I’ve been working on my mom forever to no avail but she’s finally agreed to consider giving up bread. She has always said keto is fine for me but she has heart disease so she can’t eat fat. If I can give her the names of a couple of well respected cardiologists who recommend low carb HIGH fat diets she’ll give it a try. She’s willing to go lowish carb only IF it’s low fat, but I try to explain low carb and low fat = low calorie or high protein. In either case, it’s not going to work in the long run. My mom has hypertention, arteriosclerosis, morbid obesity, and T2 Diabetes. She’s a perfect candidate for fasting and LCHF, sigh… Thanks for your help!
How to convince my mom w/ heart disease to try keto
lfod14
#3
Tell her everything she’s been doing up until this point has PROVEN not to work, her health is shit and she will die earlier if she keeps that crap up. Tell her the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Yes, I’ve said exactly that to both my parents, their in much better shape now. You can’t pussyfoot around with crap with the older generation. Have some stuff ready IF she actual decides to look into stuff, but older people are stubborn to a COMPLETELY different level than most and your talking insanity as far as most of the population is concerned. Depending on her age maybe remind her that when she was a kid they didn’t eat most of this processed garbage because it simply didn’t exist, they cooked EVERYTHING in fat, they baked with lard, and didn’t count calorie and they didn’t have these issues and neither did the older people at the time! THAT may mean a little more to her.
Capnbob
(Rob)
#4
Isn’t Aseem Malhotra a respected cardiologist in Britain? I know it’s a small third world island but still, it might help 
His (and others’) movie, the The Big Fat Fix may also help allay fears.
I would also show her the stories of real CVD patients who have massively improved on keto. IIRC Tom Seest - @tdseest has an powerful story of how he’s reversing a serious heart condition (CHF) with keto. You also need your mom to understand that all her conditions are so tightly related they should be considered one disease… hyperinsulinemia. Get her to watch Ivor Cummins explain how it is all metabolically driven and can be metabolically fixed…
Many threads to search here on various heart disease classes - Atrial Fibrillation, Congestive Heart Failure, Arterial Calcification - all are being fought and defeated with keto (and basic supplementation). Search for things like ‘lowering CAC score’ (coronary calcium), or AFib or whatever and see success stories you can show your mum.
tdseest
(Tom Seest)
#5
While the majority of Cardiologist are neutral to dietary interventions, you can find some that are favorable to ketogenic diets, or at least don’t fear fat. I’ll list several links here, which may help in your search:
https://www.celebrityhealthfitness.com/28817/cardiologist-wheat-free-ketogenic-style-diet-reverses-diabetes-spurs-weight-loss/ (Dr. William Davis)
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/your-diet-and-heart-disease-rethinking-butter-beef-and-bacon/
And, my own personal cardiologist: https://theskepticalcardiologist.com/tag/ketosis/
There are many more, depending on where you live.
As someone who spends more time these days in heart groups on Facebook, I can assure you that there are many Vegan, Vegetarians, etc. all with heart disease.
Sadly, as the heart fails, science has shown that the glucose pathway for fueling the heart (up to 30% of the fuel for the heart) fails, and the body switches to burning Ketones for that instead. I can find that study for you, if she has any interest in reading it, but as time goes on; her problems will continue to worsen unless she makes dietary changes.
Thankfully, for now at least, I’ve resolved my heart failure and have had a normal functioning heart again for about 45 days.
I wish you and your mother well. Let me know if you want any additional detail from me.
J_A-M
(Jay AM)
#6
It’s hard to nearly impossible to convince someone to do something they are firmly against just by telling them to do it. It’s easier to pin point things they care about and then talk about your amazing benefit regarding that thing. Like, “I just got my a1c back and dropped a point.” Or, “My cholesterol levels and blood pressure went down dramatically.” Another trick I use is the sharing info without forcing it. “I was listening to this cool podcast today and this doctor, I think he’s a cardiologist in India or something, was talking about how fat effects the heart and it was fascinating. I’m always so surprised by new health research.” You’re kind of keeping it vague by not mentioning keto and allowing them to form their own conclusions as to how they feel about the presented info. It’s a long game for the severely stubborn and may never come to fruition. On top of that, I mention and share pictures of my results and things I’m eating (whether it be funny like a naked pizza crust after taking the toppings off, or, delicious like a steak drizzled in chipotle butter.) This allows them to laugh or mention it looks tasty without you forcing keto down their throat.
Basically it comes down to people thinking it was their idea.
Hoteski
(Hoteski)
#7
My sister who lives in Iceland has seriously high blood pressure. She was hospitalised over it acouple of months ago. He doctor gave her three choices. Go on meds for the rest of her life. Go on a keto diet or die too early in life and carry on as she is. So my sister has begrudgingly gone on the keto diet, she’s resisted it every step of the way. Complained like noones business but she’s sticking to it as she doesn’t want to go for the other two options. On Thursday her doctor told my sister she’s not eating enough fat and needs to increase it by double the amount she’s having. My sister just can’t get her head around eating fat. Hates it. To the point of complaining and arguing with me about in all day Friday. Thankfully she discovered bullet proof coffee on Saturday morning (yesterday) and was a happy bunny once she realised she actually liked it. Her doctor has advised an eating window and intermittent fasting. In a month she’s now got her blood pressure under control. I’m hoping she will stick to it as she like me suffers from borderline personality disorder and I know the effects of the diet normalised my disorder so I hope it will do the same for her in the next few weeks.
Reason why I’m explaining this is that there are finally doctors out there seeing the benefits of this diet. At least in Iceland .
Hoteski
(Hoteski)
#9
Mum has s heart condition and has been asking me about keto. I printed the guides on ruled me and laminated it do thinking to give that to her. Be interesting to see how it will help her as she’s on countless of meds a day and sleeps most of every day as her heart isn’t strong enough to keep her awake.my sister is a working progress …
Capnbob
(Rob)
#10
Lots of good info above to investigate how keto may improve your mum’s CVD so hopefully there will be a virtuous family circle from you to sister to mother and each of your victories will be supportive of each other?
Best of luck in saving your family!
Hoteski
(Hoteski)
#11
I can only save myself , they have to take their own steps to save themselves . I’ll show them the door and give them the key but they have to walk through the door .
Jack_Brien
(Jack Brien)
#13
There’s also that letter from the Canadian doctors to their government, might help
Lesliemont
(Leslie)
#14
That is a fantastic interview. Thank you so much for that link.
My dad has CHF, among a myriad of other diseases. Hopefully I can use this to help his wife to stop poisoning him with low fat, high carb foods.
I really appreciate your post
Keep calm and keto on
Hoteski
(Hoteski)
#15
My sister has finally decided to look at keto on s positive note. After I gave her the motsarella n egg yolk recipe for pasta replacement … Lol people are so easily pleased
Bellyman
(Brian)
#16
Be glad if there is still time for your mum or loved one. My mom passed away a year ago in early April. I often wonder if whether I had known more about keto then, whether I could have made a difference and possibly even given her a chance at more time with dad (who misses her terribly). I spent a lot of time with them both before she died and did quite a lot of cooking for them.
I know I can’t go back. And I can’t undo. There is no reset button. And I’ll never know whether anything I did could have made a difference. But I can’t help but wonder sometimes. It’s not something I’ll beat myself up over or even something I think about every day. But I still wonder…