can say is thank you from the bottom of my heart.
We have four young children and the possibilities of what we have faced in the last while have been daunting. We know this no-sodium lifestyle, in conjunction with
medical interventions works – there is no doubt….
Kind Regards — Helen Slater-Kinghorn
Don,
I wanted to tell you how much I love your cookbook! My husband had a
heart attack in October at the age of 45 (in his left anterior
descending artery had a 90% blockage had three stents placed in them.)
He was in great health before the MI, however had an initial EF of
around 30, and developed a blood clot. He ran three times a week, and
ate a great diet. So it was a huge surprise.
Everything I read and researched talked about the importance of a low
sodium diet. I found your book during the process. I was already a
great cook (thanks to my grandfather who was a chef.) But the book
has taught me so much more and I have looked at ingredients in a new
way. The hardest part about our life after a MI has been food.
Thanks to the book it has helped make my life a little bit easier.
One of the best tips the book gave me was about bread machines. I
have a great one now and baking bread has now become a weekly event!
(Not to mention I make a mean bagel now!)
My husband's cardiologist told him 1500-2000 mg a day. However, after
all the research I was insistent that it be even lower. On good days
he does not know he is down to about 500 mg a day. On other days I
would be surprised if he went above 1000 mg. Your book gave me a lot
of inspiration and ammunition. My husband had a echo at 90 days and
his EF was up to 45%. His doctor originally told us he thought my
husband would hopefully get "up to an EF of 45%." He still has
another 3 months where his heart should heal more and go even higher
(and the blood clot has gotten very small and they hope for that to go
away too.)
Thanks for the labor of love. It has made a great difference to us.
I hope that you are doing well still.
Leslie Gutman
Phoenix AZ
PS.... my husband has a blog at LenGutman.com where he has
written about his journey. I think you should too! Your story is
very inspiring.
Aloha,
I too, am a patient of Dr. Fowler's.
I live on Kauai (over 40 yrs), and luckily (after much pleading) was sent to Stanford for a consultation on my HF class 4. Two years ago I was told that I had 3-4 mos to live. My EF was 10%. My cardiomyopathy was caused by one of my chemo drugs for breast cancer 5 yrs ago, rather than coronary artery disease. I'm 67 & still have some living to do!
In the past 18 mos I have brought EF to 35 and even 30 and now back to 20-25. I have been on a 1400mg low sodium diet for the past year and maintained that goal every day except for 2. A few months ago I caught a virus & went into catastrophic HF & hence the urgency to see Dr. Fowler.
He recommended the 500 mg of sodium diet that you're on & written about. He said that to be absolutely sure, I needed to eat ONLY what I cooked myself. I immediately went on Amazon & got your book with the 28 day menus. IT'S BEEN GREAT. GEE, I THOUGHT I KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT SALT BUT WAS I EVER WRONG ABOUT SODIUM IN HIDDEN PLACES. I've been home 10 days now and struggled with the first day at 700, then the next at 653, but have now kept at or below 500 every day. Since I can't find some of the baking things like BP, BS, and best flour, I haven't been able to do the baking part. Lowest sodium whole grain/wheat bread here is 135/slice so it's not been easy.I'm going to order things online cause no health food stores carry these.
Now here're my questions:
1. I am kind of skinny, even though I have a ravishing appetite, due to loss of muscle, fast metabolism, and meds I guess. The last thing I want to do is lose more weight, which is happening.
Other than eating an avocado every day, & using whole milk, do you have any ideas for a no-salt, lowest sodium way to gain weight .... that's healthy?
2. Where do we go on your site to see corrections to recipes? Or maybe that's where I've ended up. If so please let me know cause I have a few questions about what I've made so far. All have been delicious but used my judgement in some instances.
Thanks again for this amazing service and inspiration that you provide. And continued good luck with your health! Warm regards, — Nancy Grantham, Hawaii
A December 2012 update from Nancy Grantham (above)
Aloha and Happy Holidays Don,
I just wanted to send you good island cheer, and many mahalos (thanks) for improving my heart. It hasn't been a year yet (10 mos) but I'm off Lasix and Predaxa. No more aFib felt or even recorded on my ICD. My EF has improved slowly but now at 36%. Haven't seen that in yrs.
The best reward of all is how I feel! If this is my "new normal" I'll sure take it! Just so much easier to move around.
Have to add that once I got my bread machine, it became so much easier. I now end up around 350-400/day. My only problem is trying to gain weight. I use whole milk, eat an avocado/day, lots of unsalted nuts, low sodium peanut butter, bananas, etc. I have a list of high caloric/low sodium foods to stuff in during the day but trying not to eat a lot of high sugar food to solve this. Docs aren't at all concerned as all labs are great.
I continue to be amazed at the skepticism of so many in the medical field..... other than my cardiologists. I realize how difficult it could be for a working mom of little kids following her n/s lifestyle, or a single man who has never cooked before, but for those very fortunate others who have the time to plan and learn how to make it work, it seems to make good scientific sense with powerful data to back it up.
Oh yes ..... almost forgot..... the best part of all ..... I haven't been in ER for CHF for months .... can't even remember the last time!
Don't know when I'll get to see Dr Fowler again. Since I'm feeling so much better we're taking our kids and grand kids (16 in all) to Disneyland for Christmas! Now that is something I would never have thought possible a year ago! (It's a big deal for grandkids from here, Kauai, as so far away they've never been before.) And yes, I found out that there's a Whole Foods close by & we have a kitchenette & fridge in rooms to keep me on track. Anyway, if and when you see Dr Fowler again, please tell him how thankful I am that he put me in touch with you and this lifestyle. I mean really THANKFUL.
I continue to spread the word to CHF friends, and am ordering more books as Christmas presents. Never realized how many people I know are struggling with this. Must be my age group!
Thanks also to your wife for all the work and support she provides. I can't say that my husband has converted yet .... but I have been able to make small inroads..... everything takes time and since he's as healthy as a horse, with perfect labs, it'll take a little longer for him to give up his daily, fast-food helpings of salt.
Yikes, this has turned out so much longer that I expected. But I know you understand the gratitude I feel and want to share with other CHFers. You are our inspiration. Hard to put the kind of "Thank You" we all feel into words.
'Hope your good health continues for a long time and 2013 is filled with much joy!"
Aloha nui,
Nancy G.
Love your books and the 500 mg sodium diet. — Elvena L. Dobbs
Hello, My name is Walter Smith, I'm writing this because six months ago I fell ill with a virus. It infected my heart and I had
congestive heart failure. After my hospital stay my cardiologist said my heart was not pumping out properly. I'll make this
story shorter by skipping all the details but my daughter in law gave me a copy of your book. Now after following the no salt
regimen for six months, coupled with exercise and help from my wife I have had great results. I received a call today from my doctor who stated all the staff at the medical center could not believe the huge improvement in my echocardiogram. I think your book saved my life. Thank you is not enough but Thank you
— Sincerely, Walter V Smith
My mother has been told to reduce sodium intake and I do all the cooking, I love your web site...thank you and we ordered the
no-salt lowest sodium cookbook, love it too. — Lynda F.
Chef Don:
I can honestly say that you helped save the life of a doctor!
My husband is an endocrinologist - his being diagnosed with congestive
heart failure last year threw us an unexpected curve. I love to cook,
and enjoy a challenge, but until your cookbooks and tips, I was not
succeeding in the taste department, and he is not a big fan of "heat."
Your breads have made all the difference in the world! We are
fortunate to be slim people, so no-carbs never cut it: right now, two
of your loaves are processing (the bread maker for one) as they are
about every 5 days.
Many, many thanks - and bless you. — Tracey, Harrisburg, PA
Dear Friend,
I just want to say this is the most complete heart friendly cookbook I have ever seen. (No Salt, Lowest Sodium Cookbook)
I just got it and I've been studying it and getting the ingredients to mkae several things for my husband who has CHF, and he must limit salt and this cookbook doesn't leave anything to guess work I just love it.
In fact I accidentally ordered 2 books from Amazon and my friend from church is on salt limits so she is buying my extra copy she said this sounds wonderful for her.
I really like how you put all the info in the recipes for what is needed and where to find it on what page it's the most complete cookbook I have ever seen.
Just want to say thanks again and Blessings. — Charlotte Daughtrey
We are living proof that cutting salt out of your diet does work.
When I was diagnosed the possibility of needing a heart transplant was
mentioned. The future didn't look good at all.
I recently saw a friend who I hadn't seen for a long time.
He said what you told me about salt and sodium, I get it now.
David Markus from davidscondiments.com is associated with the Peter Munk
Cardiac Foundation at Toronto General where my cardiologist is.
He has a personal relationship with the Chief Cardiac Surgeon Dr Viv Rao.
He said what you told me about salt and sodium, I get it now.
Keep up the good work.— Patricia Miller
Hi, Don! I have good news! I was admitted to the ER Jan. 24, 2011 with CHF. A dear friend mailed me three low sodium cookbooks, including two of yours. On May 31, I received my first echocardiogram since the incident. My ejection fractions rose from 20-25 to the current 40-45!!! My family doctor told me this would be a miracle if it occurred. We give praise and thanksgiving to God and thanks to you, His instrument. The clinic called with the results and I have an appointment for next week.
My CHF is genetic, brought on by high blood pressure and stress. Thank you again for your great cookbook! I shared the title with the medical staff. — Susan R.
Just wanted you to know that the biscuit recipe from your web site was the first decent biscuit I have had since I started watching sodium intake. I also tried the Italian Hot Sausage recipe from the International Cookbook and was just blown away. I did not miss not having salt at all. It is just great with a little honey and toast for breakfast or as the protein for lunch or dinner. Thank you for all your help with low sodium living. I really appreciate it.
— Margaret A. Cox
Just wanted to say I just made the Split Pea soup (spring has not come to Oregon yet!) recipe in your first cookbook _"No, salt, lowest sodium" - it's in the other room right now, and even though I did not put the caraway seeds in it (didn't have any) it was fabulous! Never thought I would like split pea soup without ham, but you proved me wrong!
Also made the Sandwich Bread out of one of the new cookbooks - the "Light" one I believe, and it is good, but am still liking the original wheat in the first cookbook the best so far.
By the way, my Mom who has the worst sweet tooth ever, made me low
sodium ginger snaps from one of your cookbooks = bad news they were almost
too yummy! Fortunately, she ate some of them, too.
Thank you for all you do! — Cindy Anderson
Hi Don,
I wanted to share our good news! Doug had an echocardiogram done yesterday at his heart function clinic follow up appointment. His EF is now 30%, up from 20%, his right pressure is down to 41 from 68 and his tricuspid regurg went from severe to mild-moderate. This is in 6 weeks! They were so impressed with how he's doing, including his 500 mg sodium diet that they are calling him the "poster boy" for the heart failure clinic. We delivered a disk with the echo on it to the surgeon in Toronto and included a note in the case advising the surgeon to expect even more improvement because Doug's maintaining 500 mg/day and before we even got home there was a message on the phone telling us that Doug is booked for surgery on May 27. He's having triple bypass and a mitral valve repair and we are hoping this will make a big difference in Doug's potential for functional recovery.
The flaxseed bread and buns were the best yet. I subbed a cup of multigrain for a cup of the white and I had to add flour, not liquid to the kneading. —
Thanks,
Barbara J. (Canada)
Thank you, thanky you, thank you so much Don. Truly, from the bottom of my heart, I can't thank you enough for taking the time to write back so quickly and for the information you've provided. I was totally at a loss after looking at so many different cookbooks and trying to figure out where to start. The information you've provided me with is what I was looking for as a starting point.
I hadn't even thought about the requirements for the dietician but you're absolutely right that I should try to find one that can deal with both of my husbands health issues. It's amazing to me how so many health professionals really don't take sodium into account as much as I feel they should, especially after seeing the results first hand.
I know it will be a challenge for both me and my husband but I also know we'll get through the "learning curve" (again :-) and we'll do great. There's a lot to learn so my thanks again for your help and for taking the time to provide me with a starting point for dealing with his new diet requirements.
— Becky
Your books have been a Godsend. I was so depressed to learn I would have to limit my sodium intake and despaired of eating nothing but oatmeal and tasteless meals. then I purchased your books through amazon and was encouraged to start a new way of preparing food. thanks for doing all the work!! I purchased a lot of no- or no-salt-added products from the online stores which helped my morale tremendously and gave me the encouragement I needed. I notice that I can buy more and more low sodium products locally so it appears that a lot of manufacturers seem to be jumping on the bandwagon. you and your books have contributed to this trend toward healthier eating. bravo!
— Rita Kuddon
I finally purchased your International Cookbook. I kept putting it off because I thought I had enough of a variety of recipes. Well, lesson learned! :-) It's a FANTASTIC cookbook. I made the Lemon Poppy Seed Pound Cake and Oh My Gosh!!! It was wonderful!! Everyone enjoyed it and that's always a sign of success for me. Thanks so much for another great cookbook. I now have all of your cookbooks and but I'm hoping not the last? I'm anxious to try lots more of the recipes in your international book.
p.s. Just to let you know. Thanks to your cookbooks I'm getting really good at modifying "regular" recipes into Very Low Sodium versions that taste good :-) I really don't think it would be nearly as easy if your books weren't so detailed and filled with as much information as they are. They help in so many different ways so again, a HUGE Thank You!! — Becky Winch
Thank you so much! You really do read and answer your own email, that's amazing. My mom says, "you're a true angel."
We have all your books, so I can look up your carrot cake one. Though I guess we also need to buy your new one now! I promote your books to my mom's doctor and every nurse I meet. They tend to just say "Hmmm," maybe they don't believe that anyone could really cut their sodium that much.
Thanks again. I hope you know you've touched and helped so many people with your recipes. Your story of getting off the heart transplant list gave my mom a lot of hope and comfort when she was really sick.
Warm regards to you and your family. — Kristy C.
Hi Don, I am doing really well. I have never felt so good. I am off all my medications now. At my Y my new group of friends celebrated my 102 lb loss. I brought the food - all low/no salt and they loved it. I am constantly asked what I have done and I start with "no salt" (I do 200-250 mgs) and then the questions come. I hope I can now spread what you and Maureen have started up here in my little corner of the world. Thank you again - you have given me back my life. At 66 years old, I feel like 40.
— Louise Cantagenise
I don't know if you remember me but I wrote you last Summer and
you gave me advice on eating while traveling. You helped me so much.
I was hospitalized on November 5th at Abbot Northwestern in
Minneapolis. I was there for 3 months when they decided to fly me to
Cedar-Sinai in CA. I was there for 3 weeks and had plasmapheresis and
Velcade (a chemo drug). I received my heart transplant on the evening
of the 24th!
I just wanted to thank you for helping me get to November! — Tonya Sadlemyer
Don, I wanted to thank you for your cookbooks and website generally. You seem to be the only source for truly low sodium cookery and I love your soy sauce substitute (Yeah! I can eat sushi again!) — Elisabeth McKechnie
Thank you for your books. Very few out there with this much good
information. — Holly Borey
Thanks for mentioning us Meneire's sufferers. I really enjoy your newsletter and
it has been very helpful in managing my disease. In fact, at my last checkup, my
doctor said my hearing had improved and said it was probably because I am so
diligent in staying on my diet. Thanks again. — Kathy Housley
After a few months on a much lower sodium
diet than we had achieved before, my now 91 year old mother has blood
pressure of 145/70 instead of 189/70. She was not a big sodium user before
but there are just so many products out there that are high in it, and at 91
it is harder to cook everything from scratch. I have given a copy of your
book to her home helpers from "Home Instead" and hope to turn them into
'converts' since they cook for my folks part of the week. Thank you for all
the valuable information. (My own
blood pressure went down to 124/80, which is quite good for me, since I too
have been trying to follow the plan).
All the best! — Sharon Flynn
Don, an update I've been remiss in sending.
I'm still following the no/low salt diet, added exercise and can now report
that after a year, my EF is at 55% (low normal),
my weight remains stable and I feel great! Thanks again for all the help,
encouragement, and for setting such a stellar
example for the rest of us. I can add that our friends love my cooking, and
don't realize just how healthy they are eating.
I never fail to remind them that they can do the same cooking and eating as
my wife and me. —
Thanks again,
Ed Ahrens
Hi Don
I just wanted to drop you a note to thank you for publishing your no-salt, lowest-sodium cookbooks. My son Damon visited in Florida last year (March)- when we saw him we almost died-- he had gained about 70
pounds in a couple of months and was having problems breathing, especially lying down. Tests showed that his ejection fraction (EF) was just 10%. We nearly lost him twice when his systolic readings
dropped to very low numbers. He survived and was told he would have to be on reduced sodium diet for the rest of his life, along with the myriad of cardiac meds. He spent a month in the hospital on a
2,000 mg a day low sodium diet. During his hospitalization time I started researching low sodium diets. I came across your No Salt Lowest Sodium Cookbook and purchased it. After reading the opening
chapters - I thought why not? Let's try the 500 mg/day. When I advised the CFH specialists and the other specialists that we were doing this, they all basically said, "Yuck, how can you live on that?" I am very committed to my family and I was determined to see if the 500 mg was doable. I also purchased a few other of your books. After an echo (ECG) last week, the Dr called with the results. He was amazed... Damon's EF is now between 55 and 60!!!!! effectively a normal reading! The doctor advised that in his 40 years of medicine he had only seen one other recovery such as this. I wanted to share our story with you and thank you for writing your cookbooks. I firmly believe the goal set by you of 500mg/day provided me with a goal, and in concert with the meds and medical care helped our son to make this miraculous recovery. Thank you Don. — Deborah Jazey
Your books are wonderful I saw them in my Doctor's Office at Evergreen Hospital here in Seattle,WA. — Bill Y
Thanks for the fantastic job you have done putting everything
together. I have recommended and even bought copies of your books for
Women's Cardiac Rehab centre here in Toronto, Ontario. They were
amazed with the pumpkin pie I made from your book and the biscotti.
They couldn't believe they were healthy. — Ruby Hurlbut
Procured copies of the original cookbook and the international one. Yikes! This is REAL FOOD!!!!! Thank you for enhancing a formerly dreary culinary life. I am having the PA from my gastroenterologist's office up this weekend to go deer hunting, and will make sure he leaves with ISBN numbers and your web address. Many of their patients have liver disease, and will benefit greatly. Best Regards — Canoy Roberson
I got your newest book last week and I LOVE it!!! (Living Well Without Salt) I can't believe all of the information you've put in this book. I'm really enjoying it and wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU!! I have a few other No Salt/Low Salt cookbooks and after using yours I don't even use them anymore. I've realized what a HUGE bonus it is that you put the amount of sodium beside every single ingredient! It makes it so much easier to learn sodium levels and, if I want to modify a recipe at all, I know just how much sodium I'm dealing with. I hope other people realize what a real benefit this is.
— Becky Winch
Thank you so much for your site and books. This is really valuable information
and a true public service. — Diane
Wow, stopped using salt and my Meniere's dizziness is gone. So wonderful. Thank you. — Flipp Manne, President L.A. Jazz Society, former Rockette, and wife of drummer Shelly Manne.
I work in a heart failure clinic. We have all of your books in our clinic. They are such a big help in showing patients that they can still eat the foods they like in a lower sodium version and improve
their health. Thank you for all your help. — Dawn Wicke, CHF Clinic, Patient Care Partner
I just purchased your No Salt, Lowest Sodium Cookbook and it is WONDERFUL!!! Your time and effort are truly appreciated. — Becky Winch
Love your site. — Mark Silver
Thanks for what you do… I love your cookbooks… have them all… do find a no calorie, no sodium recipe for cookies in your spare time… I was diagnosed with an immune-based liver issue which meant cutting back greatly on sodium, and yours were the first books I read… they gave me hope I could do this thing! Since, never exceed 700 to 1,000 mg a day, and have lost 140 pounds to boot (MD wanted me very slim “just in case”… no doubt you’ve had that discussion… hope and enjoy the best, plan for the worst…— Tom Langer
The lady who said on your testimonials page that YOU ROCK, was right. What a great Web site and incredible books. We use all four books and when company visits they rave at the no salt meals. THANKS so much. — Geraldine Powers
Your "prescription" for sodium-free bread was an absolute success with the whole family, even our 15 year old granddaughter. Every one agreed the bread tasted as good as the wonderful, fresh baked bread aroma smelled.
Thank you again so much. Keep up the great work, your website has been and will be very helpful in attaining our goal of <1200mg of sodium each day. —
Earlene Sullivan
I made the hornswaggling cookies yesterday and took them to a family
cookout. BIG HIT!! With everyone!! I think it's easier to not miss the
salt if you still have the sweet :-)
Thanks for so many great recipes and have a wonderful day! —
Becky
My wife figures that yours are some of the healthiest recipes of the healthy recipes on theInternet. — Don E.
Dear Don,
As so many people have attested, your books have changed my life. Twenty years ago, at the age of approx. 45, my ankles began to swell. I weighed only 130 lbs and held down a rather active job as a
purchasing agent. My mother and my grandmother had in their later years suffered with fluid retention, so I assumed it was a hereditary problem. Over this next 20 years, our family doctor
prescribed diuretics and eventually a high blood pressure pill.
I started early February with a dietitian at our local hospital. She put me on a 1350 calorie diet and suggested that I try keeping it low-sodium.
I searched the Web and found you. The next day I purchased two of your books at a bookstore where my husband likes to use the free high speed Internet.
I told him to stay and enjoy himself and that I was going to go to the car with my coffee and read my books. It was a beautiful day so I rolled down the window and began reading
The No Salt, Lowest Sodium Light Meals Book. As I read through the 4 pages written by Dr. Fowler, I cried. I cried all the way home and for a few days after every time I picked up the books.
I managed to get an appointment with a specialist at the hospital in the venous division through a series of very odd circumstances. I have now been diagnosed with lymphedema and am wearing
compression stockings (hip waders). While waiting on the stockings, I started following your program of 500 mgs or less. As the learning process began I noticed that there was a real difference
in my feet. They did not seem to swell anywhere near as much during the day. But, the biggest thing I noticed was that I was no longer out of breath. Before that, doing just the simplest thing around the house
found me sitting down numerous times just to rest. I understand that the stockings are a fashion item that I will be wearing the rest of my life. The doctor said that they may force the fluid upwards to another
part of my body that might be able to flush it out. I am hoping this will happen. Meanwhile a no salt diet seems to be working best.
I wanted to write my appreciation. My husband and I will forever be grateful for the marvelous information
and motivation you have provided. You have made a difference and hopefully I will be able to make one here in my little corner of the world as I become more knowledgeable.
Louise Cartagenise, Canada
Thank you for help eating low sodium with my Meneires disease. I
feel so much better and enjoying eating food again. Please continue! – Diane Richmond
I have tinnitus caused by Meniere's Disease so I must be on a very restricted salt diet.
Thank you for your help, – Debbie Fries
Through this site and other resources during my heart failure, I
learned how to cook using little or no salt. I got acclimated to foods
with little or no salt and am able to cook on my own, adapting my own
recipes as needed, and creating my own. I appreciate the great source of
information your site had when I was so lost and confused.
Your site is wonderful, please keep it going because I remember being in
cardiac rehab classes with mostly men patients – and their wives – who seemed to be the
ones that needed all this information because the guys were SO not
interested. – Kristen Friedrich
Your No-Salt International Cookbook is my daily bible. I love many of the breads and sauces!! The Ethiopian Spice bread is awesome. YOU ROCK! – Pam Upchurch
You just kept us from making a HUGE mistake. I told mom I wanted to ask you about this before she did what her friend suggested: Using sea salt without iodine. So thanks sooo very
much. Mom has come off of her oxygen that she was put on. She couldn't even carry on a 1-min phone conversation back in Dec and first of Jan without being what she'd call "winded" and now she is walking
10 min a day and looking forward to upping it to 15 min. Your advice has LITERALLY SAVED her life. Thank you for giving me back my mom :) I was sooo scared I was going to lose her.
It was terrifying to see her not even be able to just sit up out of bed at hospital without being so out of breath and on oxygen also. She is doing MUCH better. We have kept her sodium intake to less than
500 mg everyday. Thank you soooooo very much for being there. Thank you for ALL of your help :). — Kathy
I am really trying to get my blood pressure under control (via diet) so I just bought your book and will cook from it and try to cut back on calories as well. Thanks for replying so quickly. I
am also a registered nurse in Dallas and will recommend your book to my patients. Thanks again. — Robyn
The best of the best...thanks so much for all you do for all of us. We have all four of your books and we use them everyday. What life savers. Thanks again. — Melanie Burden
Give Maureen a big hug from us. Her soups in your no-salt light meals book are incredible. — Franklin Dwyer
Have been low or no sodium for about a week and a half while using your book and another one. I can't believe the difference in my CHF and atrial fibrillation! — Diane Wenner
Love your no-salt cookbooks. Have all four. You've done an absolutely marvelous job and I am improving daily. Returned to work after I was told a year ago I wouldn't probably be able to. Thanks so much. — Christina Reilly
I love your cookbooks. They contain the
lowest sodium recipes around. It is daunting to be told that it is medically necessary to reduce sodium intake. Where to begin? These cookbooks provide guidance, and the end results are delicious to eat.
In addition, the background information included with each recipe is interesting to read. Thank you very much, Chef Don! — Sincerely,
Suzie T.
My grandpa has lost 38 pounds already just because I have been using your recipes, so THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I really do appreciate your website and all that you do. You really are saving lives, and I am very grateful for you helping me save my grandfathers! — Kelly O'Brien
Kudos to your International cookbook. Excellent recipes and certainly helping my heart. — Mario Mariani
I purchased your cookbook for my father. Great book, that's what he can use being he doesn't have access to the internet. Thank you for your great newsletters. — Polly
Love your "No Salt Lowest Sodium Cookbook." I
am on my way to lowering my blood pressure from 123/98 to
112/77 in one month. I'm still taking my medication, but
can't wait until I hopefully won't have to. I never knew
that everything — or just about everything has sodium in it. No wonder
I've been on HCTZ for over 40 years. Thank you. — T J Watts
Hi, I just recently subscribed to the heart healthy Living magazine and love it. (See Banner at left sidebar panel.) I noticed your story
and it inspired me very much. My husband was recently diagnosed with heart failure and
they were actually talking about doing a transplant for him as well. He was in the hospital for two weeks and it absoultely scared us ... in june we will
find out more about his progress, he is 30. Thank you for the great website and i am going to see about getting your low-sodium books soon too.
— Renee Branagan
Update:
My husband is feeling pretty good now and
he goes back again in July for more testing. His EF jumped up from 20% to 50% so I know for sure that the good medicine and the great recipes do help!
Thank you so much for the tips, for all the wonderful low sodium recipes, and books to buy to keep up a low sodium meal plan. — Brenda
Thank you SO much for your site and your books. I'm very, very new to dealing with the need for a low-sodium diet, and the information and support and positive
testimonies on your site have been a lifesaver (literally, considering the effect one's psychological state can have on one's health). I have two of your
cookbooks and have begun experimenting with some of the recipes
— and thank you again for the phenomenally helpful site. — Raven
Thank you so much for your wonderful cookbooks. I was really frightened when I got out of the hospital back in April. I had no idea what to do about eating. Your books were a blessing.
— MaryCade Mandus
I am 64 years old and had triple by-pass surgery in July 08. I have recently been diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure.
After reflecting on my family's history of heart problems I looked into beginning a low sodium diet. I have been introducing
myself to low sodium eating, and did get some good direction from my dietitian. I was surprised that 2000 mg was considered
a low sodium diet, but I thought I'd shoot for 1500. Luckily, I stumbled onto your article in Heart Healthy Living today.
I have ordered 3 of your books and am so excited to get them. Thank you for the work you are doing to help people
with heart problems. I am the only person in my family to live past the age of 44. All died suddenly from heart disease.
I have been trying to live a healthy lifestyle, getting lots of exercise, but hadn't really thought about sodium until my heart disease emerged.
Thank you. Sincerely, — Sharon Cagle
Dear Megaheart.com Employees,
Thank you very much for uploading all the bread machine instructions and recipes. I could not find them anywhere and I was gifted an original breadman 440 model.
Thanks to your efforts, we will be enjoying delicious bread at our meditation center.
With appreciation and warm regards, —
Kristina Hoefel of the Brahma Kumaris
I want to give you an update on my Don's progress that without you and your cookbooks and diet we would not have been able to achieve. He started out with an EF of 20/25 on September 25, 2009. Four months later it was 30/35, and this month it is up to 38. His is not having any major symptoms just needs a 30 to 40 minute nap some days (about 3 times a week) sometimes if he gets up too quickly he will be a little light headed for a moment. He has not had any fluid retention to date and the only medicine he has had to take is Coreg and Lisinopril. Don will be 74 in August and we feel he is doing great. He bakes your bread and helps cook meals, works in the yard, walks and still enjoys camping trips.
— Barbara and Don L.
I can't believe I found your site . . . I started reading, devouring every bit of information . . . then I came to your part, your history, the astonishing low sodium diet you follow and then the recipes!! Thank you, I sat there alone reading, I was overwhelmed, finally someone understood what I attempt to do for my husband. I am so frustrated and always bordering on panic of what to feed him. Maybe now it will be a little easier to find ways to prepare his meals. Thank you . . . Thank you.
A loving and frightened wife. — F. McBride
Your book is a fabulous resource. Thank you. Your story is amazing and
has given my husband myself great hope for the future. Following a severe
heart attack last July, he now suffers from CHF and has leaking valves. He
is following your advice and staying somewhere between 4 and 600 mg of
sodium daily. As a result, he has been off the diueretics for more than 2
weeks and is feeling well. He also hopes to avoid a heart transplant as you
did. Thanks again for all the info. — Karen Hochroth
Following is a follow up note from Karen Hochroth. — The Doctor was as surprised and pleased as we were, when the results of my husband's echocardiogram showed an improvement in his EF from 20/25% (in January) to 40/45% yesterday. All of his numbers showed improvement. We were nothing short of amazed, as there was serious damage from the heart attack. The left anterior descending artery was 100% blocked.
Clearly, this reward is a combination of the right mix of meds, an ICD, exercise and without question the lowest sodium intake as you describe in your book and your story. When I last corresponded with you, Ira had been off the diuretics for about 2 weeks. Now it is almost 6 weeks and the proof is in the echo. Until we began reading your book, we thought we were "low sodium," not realizing that we were not even close.
Our goal is to stay out of the operating room! I think we are well on the way.
Mr. Gazzaniga, your website has helped me so much that, I passed it on to
my family and convinced them to change their eating habits. I find myself
talking about you everyday to everyone, I encounter. I am so happy
that I found your website, I went to the ED on December 16, 2008,
complaining of swelling in my lower legs and ankle and was diagnosed with
CHF. I thought I was in another world or planet. I said no way. I
thought I felt good; just over worked. I want you to know I didn't
learn much from the cardiovascular nurses/team in the hospital about what
foods to eat until God blessed me with your help. I now understand so
much and I feel like I can help others from learning from you. Once,
again I just want to say Thank you. I feel great, I have energy that I
didn't know I was missing. Please continue the great work that you and
your family and associates do. Also, I feel happy that I bought your Low Sodium
Meals/Diets book this Saturday and can't put it down.
You are a true blessing. — Thanks, Dottie
I am so encouraged! I saw the article on Chef Don in heart healthy Living magazine and I have already ordered three of the cookbooks. My husband suffers from kidney disease which also calls for drastic measures in regards to a low sodium diet. Kidney disease can accelerate heart disease as well and heart disease runs in his family. Needless to say, I am excited to find help in changing our eating lifestyle. We have two young children and I want them to enjoy many years with their dad… I will do all I can to help make that happen. THANK YOU for your commitment to finding healthy solutions and sharing them with the world! Sincerely, Gordona Rowell
I just picked up a copy (of healthy heart Living) and so enjoyed the article - you both have got to feel so good about what you have contributed to the well being of thousands of people. It doesn't come any better! — Dixie
Don, since being diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure I have faithfully visited your site and your books have been a Godsend. I tell everyone about them and how they help me. — Annette
I've got all the cookbooks, and they are fantastic! Thanks so much. — Ed Ahrens
Don,
Just a note to congratulate you on the inspiring article in Heart-Healthy Living. Keep up the wonderful work, people do not realize how much unnecessary sodium is in the foods they eat.
It is amazingly hard to change your life style. It has been 7 weeks for me and just a few minutes ago, I indulged in one of my wifes homemade chocolate chip cookies. The taste of salt was so prevalant, I almost didn't enjoy the cookie.
Thanks so much for a needed shot of inspiration — Chris
Thanks for the prompt reply. My wife is going to try that recipe soon.
She was diagnosed with congestive heart failure the day after Christmas in 2005, and uses recipes from your four books on a regular basis.
You're a lifesaver, for sure!
Regards, —
Kevin Ohl
Don,
I finally made the Christmas Stollen this year. It was wonderful. I even told my family to not touch the leftovers, they were mine to eat! A bit of trouble but well worth it. It is now on my yearly baking list for Christmas breakfast. Thank you very much. I look forward to making the pesto this summer when I can grow my own basil. I did notice though, you said a low or no sodium version is sold at Trader Joe's. I will have to search it out.
Happy New Year! Thanks for all of your wonderful recipes and tips. —
Nancy C
Thank you and Maureen for your wonderful books. You have made it so easy for us to manage our sodium intake. I thought you might like to know that from the first day that my husband, Don, was diagnosed with heart failure we launched immediately into a low sodium diet and quickly worked down to 500 mg sodium intake, even though the doctor recommends 1500 to 2000 for his patients. On September 25, 2008 when he received the news that he was in heart failure his EF was 20/25. He has low blood pressure and has not been able to increase his heart medicine to the point his doctor wanted. At our first visit with the doctor he said 500 mg of sodium sounded a little extreme. I told him that he needed to tell me if I needed to ease up on the sodium reduction. He said no that 500 mg was good but that most people could not stick to that. We had a follow up visit for an Echo on December 17, 2008 and the doctor called to tell us that Don's EF is now 30/35. We are ecstatic and credit his low sodium diet and the fact that we walk every day for this improvement. We go to a heart failure clinic every two to three weeks for blood work to be sure everything is stable. The Nurse Practitioner says that Don is the only healthy heart failure patient she has ever had. — Barbara
It is fairly easy to find low sodium food in our area, and it amazes me that the doctors and nurse practitioner are not overly interested in the diet part of managing heart failure. We have not eaten a single meal out, and we don't miss it as we really like our own food. We cook ahead and have been able to continue camping at State Parks which we love. — P. McIntire
Thank you for all the info that I've got from your book and website. My husband is 38 and has cardiomyopathy and is recovering from heart failure(it has been a year). He needs a difibulator the end of January. We are trying the best we can to make his low sodium diet tollerable... Your recipes really are a great help. As soon as things get better for us we plan to get a bread machine and try your bread recipe because even using bread that is lower in sodium... well bread takes up a lot of his sodium intake allowance. We both come from a large Italian family and you know food is so important... he really is being a good sport about it. Well thank you. Every day is a blessing and God bless you. —
Diana Falcone
Dear Donald and Maureen Gazzaniga,
I am a 52 year old Canadian and I am in an advanced stage of chronic cardiac failure. My heart is diseased and literally killing itself. The left is stronger than the right and the valves are all leaky. I have an implanted defibrillator and have had open heart surgery, ablations, and I am pacer dependent. My right heart is dilating and weakening. But being the stubborn guy I am it was hard to convince me the difference a real low diet could make.
I read your 2001 book (a gift from my 80 something mother) and was stunned at the revelations in there about the sodium content of the foods that I had become accustomed to, but thought were 'sort of' heart-healthy at least. Then I was again admitted to hospital and given an aggressive diuretic therapy. I lost 8 kg of water. When I got home I managed my sodium and my diuretics carefully and lost another 5 kg of water. I feel so much better. And I no longer crave salt.
Now I am very proud to be able to make my wife a snack of olives, dill pickles, cheese and salty crackers that I used to be addicted to. And I have my 'home made' dill pickles, Toma cheese and raw veggies and I feel great. I am sure this program has “bought me” years of mileage on my old heart. A transplant is in the future, but this definitely will buy me a lot of time.
I just had your latest book delivered today (also a gift) and the new recipes in it look great.
Your information, experience, and presentation has been inspirational to me.
Thank you — Murray Gardiner, Canada
Hi Don,
I wrote to you awhile back asking you if you had ever made Italian Wedding Soup and if you had any ideas on how to make it more flavourful.
You emailed me a recipe with instructions on how to make the meatballs.
You told me to make a chicken broth and chop spinach to float in the soup.
For the flavour kick you suggested I test it with some fresh lemon juice or balsamic vinegar.
I tried it and was very happy with the results. I also added some fresh ground pepper and some of your flavour enhancer.
It turned out great. It is so nice to be able to have soups once in a while.
I used some of the chicken from the broth to make your fried rice.
Also very good.
You provide a great service. You have enhanced so many people's lives.
Thank you for being there. — Patricia Miller
I was informed that my heart was enlarged, 9 centimeters, and I was borderline ventriculer hypertrophy. My physician said (to eat) lower salt and fat, but gave me no resources. Your book was given to me by a family member, and I lost 16 lbs
in the first month. I had always had a nice 120 figure, but when my husband passed away I wouldnt leave the house, and my diet was whatever I could get delivered. I put on 80 lbs. It ruined my health and I was put on 4 different blood
pressure meds just to control it. After using your book, I am off all medications, and losing the weight. Thank you so much, I believe you have saved me from a road to CHF. Thanks again, — Christine
Dear Mr. Gazzaniga,I am glad that you have told everyone about HEALTHY HEART LIVING MAGAZINE.!!!!
I wrote them last summer telling them about your web site and your books.!!!!!! I also told them to have more recipes with LOWER salt/sodium content (for congestive heart patients) being they were a heart magazine.!!!!!!
I received a phone call from the magazine asking more about how I handle cooking for my husband, Bob using all your "tips" and recipes.
There will be an article on me and my husband in the WINTER issue ....which should be out soon.!! She said there would be a picture of Bob and me....if there was space.
I told her you were a life saver.!!!!!!!!! Bob is doing fine.!!!!! When I first got your book...he was on 120 mgs of water pills. I started him out at 300 mgs of sodium per day....that was a year and a half ago.
He is now on 20 mgs of water pills and up to approx 800 mgs of sodium per day. He is doing great! His blood pressure is perfect the Dr. says. All Bob's Drs wanted your book for their patients. !!!!!!!
Thanks again — Delores (Robert) Jorgenson, AZ.
I'm sending this email to say thank you! Thank you for writing this book, thank you for helping me to see that what seemed impossible (decreasing the salt/sodium in good ol' southern food) is very much possible. Even if we are limited by sodium intake, it is still possible to have great-tasting food and there are other seasonings out there besides onion soup mix, condensed soups, etc. This book has truly given me a new attitude on life and I thank you! I hope that you will continue to write these great recipes. I appreciate the fact that they are recipes for real food like hot wings, mashed potatoes, apple cake, etc. Keep up the good work!!!! Should I get the opportunity to speak at one my doctor's seminars, I hope it's okay with you that I will definitely be talking about your book!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
— Sincerely, Demetra R. Smith
Hi Don,
I have CHF but your book gave me new life. I was on a heart transplant list. After reading and using your book (life) is wonderful. My name has been removed from the list and I have not been back in the hospital in a year.
I thank you. God bless. — Elbert Adams
Dear Don,
I'm a 31 year-old black female who was diagnosed with severe hypertension some years ago. At the age of 17 it was discovered that I had hypertension by accident. (I worked for an ambulance service and I allowed them to use me to test the new automated blood pressure machine). It has been an uphill battle ever since. A few months ago, I had a visit to the cardiologist. My diagnosis was that my blood pressure was unacceptable (I was in the 160/108 range on a regular basis) and some drastic changes were needed in my salt/sodium intake and overall diet. Well, after leaving his office disgruntled and not having a clue as to how to go from 8,000-10,000mg of sodium daily to 2,000mg — until I saw your book! Wow!!! After searching online and being able to sample a few pages of the book, I knew this was exactly what I needed in order to make the necessary changes in my life and cooking habits. I'm a southern gal with a love for cooking and didn't think it was possible to still enjoy my fried chicken and mashed potatoes with low-salt. (whoever heard of such)? Well, I purchased your book with 24 hours of that doctor's visit and six months later, I'm a few pounds lighter and not a single elevated reading of my blood pressure and I have not looked back! My friends think I work for you since I've talked about this book so much. I've shared it with friends, family, co-workers, everybody I come into contact with. The recipes are great and for the first time that I can remember since being diagnosed with hypertension I got a great report from the cardiologist today!!!! He was so pleased with my progress that he asked what I had been doing. Again, I told him about your book and he asked if I would be willing to speak at some of his clinics/seminars.
It is inspiring to see others with heart failure sharing how to make drastic lifestyle modifications with others.
I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy at the age of 28 and returned to school to obtain the education necessary to offer lifestyle modification suggestions for
other heart failure patients as well. Thank you for your site, which provides so much practical information to heart failure patients.
Now, 40, on my 4th ICD and 3-time survivor of cardiac arrest, I believe that my attention to lifestyle has saved my life and put off transplant
for me. Thanks so much! I hope to hear from you in the future as I go back to work helping others with chronic illness. — Lisa M. Elders, MS
Just wanted to let you know how thrilled I am with the tortilla recipe from your International Low Sodium Cookbook. I prepared the recipe over the weekend and found it had excellent flavor. I have sorely missed being able to prepare flour tortilla recipes.
Thanks so much. — Margaret A. Cox
I had aortic valve replacement in Feb. Your book is a Godsend. Thank You! — Helen J. Daly-Midgorden
Your cookbooks help me save my life - they are the best. — Margaret Fauchier
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you....Your cookbooks have been the Bible in my 90 year old mother's kitchen for 3 years now. Her no-salt diet is why she is alive today. I am appalled every time I think of how long her CHF was managed through pills alone. She is now very stable, has reduced her medicine number and dosage dramatically and no longer has the swelling that apparently even her doctor thought was normal for her. All we did was change her diet and stick to it.
Thank you. —
Lisa Cooper
Hi Don.
The International Cookbook arrived about a week and a half ago. Since then, I’ve been having lots of fun with it. In fact, it may not make it to The Nutrition Company library. It’ll almost certainly reside in my own cookbook collection.
As I paged through the book I found lots of interesting recipes to try, but was particularly drawn to certain ones, like the Vietnamese Banh Mi. That recipe, of course, led me to the French Baguette. I have a particular interest in baking and make most of my own breads when time permits. When I did your recipe I did it the “hard” way (kneading) and it turned out perfectly. I’m impressed with your detailed instructions, which I think too many cookbook authors and editors overlook. That extra knowledge can make the difference between an “OK” and “excellent” product, in my opinion.
I could go on and on about the book, but I’ll just say this: Great job!!! — Sincerely, Chuck, The Nutrition Company
Dear Chef Don,
I’m a 35 year young woman with CHF, living in the Netherlands. I’ve adapted to a low-sodium lifestyle three years ago, but the last two months I’ve tried to cut back on the sodium even more. Since I do so, I need less diuretics, which is a very good thing. I am a kitchen-addict, I love to cook and I’ve actually found some nice ingredients in Holland like low-sodium chicken and beef broth, even fish fond. Still I was lacking some inspiration, till I found your books on the internet last week. I didn’t know how fast to order them, the only option for me was immediately, so I did…and yesterday the postman came with a package containing your books. Now there is no more lack of inspiration, seeing these great recipes makes me happy…I wish there were more eating/cooking moments in a day, hahaha!
Today I made your salad dressing with the dried cranberries…it’s the best dressing I’ve ever tasted!!! And for dinner I made some chicken with your recipe for red onion marmalade…
I appreciate food more than before my diagnosis of cardiomyopathy. Without the salt you taste so much more of the natural flavours in food, but you sure made my life even better! I think my family and friends can only agree on this, and I think
they will be inviting themselves to dinner even more often than before.
Thank you! —
Sincerely yours,
Marjon Savelsberg
Hi Don,
I have been using your books for over a year now, and I love them. My husband has CKD and the Dr. told him "no sodium." He is doing really well on the recipes I make him from your books. He said they all taste delicious. And as an added bonus the recipes are helping me because I have high blood pressure.
Thanks so much. — Pat McIntire
Hi Don,
I love your books & the new recipes in the newletters! Thank you for all of your excellent tips! — Cathy
Hi Don, Thanks to your book and support and following the low sodium lifestyle my heart is doing fine. The damage was stalled where it was and I am feeling good.
I have had two hip replacements, both the same one(from infection) but I made it, even though the last operation I lost 5 pints of blood. My heart held
through it even though I gained 40 pounds in water after the operation due to all the fluids they had to give me without having all my blood. I made it!
The low sodium way should be a lifestyle all people need to follow to keep heart disease from getting a foothold through abuse of our heart.
Even my 28 year daughter has jumped on it from seeing me.
Thanks again and keep it up.
Remember the mark of a hero is the people he saves- never know. — Alex Myrhorodsky
Dear Don,
I just wanted to send you a little note let you know just how grateful I am for The Cookbook. My husband has been morbidly obese (350+) for several years and we have tried numerous
"diets" that did nothing for him. He was to the point of considering gastric bypass after he had a "mini" heart attack at 34 years old. He had high blood pressure, acid reflux, and joint pains.
I came across your book while doing some research on heart attacks and high blood pressure. I put the whole family on this plan so that we could do it together and he wouldn't feel
like he was missing out on anything. We found that he could eat pretty much the same thing he always did, but we just adjusted our southern "foodie" lifestyle. Instead of buying
prepared foods, we would cook from scratch so that we could keep track of our sodium intake. Since there are really no health food stores
were we live, we also started looking at the sodium content of EVERYTHING that we bought...bread, chips (who would've thought Cape Cod had the
lowest sodium content per serving??!!), juices, etc. This diet also gives me the chance to practice my cooking skills and be imaginative.
My husband also allowed himself 1 "freebie" meal a week so that he didn't feel like he was "forbidden" from anything, but there were many times
that even his "freebie" meal was still low in sodium because when he ate "normal" foods, all he could taste was the salt. It is now second nature to him
to choose low sodium foods. On a typical day he now only gets about 200-300 mg of salt.
Before starting this diet, he was pretty skeptical being that he was one of those people that always reached for the salt shaker before tasting anything.
But after he started seeing results within DAYS he became a devout believer! Those first few pounds really encouraged him to continue and he was able to
lose 50 pounds within 3 months! His blood pressure drastically improved and his reflux also improved. His aches and pains started going away and he feels
so much healthier. He used to always complain about feeling lethargic but he has plenty of energy now. He still has a ways to go but with this diet it'll be no problem to stay with it.
I can't thank you enough for getting us headed in the right direction! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! — J.Lofton, Florda
Your book has truly changed my life. I used to eat pizza, lunch meat and
all kinds of junk with my kids. The Docs never stressed the low sodium
diet (although they gave me pamphlets). Thanks for everything. — Mike M.
Dear Don,
First, let me thank you for your website, your cookbooks and your inspiration. My husband was recently diagnosed with congestive heart failure. I was having a terrible time trying to cook edible food with no sodium. Thanks to your help I am doing much better now and keeping his sodium intake very low. We are really enjoying your recipes.
However, I have more to thank you for than just the great recipes. At first Rick, who was a fit and active man before CHF, just wanted to give up.
Your example as someone who experienced the same problem and found ways to deal with it, let him know that this is possible. You are providing more than food and information. You are creating hope. I just wanted to let you know how much good you have done/are doing for us and I am sure for many other people.
— Gayle Ecabert
I really should be thanking you! When my husband was diagnosed with meniere's disease in 2006 and was told to cut out the salt (300 mg or less a day), he thought life was over! He was the kind of guy who would lay on the couch at night with a bag of chips and a bowl of blue cheese dressing for dip! Thanks to your cookbooks, website, and Healthy Heart Market, he can eat and snack without 'starving to death.' He has not had a vertigo attack in over 8 months and has lost 55 pounds! So, thank you! We appreciate you sharing your recipes and insight to the low sodium way of life!
— Sharon F.
Love your website! Thanks for all the great info! I have just been diagnosed with kidney failure stage 3. Love all the recipes and I’m anxious to try some. Thanks again and have a great day! God bless you! — Pat
I have used your website for awhile now and I love it. I received one of your cookbooks for Christmas. It is great! I look forward to receiving your newsletters. — Denise Hix
Love this book (No Salt, Lowest Sodium Cookbook). Cured my hypertension due to sensitivity to salt. Blood Pressure this a. m. was 120/73. Before the low salt diet it was a lot higher! Thanks for the recipes. One of our favorites is the raspberry lamb.
— Peg Jones
Dear Don and Maureen,
I feel like I know you both, as do all my neighbors and friends. I have just received my new International Cookbook from the publisher as you promised. I am so excited that my testimonial was, indeed, included on the back cover. I am a total convert to the no- salt lifestyle which has made a great difference in my husband's recovery from heart problems. His doctor recomended that he reduce his sodium intake to about 2500mg per day. After finding your wonderful website, we were able to get it to about 1000 to 1200 mg.
I had Thanksgiving dinner at our house this year and used the recipes from your website right down to the dressing. I made 10 grain bread and used that for the cubes. The result was 'good news, bad news'. My husband, the one I am doing all this for, didn't like the stuffing, but he doesn't like STUFFING at all. The good news was, all our family and guests loved it. Go figure.
Well, just wanted to say thank you for the book, wish you both a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and thank you for all the time and effort you put into your website and cookbooks. There is nothing out there like it. — Sincerely, Cheryl Sachs
Hi, Chef Don,
My husband was advised to cut back his sodium intake due to a health issue about a year ago. I immediately bought your cookbook "The No Salt Lowest Sodium Cookbook," which is great, especially for your overall advice and substitute sauces, which I keep on hand at all times. The result is my husband's condition has remained stable, and we are all enjoying lower sodium but just as tasty meals as before. I have recommended the book to many friends. — Elaine
Hi Don,
I just wanted to let you know how well I am doing.
I went to Toronto General Hospital last week to see the cardiologist..
This time they did the Radionuclide Cardiopulmonary stress test.
My heart ejection fraction has gone from 43% two years ago to 46% this year.
When I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Dilated Congestive Cardiomyopathy in 1999 my heart was functioning at 20 – 24 percent.
I have all three of your cookbooks and I am very excited about the new No-Salt Lowest-Sodium International Cookbook.
My son who lives in the Seattle area is bringing me the new book when he comes home for Christmas next week.
I can't wait to try out your new recipes.
I think I am always the first person in Canada to have your cookbooks.
Thank you for being there for us. — Patricia Miller
Hi Don,
Thank you again so very much for the book. Everything here is great. I must tell you that a year after I had been diagnosed with CHF, my EF had improved from 20% to about 34%. The doctors told me that I could never hope for it to improve beyond that. Well, I had an echo in August, and my EF is up to about 47%, I am active and have plenty of energy. My cardiologist can't explain it, but I truly believe that your recipes have been a significant part of my recovery. Thank you for helping me get my life back.
We look forward to the International Cookbook and hope the BBQ cookbook will be out before long also.— Patrica Boyles
Have three of your books but not the last, which I will get. They have helped me immensely and my Dr. is amazed that I can eat well and happily. — Ruth Becker
Thank you SO much for the No Salt cookbook. I didn't know what I was
going to do until I discovered it at the Library. Of course I have
ordered one for myself. I have Meniere's and have to stay on a very low
salt diet. It is so hard, but with your book I am making it. — Inez Cobb
The recipes that I have tried so far are great. I was diagnosed with Meniere's about 9 months ago. Thank you. Now I have tasty food to eat. — Sharon Honza
I love your cookbooks! I was diagnosed with Meniere's and I had HBP. Since I started cooking your way I lost 20 ilbs in a month and a half and have gone off the blood pressure meds all together. — Cathy Rossi
Your comments, humor and common sense have literally been a saving grace for me as a caregiver. We seem to be in the midst of a lot of excellent medical procedures but receiving poor teaching on how to "make a low Na lifestyle happen" Thank you VERY much! —
Margaret Pickens
Love your book! — Girard N.
You will never know how much your cookbook has helped me. I love the recipes because they are simple and good. — Dolores Perez
I have made several recipes in your book for my Mom who suffers from acute hypertension and they are great! This cookbook is a real god-send! — Debbie Shanklin
Hi Don!
I just wanted to let you know how much I am loving the soy sauce alternative recipe you sent me. We're eating wild caught Alaskan salmon once a
week now, thanks to you. I loved the your tip for getting the bones out with needle nose pliers! I mix a little no-sodium sweet and tangy mustard
from HHMarket (this stuff is amazing if you haven't had a chance to try it!),
some brown sugar and some of your soy sauce alternative up into a very thick spread, coat the top of the salmon and BBQ. I serve it with
some steamed seasoned summer squash & zucchini on the side and some brown rice from my rice cooker sprinkled with your soy alternative – and we're in
low-sodium heaven here. Thank you for making this possible. My PVC's respond so well to the low sodium lifestyle.
I am gearing up to make your entire Thanksgiving meal next month because our son is coming home from Colorado for a visit. I really appreciate
your recipes online! My experiment will be to make your crust into an oat flour crust, because I've always wanted to find a nice oat pie crust.
I am ready and anxious to get the lowfat cookbook to add to my collection of your books, and can't wait since I know it will help me further
my weight loss!
Have a great day! — Beth Swain
Hi, Your site has been so helpful to me. I was shocked at my recent diagnosis of cardiomyopathy.
My heart function is at 10-15%. With this (no-salt, lowest-sodium) diet, I do not take lasix. (And I had to argue with my doctor about this.)
I was diagnosed about 2 months ago, and I will be very excited to see what my next echocardiogram will be. Thanks so much, — Regina Miller
Your cookbook is great! — Jack Collins
I want to thank you again for the new cookbook. It arrived yesterday and I put it to use in making some corn bread to go with my vegetable soup!
A few months ago, after talking to my daughter, said she was going to get the cookbook which she really uses all the time. She is realizing how
much better she feels not having all the salt! Many thanks to you, — Roger Harmon
Thank you so much for all the great news and recipes. I just wanted you to know that thus far I have lost 33 lbs following your advice and going nearly sodium free!
Have a great day!— Beth Swain
With the help of your recipes, I've improved from an ejection fraction of 15% to 57%! Please, keep up your wonderful work. — Kathy DeHoogh
Hi Don,
I just want to say that thanks to the first cookbook I bought in Aug of 2001, and using it a lot, I'm still here and fairly healthy, (at 65 years old).
I spread the word of the cookbooks to all the people I know and talk to. My poor cookbook is pretty well beat up after all the use! I had a heart attack
on the table with my second bypass surgery—and now I have an intake on the average of 300 mgs of sodium per day if I don't want to gain much weight.
I still stop at the local hospital cardiac rehab and talk to them, letting them know what is happening with me. I don't talk to the rehab all the time,
but we do have a diabetic support group I go to every week.
Thanks again for the great first cookbook you put on the market!!
Sincerely,—
Roger Harmon
Wow, that was fast (response time)! Thanks so much!! By the way, I made your "faux" soy
sauce and am enjoying it greatly. — Jennifer Hamilton
Your recipes are wonderful and have changed my Dad's life and health!
I made your raisin bread for Dad. He loved it. I made it for one of his friends who has congestive heart failure and hates the commercial
salt free bread. He couldn't get enough. Your brownies were an instant hit with my Dad. — Ellen Freedman
Your book is wonderful. I was CHF, BP sky high, aortic valve replacement in Sept 2005. The short version is that I am now in wonderful physical and medical condition as long as I get aerobic exercise and watch sodium like a hawk. Your book has been a huge part of my regaining my health. About 8 months post-op now. I also bought an extra copy of your main Low Sodium cookbook and added it to the lending library in the Cardiac Rehab part of the hospital I was in.
— Larry Manion
I no longer have cardiomyopathy since I received a heart transplant 3 weeks ago!
Megaheart.com and Don's cookbooks were the best thing that happened to me when I had to be on a low sodium diet. I tell everyone who I meet who needs to be on a low sodium diet about you and megaheart.com.
By the way, I have yet to meet a hospital nutritionist who knows about you, your cookbooks and megaheart.com. I usually know more about low-sodium diets than they do. This is a needed group to market to.
Thanks again. — Richard. Bennett
Hi, I really appreciate your website. It is so exciting. I am on a NO SALT diet and
appreciate all the resources that are available. —Cheryl White
Thanks, Don, I appreciate your help.
I read your books everyday; visit the Web site for new stuff and for help!!
I do not know what I would have done if I had not found your books.
We both love the recipes that we have tried.
I can hardly wait for your new book. — Unissa Avenair
We have all three books...best books ever written..a Godsend. — Robert Jorgenson
Good Morning,
I have just received your June Newsletter and always look forward to reading them and your recipes.
Since our no-salt lifestyle change, and your assistance, we have been doing very well. I find it quite amazing that the grocery stores offer so little in the way of no-salt or low-sodium items.
Again, thanks for your good Newsletters and the best of summers to you. — Corinne J Walker
I am making your applesauce cake right now. My husband had 15% ejection fraction in March, and in many ways, we owe his life to you and the encouragement your Web site and books provide.
People need to know that they themselves can make a difference, and you provide that information. — Barbara
Your books are a life saver. Thanks — Dianna Carlson
I am enjoying the cookbooks and appreciate the suggestions
as to where/what brands to purchase. Last night I made the
ginger bread cookies and thought they were great. It's the first cookie
recipe I've tried. My husband liked them, too, which is an added plus!— Jennifer Hamilton
Thank you so much for the no salt and lowest sodium cookbook.
I just found out that I have CHF. I was hospitalized for about a week because I had about ten times the amount of water that a person is suppose to have. I was scared. I have a very strong family history of CHF and coronary heart disease (CAD). I am the thirteenth of fourteen children. Three of my brothers and sisters have passed away — with my brother just passing with a massive heart attack. He was only 46 — 5 years older than me. Your book is such a blessing to me and my family.
Because I did not know where to begin until my husband and I went to the book store and looked at no salt or lowest sodium books. We didn't know witch one to buy so I bought yours first. Praise God because I can't eat over 1000mg to 1500 mgs a
day with out gaining water weight. Thanks to you and your hard work I keep my sodium under 600 mg to 700 mg a day. I am now trying to convert my family's recipes into low sodium ones. I love your book — your recipes are so wonderful and so yummy. I love to eat and bake and cook. I
have lost about 50 pounds, which makes the doctors happy! I can not wait till I get your baking book. I ordered it (and your No Salt, Lowest Sodium International cookbook). — Sara Lenhart"
I am looking forward to more months with you. I suffered with dibilitating Meniers for a year. After many, many, doctors, found a 1000 mg diet and your cookbooks — the only way for the past 5 months that I have been able to keep the symptoms under control! Thank you!!!!!!!!
— Diane from NJ.
I think your website and cookbooks are wonderful - I was recently diagnosed with Meiniers disease and your site and books have been a huge help in adapting to a new eating lifestyle. — Kimberly McCann
Thank you for your great informative website and the support you have provided over the years. I have all your books and I am really looking forward to your new International Cookbook. Your recipes are very helpful.
When I was first diagnosed my prognosis was poor and my doctor thought I would need a heart transplant.
My heart function has gone from 20 - 24% to 45%. The Heart Failure Clinic in Toronto says I am their prize patient. — Patricia Miller
I hope that you and your family are enjoying a happy, healthy New Year. I
would like to share an update with you. My dad has been following your plan
for 17 months. He recently had an echo-cardiogram, and his EF has increased
from 15% to 25%. He now walks one and a quarter miles daily. Each day he
continues to feel better, and with great confidence is looking forward to
his 81st birthday in June. He states that his "quality of life is
wonderful." Again we thank you and your family for your continued support.
We can't wait for the next cookbook. — Martha Edwards
It's not often that
I really enjoy reading a cookbook, but yours are
something special. Keep up the good work! — Carolyn Sheehan
Love the cookbook and looking forward to the newsletter.
I use your book almost every day. The best part is that I don't
even see my family or friends add salt to the recipes after I have cooked
without it. My extended family actually requested your refried beans for a
fajita dinner birthday party we had last week. Thank you so much for
putting such wonderful recipes into your book. They have made this
transition to low-sodium eating so much easier for me!
We're going to try stuffed red snapper tonight and I can't wait. Again,
thank you!— Kristi Williams
Thank you. This is a life saver! — Heather Steuer
I have all of your books & believe me they are very helpful. Thanks a lot. — Betty Franken.
Mom has CHF, REALLY appreciate your No-Salt cookbooks. Thank you. — Lisa Louise C.
I had another echocardiogram done in December, and Dr Boccicchio said my heart looked beautiful and if he hadn't seen it in the beginning, he would never believe that I'd had heart failure.
Here's one success for your low sodium diet story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! — Cheryl Colbert
Hi, I have two of your books now and have tried several recipes and they are yummy! — Peg
Many thanks for the cookbooks & newsletter. They are great
supports. — Raymond M.
Your book is an answer to prayer! My precious son Tim, was diagnosed with a liver disease when only 19 months old. He has high blood pressure, extremely high cholesterol & triglycerides, hypoglycemic,
will one day be a candidate for a liver transplant. He has a weak immune system, possible heart disease and more! It is extremely important for us to keep the sodium at the lowest possible!
Please don`t stop your web site and keep that wonderful book in print! I prayed and God sent us your book The No Salt, Lowest Sodium Cookbook. God is good all the time! With a grateful heart, Linda T.
Hello Don,
Thank you for your outstanding cookbooks and commitment to a healthy no-low sodium lifestyle. My better-half was diagnosed with CHF last year. It knocked us off center! He was healthy, active and had a thriving
business. A virus attacked his heart muscle and when he entered the ER his EF was 12%.
A very long story short ... due to a no to low sodium diet and good meds, Grant is doing very well. I have done a good job of creating low sodium meals, but it is difficult. I recently came
across your cookbooks and website and have prepared many of your recipes. They are delicious!
We admire and appreciate your dedication to our new lifestyle. I am enjoying the benefits as well. I have lost weight and feel better for adhering to a low sodium diet.
God Bless you and your family! — Lisa M. Gleeson
Dear Don,
Congratulations on ten years of wonderful work! — Margaret Hicks
Great cookbook. — Charles Chance
Just received your 3 books. Loved them all. Great job. — Nancy Pine.
I will definitely order your cookbook. What a
huge help that will be to me. You're really helping a
lot of people so tremendously with the information
you've provided. May God continue to bless you and
your work. Thanks. — Greg Blair
I just want to say your trio of books are very helpful to me in the battle against salt!!
The recipe for soy sauce is amazing. — Nancy Milo
Hello Don,
Happy Fall. I wanted to check in with you and give you an update on my dad.
Sept 5th marked one year that he has been on your plan. Just when we
think we have seen a leveling off in his recovery, he amazes us more. In
June he turned 80, and he danced and played the piano at his party. One
year ago he could not walk 10 feet. He is now walking one mile every day.
Since my dad started your plan he has not been to the hospital emergency
room. His Cardiologist calls his recovery remarkable, and his family doctor
calls it a miracle. We live by your three cookbooks. At the risk of
sounding redundant, I will say it again. — your plan makes miracles
happen. We want CHF patients and other people to know that making this
change in their diet will give back health and quality of life. We hope
that you are continuing to enjoy good health. God bless you and your
family. — Martha Edwards
Got your "light" book @ library - love it! Thanks! — Vicki Antilley
When my husband was diagnosed with Menieres, Don's "No Salt, Lowest Sodium Cookbook" became my bible!! Thank you so much!! I could go on and on about
what that book meant to me during a very trying time!! And, the fact that
you and your wife were able to develop those wonderful recipes during your
own trying times (I just finished reading the intro to your newest book) is
totally amazing to me. Thank you so much!! P.S. Now I'm getting ready to start trying
the recipes in the "Light Meals" cookbook...they look wonderful!!
Sharon Kaiser— Sharon Kaiser
Your three cookbooks have served as my bible for the past year after an ICD implant. I was diagnosed with CHF two years ago at age 57, with an EF of 25 - 30%,
due to previously undiagnosed familial cardiomyopathy. A year ago, with an EF of 20%, I was in severe heart failure. After having an ICD implant and
thoracotomy, I have been determined to keep my lungs clear. Using your recipes, in addition to my medications, has completely transformed my life.
I have been able to return to work and am now walking three miles a day on the treadmill instead of the .2 of a mile that I could walk a year ago.
My EF is 30 - 35%.
My husband was also on the verge of requiring blood pressure medication, but has lowered his systolic pressure from 140 to 117, thus eliminating the
need for medication.
Please keep the recipes coming.
Thanks for helping me to improve my life.
Pat
.
— Pat Boyles
I have all of your books and I can't thank you enough for the recipes. My husband needs very low salt foods and I have been appalled at the levels of "hidden" sodium in foods that I didn't think had ANY sodium in them at all. My friends are now much more attuned to salt in foods they eat.
— Cheryl Sachs
Dear Don, I thank you so much for all the fantastic recipes you send re the e-mail and monthly newsletter and I have made many delicious meals from your recipes and even my husband who doesn't have any problem with sodium enjoys them and I have also made some for my daughter who has 5 young kids and have it ready for her to pick up after her work and they all enjoy them. It is great to be able to enjoy low sodium or no sodium meals and enjoy them so much. I look forward to your monthly newsletters and you are my saviour, thanks so much it
is so much appreciated. — Dianne Baboth (Ontario)
Hi Don,
A while back I sent you an email raving about
the "Light Meals"
cookbook. I've tried other recipes, (in the book) by the way, and
they were just as
delicious. The broccoli soup is out of this world.
My "saltaholic"
husband didn't even put any salt in it! Anyway, the
point of this email
is to not offer rave reviews, even though they are well
deserved. I may have
told you that I live on the Central coast of
California and have been a patient of the Coastal
Cardiology group here. You
told me to be sure to tell my doctor about my
dropping my sodium levels
very low (because he had told me 2000 mg), so he
wouldn't think that the
higher levels he recommended had helped me regain a
nearly normal heart
function. Well, I did that and sent him a list of
the CHF websites I
use and the local products that are available for
sale that are low
sodium, along with the website order sites. I listed
that your cookbooks are
a major source of good tasting low sodium food and
offered to help set
up a support group for CHF patients if one were ever
started here. To
my great surprise, my doctor took me up on my
offer and we had our
initial meeting this past week. We are shooting for
our first meeting
in September with me as the initial speaker to talk
to the patients
about the importance of low sodium eating and how to
achieve that goal.
I don't know if you ever do this, but I'm asking if
you would donate a
copy of each of your cookbooks to the Coastal
Cardiology group. That
way we could display them at the meeting and maybe
drum up some more
orders for you. I have a copy of each, but can't
part with mine, since
I use them every day.
Thanks, —
Cheryl Colbert
Love your No Salt Cookbook! — Linda Jo J.
I have recently been diagnosed with an enlarged heart due to high blood pressure. I am so happy to have found this sight. Thank you for providing this valuable info. to people such as myself. God bless.
— Melissa
Just found out I have HBP.....Thank You for this site! — Jackie A.
Love the recipes!!! — Gloria F.
Wonderful Book- thank you!!! — Beth
Like your cookbooks a lot. Hope you keep writing them. Thanks for sharing your experiences and giving others hope and inspiration. — Kaye
Hi Don,
I want to thank you and your wife for all of the work you put into your 3 cookbooks. I was diagnosed with heart failure last May with an EF of 20%. My cardiologist said to limit my sodium to 2000 mg per day, but after reading your story in the first cookbook of yours that I bought and following your recipes, I was able to cut the sodium easily to 500-1000 mg per day instead. At the beginning of December, another echocardiogram showed that my heart had shrunk back to normal size and my EF had risen back to 55-60%. My overall health has improved tremendously because of my new low sodium “diet” and I plan to continue it forever. I just bought the newest Light Meals cookbook and have to say that the California Salad and Chicken Curry Salad are great. I’ve also tried and loved the Potato Leek soup, Creamy Onion Garlic soup, and Garlic French Rolls. My husband, who is a saltaholic, is also loving your recipes and says my cooking has improved 100%. Thank you so much for the huge difference you’ve made in my life and many others.
&mdash: Cheryl Colbert
Hi Don,
I meant to send this email a month ago, but I figured better late than
never. A very blessed, happy and healthy New Year to you and your family.
My father is in his fifth month on your plan and is doing great. He now
walks several times a day, totaling about 1/2 mile. He hopes to get up to a
mile without stopping by his 80th birthday in June. Just wanted you to know
we hold your books dear to our hearts and thank you and your family. Have a
great year. — Martha Edwards
I love all of your cookbooks. We are new to congestive heart failure and your books are very helpfull. I learned to make no salt bread thanks to you.
The healthy market is a great place to shop too. Keep up the great work.
A very happy and healthy new year to you and your family. - Debbie Merves
Your books are great! Thanks especially for the baking recipes.—
D Wassel
I just spent part of the weekend teaching my 88 year old father some of your wonderful bread recipes. We had a great time . Thanks for helping to empower those people with congestive heart failure.
—Marie B
We' ve tried any number of your no-salt, low sodium breads and rolls
and can't decide on a favorite...they have all been successful and
quite tasty.
BTW, I use soy milk and l t b. lemon juice to make buttermilk for your
buttermilk rolls. This way they are non-dairy.
Thanks so much for your wonderful creative culinary ideas. — Ruth Brinn
Note: Soy milk has 28.8 mg sodium per cup.
Thank you so much for your books. We would have been totally lost without
not only the recipes, but all the helpful information. My daughter has a rare
condition known as Budd-Chiarri Syndrome and has to limit her sodium. The
entire family has decided to join her in her diet to be supportive. Before I
found your book, she said her plan was to just cut down on eating all
together, because there was so much sodium in everything, it seemed hopeless.
Amazingly, this whole thing has turned into a fun new hobby of cooking and
searching for low sodium products for all of us. That's quite a change from the day
I found my daughter in tears, thinking she could never eat anything good
again. I am really excited about it, because I remember that my mother hardly
ate anything at all when she had to go to a low sodium diet for her heart. I
only wish she were still around to join in the fun.
Thanks again — Merry Mata
Note: The following is a follow-up note from Merry Mata.
As for my daughter, she is doing very well. At her most recent appointment, the doctor was very impressed with her improvement. Thanks to her success with the low sodium diet, she may eventually regain full liver function, and may not need a transplant after all.
She called me yesterday to say she had tried one of your recipes with her new bread machine, and she was so excited. She really loved it and is looking forward to trying some of the others.
Thanks again for everything!!!
Good Afternoon Don,
I would like to share some good news with you and your readers. I shared
with you that my dad is 79 yrs old and has been diagnosed with end stage
CHF. We were told we had no options and death is imminent. As you know he
started your plan, and 23 days later has received wonderful news from the
Pulmunologist. The 500 cc of fluid on his lungs that he could not get rid
of is gone. The doctor was thrilled and said that he sounded and looked
great. The doctor also said that my dad is on a winning plan, and don't
change a thing. He is now sleeping thru the night, no episodes of sleep
apnea, he is getting stronger each and every day, his appetite (just like
you said) is finally returning, and he takes up to three short walks per day
(in addition to some light exercise.) He is talking about the future again.
The x-ray report also said "mild" cardiomyopathy. Not sure if that means
his heart is beginning to heal. Past reports have said "severe." We will
follow up in one month with his heart doctor for clarification. Again,
thanks so much for your support and encouragement. So far the recipes we
have tried were easy to make, and my dad really likes the food. Please feel
free to share our experience with anyone who is on the fence about making
diet changes. The food plan and cookbooks you have shared with us make
miracles happen. I will check back with you in a month with an update.
Take care — Martha Edwards ,
Baltimore, MD
I am on a very low salt diet because of a liver disease. I really appreciate your books. They are the best. — Margie
Hi Don,
Welcome from my new home in St. Augustine, Florida. Even though I have left
the heart failure program at Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, I'm still
with the BayCare system. I've developed a heart failure home care program
for our 13 home care offices and of course promoting your books and web site
to all the nurses and patients.
I've been given the honor to help raise money for the American Heart
Association Heart Walk in November for our Jacksonville office. I was
wondering if you would like to donate one of your great books so we could
"raffle" it off to raise some money. I have to keep lending my books out,
but I really don't want to give my "signed" booked away. I still need to get your
latest one which I hear is great.
Have you made any contact with the American Association of Heart Failure
Nurses? I won a scholarship from them in July to attend their conference
in CA and talked to many nurses about your web site and books. A lot of
them knew about you and your books.
The conference next year will be here in Florida and I hope I can get a
sponsor to go. If I do, I will again sing your praises.
I hope your health is great and thanks again for all the great work you do
in behalf of the heart failure patients.
Your Florida friend,
Judy (R.N.)
Hi Don,
My husband is doing very well on his new low-sodium diet (thanks largely to you!)
Thanks for your help! —
Julie Tew
My spouse was just diagnosed with hypertension, so we were frantically searching for low-salt versions of favorites like pizza. I found your pizza recipe and even though I had to make a few changes (mostly because I couldn't find low-salt mozzarella cheese right away), I still ended up with a pizza that was about a quarter as salty as a storebought one would have been — and much, much tastier! Thanks!
— Tamara
Please accept my sincerest thank you for helping me save my husband. Fred was in terrible shape, and they thought he'd die. After I found your books I bought them
and have lived by them ever since. I even eat what I am serving Fred for his heart condition and I can't believe how much I enjoy your recipes and your
meal planning guide. We feel so lucky that you did this and we found them. Your website also has been a big help and once about a year ago I wrote for some
info and you answer so quickly I just felt like you cared. Fred is much better now, even plays a little golf on cool days. All thanks to your books and
our new lifestyle. Thank you. — Samantha
I am thrilled with your Light Meals book. The soups are the best I've ever tasted . . . and no salt. Amazing work. Now Don, did you do those or did your wife? :-)
My whole family loves them, too. My husband has done so well with your recipes for the past four years that he's practically fully recovered now. His story sounds
like yours. We thank you very much for all the work you have done. P.S. You say in the book that your wife did the soups. She must be some kind of cook. — Linda S.
We tried your recipe for the sweet and sour sesame chicken. My 17-yr. old son loved it, could not believe it was low sodium, and said he now has a new "favorite recipe". :)
Terrific recipe! Thanks! — LeeAnn
I tried about three other low salt books before the one I found here. A month ago I got one and started my own plan like the one in the book.
I'm already BETTER! And my doctor doesn't believe it. So, I ordered another book and took it to him yesterday. He was crazy out of his mind when
he got it. Really. He'd never seen it or anything like it. Says he's going to recommend it to everyone. Thanks so much. You saved my life.
— Arvid T.
Hi Chef Don.....this is Kathy Keegan again......I was very surprised and I thank you for your quick response...............It is so nice to know that someone will get back to us so quickly.....*smile*....I think you will be hearing from the rest of my family.....and you can count on me to be passing the word on your book/lifestyle......I love it....
Thanks again — Kathy Keegan
I want to thank you for a wonderful site! I found out recently that my Mom, who is 77 years old, has kidney problems and is restricted on her diet. Since she is coming for a visit soon, I have been trying to find easy to do recipes that she would enjoy. Your site has helped a great deal! Thank you again,
— Sue, from Tucson
Thanks Don. Your practice of judicious, disciplined selection of food and committment have had a big impact on my habits. That
and the scary dizzy spell which inspired a dream that I will not get into. I've crossed the rubicon. 1500 calories and 1,000 milligrams of sodium
a day is the goal and as soon as that decision was made all the cravings seem like, well, children who have to go to their room cause big Al is back.
:-) — Al Stein
Hi, folks!
For what it is worth, I thought you would like to know that I am sending a copy of the No Salt cookbook to President Clinton—obviously he will have a cook,
nutritionist, and on and on, but so few people seem to recognize salt as a problem—even the experts. I am "salt sensitive" and my husband had open
heart - mitral valve replaced - I had written to you in the past about my success in dealing with the salt issues, and I recommend your book to everyone
who wonders how I lost so much weight—who knew Weight Watchers meals could kill—they are high in salt. My doctor has me at 1500 mg a day, but I can
stay under that with no problems thanks to your books — and eat well!!! I use the bread machine weekly, and even as we speak, I have made the pie
crust for a fresh raspberry-peach tart. I do miss pretzels, but I recognize the alternative!!!
Thank you again for your books, recipes, web site! — Susan Van Rossum
I had to write. Two years now on your book's program. The guide in the back. Two years. Never a dull day, never a bad meal and now, get this.
IMPROVEMENT. I am better. No transplant, no nothing but return to work. All thanks to you. Please accept this as my gratitude for what you have done for me
and others. — D. Tremble
I appreciate the website, the cookbooks, and the products so
very much. I'm a Meniere's disease patient who went from being a
"salt-aholic" (my mother was an Irishwoman who knew only one spice) to about
700 mg/day - big adjustment! It took me nearly four years to get over the
cravings. I still miss some foods and get discouraged by restaurant fare,
but my attitude has improved greatly. Keep up the good work. It's a
"mission" to souls like me. — K. C. McHugh
Dear Don,
Thank you so much for your No-Salt cookbook. I come to you by way of Meniere's. I found your website and then borrowed your book from the library—before it was due back I had my own copy. I love the Kung Pao tofu. I always have a batch of refried beans on hand—they make great sandwiches. The breads/rolls are good. The fried tofu is very good. And there are many more recipes I look forward to trying. I like your garlic philosophy—life's not so bad, I can still eat all the garlic I want!
Thank you so much! —
Ellen Moran
I made the BarBQue sauce and brushed
it on chicken breasts while they were baking. My
husband couldn't believe how good the sauce was - he
loved it! I just checked the site for a salad dish to
pass for a party we are having at our house tomorrow
night and the next time I hit the bookstore I am
picking up my copy of the "Low Salt" cookbook.
Thank you again for all your work - it is making a
very difficult situation much, much better!—
Tricia Andersen
Don, just tried the Buttermilk Egg Buns, page 104...omigosh! They're
great! No more eating hamburgers on sliced low-sodium, crumbling bread!— THANKS!!!— Rena – Morristown, TN
P.S. LOVE the raisin english muffins, too.
I was told last Tuesday that I need a liver transplant, and to go on a sodium
free(doctor's words) diet; I had not a clue as to how to accomplish that.
True to form, my girlfriend grabbed the bull by the horns and got on the
internet and went to the bookstore. She found your book and I'm eating much
better than I could have imagined on Tuesday.
The picnic potato salad was great; the tartness was great!—Jeff
Where have you been? Where? I've got a shelf full of books and now I find yours.
For two weeks I've been baking and cooking and everyone LOVES your low sodium recipes.
Both books are incredible! Thank you so much. My husband is the one who needs it and he's getting better already.
But, get this. We're all eating his meals now...that's how good your books are. Thank you, thank you. -Janet M.
Dear Don-
My 65-year-old husband has CHF and a month ago his doctor sent me to the
emergency room with him — after telling me privately that I shouldn't expect
miracles. I took my husband home, he was too weak to even get out of bed and had
whole body edema up to his lower ribs and including his hands and arms. On
palpation his whole body and extremities felt like very overdone roast beef.
Of course he was on Lasix and we had always been careful about sodium intake,
but he just continued to bloat up.
For a whole weak I made sure he had less than 1000 mg of sodium a day and
finally the edema started to move. He could even get out of bed for a couple of
hours a day. By the end of the second week, his arms and hands no longer
resembled large overstuffed sausages. By the third week his breathing normalized
somewhat. Today I went to the neighborhood Barnes & Noble to find a
low-sodium book because I needed some more ideas. I found your book.
THANK YOU. We will now aim for the 500 mg sodium — my husband will see his
doctor on Tuesday and ask for any adjustments that need to be made in his
medication.
We had already been informed that a heart transplant was the only other
treatment available and that was not even an option for my husband. But diet is,
and he completely believes low sodium intake is a major part in his continuing
to live. I wish many more people with similar problems would find your book
- it is, as they say "a Godsend."— Diane Eisele
Found you in Light & Tasty Magazine. Bought your cookbook and your baking book. Wow! Bread without salt and extremely delicious. I love your new
enhancer idea, too. Works great. Light and tasty should have you write a column for them. Great Stuff! Keep up the good work.— Sally
Happy Birthday, Don!
May you enjoy many, many more. I have both of your cookbooks and love
them. Meniere's is my problem and cutting the salt has allowed me to
have a normal life. Thank you from the bottom of my healthy heart.—Judi Boniface
Don, You may like to know that today we were trying out a new waffle iron that
we got for Christmas. I made a batch of the "Classic Belgian Waffles"
recipe that came with the waffle iron, as well as your "Belgian Waffles
Supreme" recipe for me. :-) The first recipe worked rather well, but yours was by far the better
recipe. I think from now on we will use only yours. Thanks. :-) LeeAnn
Had to tell you. Your Christmas stolen was the best I've ever eaten. The very best. It made our Christmas morning breakfast a very special treat. Thank you!
—A. Sheaffer
Dear Don,
Some months ago I wrote and asked you about baking quick breads and cakes. The advice you gave me has been very helpful and my results are much better.
Thank you so much. I have been using both of your of books and also trying some of the recipes in the newsletters. Low sodium soups and breads are
becoming my specialty and our family and neighbors appreciate them. I plan to get your soup and salad book as soon as it comes out.
You were kind enough to have your publisher send my hypertension doctor at the University of Ct Health Center copies of your books, which she
now recommends to her patients. In October we put out the first issue of of what we hope will become a quarterly newsletter for the Health
Center's low sodium patients. We call it "From One Low Sodium Patient to Another." What we hope is that eventually it will evolve into a
mutual support group. I am recommending Megaheart as a primary resource for those who have access to a computer. Not everyone does. I
would like your permission to quote in our newsletter from the very helpful article you ran called All About Sodium.
It contains so much
valuable information for all of us. Dr. Tendler thought it excellent. May we also reprint a recipe now and then if we give full credit to the source?
Thank you, Don, for all the wonderful work you do on our behalf. Please let me know about using some of the information from your newsletters and
website in our efforts to spread the good word. I am just one 74 year old woman who has spent a lot of time this past year learning about low sodium
cooking and diet. It seems unreasonable to expect that every patient newly diagnosed as needing this diet should have to start fom square one.
Like you, I just want to help make life easier for the others.
Sincerely — Penny Putnam
PS We have found that many Chinese restaurants will now steam many dishes, use no salt or sodium products and will serve with sauce on the side or
without any sauce. I bring along my Dave's Gourmet Ginger Peach Sauce and it is delicious. I don't eat the soups, egg rolls or noodles.
I am someone who suffers with terrible swelling in my body from salt in food especially when we dine out. At home I am able to cook salt-free and that
makes all the difference in my health. I buy a lot of cookbooks, but your recipes have such a high quality in taste that I think you should open a restaurant! I hear so many people complaining today about restaurants using salt as a flavor enhancer and it doesn't have to be that way. Cable TV has a cooking show and I am shocked at how much salt they use in their cooking. With all the baby-boomers out there aging I think a restaurant would be perfect. I can't wait until your next cookbook comes out.
Thank you for taking the time in sharing your knowledge.—Peggy Bekeny
We bought both of your cookbooks and love them. I love the
sodium content in the recipes. I am telling all our friends about your
site. Pete from Healthy Heart Market.com gave us your site address. Keith
had 5 by-pass surgery Feb 2003, so we are learning but it is hard to find
good information. Thank you sooooo much for all your hard work in this
area. We love it.— Keith and Jean Wise
I love your cookbooks. They were a bright spot for me when I was first diagnosed with Meniers Disease and, though already eating a lower salt diet than
many, I needed to lower my daily intake more. Thanks.—Lois Wacholtz ,
I just love your new cookbook.—Mikki
Don's books have made my low salt diet into an exciting and flavorful adventure.— Penelope Putnam
I love your cookbook.— Priscilla K.
Truely a life saving site! Thanks.—Laura Maher
Have your book and love it. Thanks.—K. Halsey
I have both of your books and use them often.—T. Wenzel
Good Morning Don,
I can't thank you enough for responding to my email. Your positive attitude
and encouragement is refreshing and important to us. I am searching around
for some type of support group, so that I can speak with other people who
have CHF. Medical professionals are very informative. However, the human
experience is a great teacher. Even though my dad is still very tired, I
can't believe all of the changes we are seeing take place. He has been on
your plan for only 9 days. I forgot to mention to you that he is 79 years
old. I had just received your baking book and not looked at it yet. I had
the recipe for taco shells and didn't know it. I am now trying to find a
pie crust recipe I can make sodium free. Again, thanks so much for your
time, and inviting me to email you with questions. I may do that from time
to time. I imagine that you are a very busy person and I appreciate all of
your hard work. I am in awe of what you and your family have accomplished
over the past nine years.
Take care — Martha Edwards
Use your cookbook all the time and tell everybody else about it!—R. Harmon
I just have to take a minute of your time to tell you,
how wonderful your two cookbooks are. They are like my "bible." Ohh what
a help they have been. Between you and "Pete's" place, where I can order so
many things, it surely has been a big big help to me. My husband needs all
the help I can get and do for him. I am checking your sight all the time.
Well again, I just want to say a Great Big Thanks to you.— Charlene—Overland Park, Ks.
Thanks for a great cook book.—Paula Mick
I have been using and enjoying your cookbook for a long time. Thanks—Judy Lord
My husband has CHF, I have both of your books & love them!!—Karen Williams
I just got back from the cardiologist today. EF is now 50%. Though he
says I will always have to stay on the diet and meds, at least it is great
news for me.—LeeAnn
I bought your cookbook, and it is absolutely wonderful.—Jim Mackey
I use both your books all the time. Thank You!!!—Penelope Putnam
My bp was pre hypertension. I want you to know that I have been watching my diet based on info/guidelines I found on your website. I just had my BP taken and it was 122/80 :-)
Now with your cookbook I can keep it that way!
Thanks so much!—Dawn Wall
Just what I need!—Charles Kendall
Found your book in the library - am very appreciative for a direction to care for my mom's CHF.
Thank you.—Rita
The recipes in your book are the best I have ever had for no salt-low sodium.—BARBARA COLIN
A friend of mine who was told she was a "walking heart attack" by one physician went to a cardiologist who recommended your book. My friend tried your diet and had phenomenal results in a few weeks.
I'm looking forward to seeing my medical indicators drop back into the normal range! I retire in a few weeks and hope to be healthy so that I can enjoy myself.
Thanks,—Lee Kornblum
Don,
I had to mail you and tell you that your books have been without doubt the
link, the essence, one of the main reasons, that I am alive today. Thank you
for your efforts.
In less than a year, after 11 shocks to restart my heart, today, I am
starting to gradually go off 7 different drugs that kept me going.
Keep it up.—
Alex Myrhorodsky
Don,
Thank you so much for the great bread cookbook. It looks great and I can't wait to try some of the interesting breads.
Our program is going well and I have a lot of patients who have your cookbook. I see you are now heading for a soup cookbook and my patient today said she can't wait because she loves soup. What's next cookies?
Have a happy holiday and keep up the good work.—Fondly, Judy (R.N.)
We bought your NO-Salt, Lowest Sodium Cookbook, which is fantastic. My wife has used your spaghetti sauce recipe and we are considering the purchase of a "bread" maker. Thank you for having this book.
— L. Kramer
Dear Don,
Received your book in the mail last week.....sat up til 2:30 AM reading it.
I make all my own bread.....100% wholemeal. We never have white flour in the house. I think one of the biggest things that makes it easy to use whole wheat flour (Aussies call it wholemeal) is that I have milled my own wheat...that way I can get it as fine as I like it. I used a Retzel stone grinding mill for years and years. Recently I got a Whisper Mill...sounds like a jet engine...it explodes the grains of wheat. I am still getting used to it....the flour is superb.
I make all my cakes, buns, breakfast rolls, pie crust... everying with whole wheat. I'd be happy to share any recipes if you are interested. We are successfully putting Lugols solution in our bread to supplement us with iodine... Tasmania is a low iodine area.
Today is our 46th wedding anniversary. We must go to dinner with our daughter down the road....she is making us a no salt celebration meal.
Thank you again so very much for your good book and all your wonderful advice. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Kind regards— Joan E. Krapf, Australia
Hi! I purchased the No-Salt cookbook and I love it! I now
have more food choices with easy to follow recipes. I am very impressed with
the book. Thanks for writing it!—Brenda S.
I suffer from Menieres disease and a low sodium diet leaves me symptom free.— Brian O.
Been using your cookbook for about three years now and everything I've had from there is good!—R. Harmon
I have Meniere's Syndrome and have been able to get off all
diuretics and remain symptom free after reading and using your book. There
are other cookbooks on the market, but they do not come anywhere close to
500 mg a day. Most go by the FDA guidelines of 2400 mg, which is way too
high.—Robert Lowe
Had your salmon and
roasted new potatoes tonight....thank you so much for using your God
given gifts to benefit SO MANY others ! thanx again!!! — M. Levine
I have your book and think it is great.—Elizabeth B.
I just wanted to say how MUCH I appreciate your book, "The No-Salt, Lowest-Sodium Cookbook". About a year ago I was diagnosed with Meniere's disease. And with that diagnosis came a severely restricted low-salt diet. I was a salt addict. Having your book saved me from total depression. I have used the book so many times, the pages are starting to look like an old manuscript! The especially used pages are the bread recipes and the chilli and soutern fried chicken! YUM! Thanks, SO MUCH for taking the time to do this for us poor saltless schmucks out here! It's greately appreciated!
Most sincerely yours—Elizabeth Stuart
Thanks so much for your wonderful cookbooks. They have helped
me tremendously in supporting my husband, who recently experienced CHF
about 6 months ago. Your knowledge of diet and foods is greatly appreciated and
so very helpful in combating this disease. M. D.
I hope you feel lots of satisfaction with your cookbook. It has the best recipes and shows that you tried them all.
I bought two other "no/low salt" cookbooks but their recipes are very bland and not tasty.—Ann/Ken Sheets
Thank you so much for your quick response. I'm really excited that this diet helped you. My daughter is an internal
medicine doctor and was very interested in the information I requested from you. I'm sure she and I will have more
questions as we follow your diet. Hopefully we won't be too big a bother to you. As you know when you get in the
condition my husband is in you start looking for anything that will help. Once again, thanks so much—Lewanna
Eureka! I did it. Oh my gosh, no, I mean WE did it. Your book and me and a whole new start on life. My heart is smaller, my EF higher and my energy
boundless. Thank you, thank you.—W.K.
I have the book from the library. It's great. My husband had open heart surgery this summer and we've tried many of the recipes already.— Martha L.
Well, it is that time of the year once again, just want to thank you again for all the wonderful
recipes you send to us, and wish you and yours a Merry Christmas. We have received so many blessings all
year long with Pete doing so much better, going up to Stanford was the best thing and also having Dr.
Fowler for his heart and you with all your most wonderful recipes with low sodium what more could we want?
Always know we are so grateful for you both. — Pete and Marlene Coffman
Here's another bit of good news for you. Dave is on a longer leash with his cardiologist now.
He doesn't return for his next follow-up for two months! At that time, they will do another echo
and stress test to reevaluate his status. His cardiologist has said that just by listening, he
estimates Dave's EF is back up to about 30% already! At his last visit, Dave saw the physician's
assistant instead of the cardiologist, who was on rounds at the hospital next door. The PA called
him to get approval for a change in meds, and when he heard that Dave was in the office,
he literally left the hospital and came back to the office to talk to him. He thanked Dave
AGAIN for the book, and said he is making "an amazing recovery". So put another feather in your cap, Don! —Marth L.
Several years ago I got in touch with you about your low sodium cookbook.
It had been mentioned on 'Jon's' website and I was interested in obtaining it. At that time it was not
available in Canada, and would have been very expensive to get here. I was so pleased to find it
listed in a local bookstore recently. . .It has given me a real lift as I, too, have attempted to keep
my sodium intake down. I also have dilated cardiomyopathy, and had an ejection fraction of 8% when first
diagnosed. It is now up to 45% and I am most grateful that I am well ahead of the transplant list! Thanks so much—
A. Meda
When I found your book I found a gold mine! Thank you! —Freida Pekarek
