Dean Ornish, MD, is the founder, president, and director of the non-profit Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, CA. Dr. Ornish received his medical training from the Baylor College of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and the Massachusetts General Hospital. He is Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.

For the past 24 years, Dr. Ornish has directed clinical research demonstrating, for the first time, that comprehensive lifestyle changes may begin to reverse even severe coronary heart disease, without drugs or surgery. He is the author of five best-selling books, including New York Times bestsellers such as: Dr. Dean Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease, Eat More, Weigh Less, and Love & Survival.

His work has been featured in virtually all major media, including cover stories in Newsweek, Time, and U.S. News & World Report. He was appointed by President Clinton to The White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy.

The diet that Dr. Ornish recommends is a low-fat, plant-based diet that uses fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and soy products in their natural forms. This incorporates moderate quantities of egg whites and nonfat dairy or soy products and small amounts of sugar and white flour. These foods are claimed to give you a double benefit: They are low in substances that are harmful and are rich in literally hundreds of substances that may be protective against heart disease and many other illnesses.

Moderate exercise provides much of the health benefits of more intensive exercise but with a lower risk of injury or sudden cardiac death during exercise. The greatest reduction in premature death is between those who walk and those who are sedentary.

Basically, the program consists of three components: 1) a low-fat, plant based (vegetarian) diet, 2) stress management, and 3) exercise. According to Dr. Ornish, all three components are equally important. In order to obtain the full benefits of the program, ALL three should be used. The diet itself has less than 10% of calories from fat, is high in fiber, allows but does not encourage moderate consumption of alcohol, does not include any oil or added fats, allows egg whites but not egg yolks, does not include any whole fat dairy products (non-fat dairy products are OK), and is restricted in calories.

The program also includes exercise — at least a 30-minute daily walk is suggested. Stress management in the form of yoga or meditation is also recommended.

Dr. Ornish and his colleagues are also training doctors and other health professionals at hospitals throughout the country in a Multicenter Lifestyle Heart Trial to demonstrate the practicality, effectiveness, and cost effectiveness of the program in diverse populations. The sites, all located in the U.S, have changed since the trials began. Many physicians and clinics have started "Ornish-style" programs of their own.

Since 1991, Dr. Ornish's Preventive Medicine Research Institute has offered weeklong residential lifestyle retreats. The retreats, called "Opening Your Heart Retreats," are designed for people who would like to make long-term lifestyle changes, whether or not they have heart disease.

A staff that includes physicians, nurses and other medical personnel, nutrition specialists, certified stress management/yoga instructors, trained group support facilitators, and exercise physiologists, leads these Retreats. In addition, participants from previous Retreats who have successfully incorporated these lifestyle changes into their daily lives are present to lend support. Dr. Ornish attends each Retreat to lecture and answer questions.

The fees cover all meals, professional staff time, classes and lectures, educational materials and program activities, but do not cover hotel accommodations.

Call the Retreat office at 1-800-775-PMRI or 800-879-2217.

Lifestyle Advantage
Dr. Dean Ornish Retreats
Fifth Avenue Place
120 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2110
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3099

There are two ways to enroll in a Dean Ornish program…

Through Lifestyle Advantage, health care facilities across the country offer the Dr. Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease. These Ornish Programs are administered locally by health plans, hospitals and other health care facilities, in consultation with physicians, cardiologists, and other health care professionals.

To join a local Ornish Program, contact the Ornish Program site nearest you or call Lifestyle Advantage at 800-879-2217.

For most people, this program is a radical change from the way they've been living. It is not for everyone, in our opinion. It takes thought, effort and time to see results. However, Dr. Ornish is a respected physician that has been widely published and his plan or philosophy has not been criticized in terms of its soundness and safety. His books can be purchased in a wide variety of online and retail locations, and many other MDs and healthcare professionals use his plan for their weight loss patients. This plan may be especially relevant for people concerned about their cardiac heath. We can’t find anything wrong with his plan or approach.