Chat transcript: Dr Ross Walker-3 December 2002

Guide_OC_amicus in NineMSN_Events says: Dr Walker, thank you for joining us tonight to talk about such an important health issue.

Dr Ross Walker says: It's a pleasure.

Guide_OC_amicus in NineMSN_Events says: Dr Walker, we will go directly to the questions from our users, who have been eagerly awaiting your arrival.

Guest_Kell in NineMSN_Events1 asks: My boyfriend is 25, has been taking Lipitor since he was 16, and is overweight. I am really worried about his health as his uncle died of a heart attack and his father had a triple bypass at 40. How can I help in lowering his weight and cholesterol?

Dr Ross Walker says: The most important aspect here is to stay on the Lipitor.

Guest_Kell in NineMSN_Events1 asks: I have had conflicting reports on the best foods for him. Could you advise me on some major dos and don'ts as far as food, for example, best and worst meats?

Dr Ross Walker says: Because there's a very strong genetic component that's driving up his cholesterol, but without proper lifestyle principles the cholesterol lowering pills will not have such a strong effect so that's where reading The Cell Factor Diet will really help as he will be able to significantly lose weight in conjunction with the Lipitor.

Guest_Tom in NineMSN_Events1 asks: What combination of exercise and your eating program do you recommend to lose weight as well as achieve healthy eating habits?

Dr Ross Walker says: The exercise should be half an hour of brisk exercise but to the point of feeling slightly short of breath and hot, four to five times a week, as well as following the book.

Guest_eddie in NineMSN_Events1 asks: How many eggs do you recommend per week? When I had a MI six years ago (at 38 years of age) I was told to go on a strict low-fat diet, to include no more than two eggs per week. Has current thinking totally thrown the low-fat regime out the window?

Dr Ross Walker says: I believe it has. It's my feeling that eggs are good for you, even one to two a day. There has never been a scientific study that links dietary cholesterol from say eggs with the fat that ends up in your blood vessels.

Guest_lochie in NineMSN_Events3 asks: Am I allowed to have two slices of bread a day or is that too much?

Dr Ross Walker says: Two slices of wholegrain a day is quite acceptable but going beyond that will put too much sugar into the system.

Guest_LURCH in NineMSN_Events2 asks: I am a middle-aged pilot who is overweight, over-stressed and leading a sedentary lifestyle. What is the best way to initially lose excess weight and then to maintain it?

Dr Ross Walker says: The best way is to go onto a good fat, good protein and low carbohydrate diet as detailed in the Cell Factor book.

Guest_kiza in NineMSN_Events3 asks: I am 13 and my family eats a lot of chips and biscuits. Can you suggest some healthy snacks that we can eat?

Dr Ross Walker says: Nuts, 10 to 15 in total per day of walnuts, macadamias or almonds is a much healthier alternative to chips and biscuits. Chips and biscuits are loaded with synthetic fat, which are really bad sources of fat that clog the cells in the body. Also, the nuts should be natural — no added vegetable oil.

Guest_crayonz in NineMSN_Events3 asks: What about supermarket peanuts?

Dr Ross Walker says: Supermarket peanuts have been chemically altered and contain too much synthetic fat.

Guest_shorty in NineMSN_Events3 asks: Should I follow your diet after having a triple bypass or be on some other?

Dr Ross Walker says: If you've had a triple bypass, it's even more important to follow the Cell Factor diet.

Guest_A in NineMSN_Events1 asks: What are your thoughts about eating a vegan diet? Is there anything wrong with not eating meat or dairy products?

Dr Ross Walker says: The problem with eating a vegan diet is you don't get a lot of the essential vitamins, especially B12. So if you want to eat a vegan diet there are certainly some health benefits, but I suggest you supplement it with some good quality vitamins.

Guest_Charmian in NineMSN_Events3 asks: Hi, I have a family history of high cholesterol; mine has always been around 11. I am 36, my father died at 58 and I am currently taking Lipitor 40mg. Is there anything more effective than Lipitor? Diet does not seem to affect my levels.

Dr Ross Walker says: Diet will not affect your levels because you have a genetic cholesterol problem and even with the most rigid diets, your cholesterol will still stay high. Lipitor is very effective but in the next year or two a new drug called Zetia will be released, which will lower your cholesterol, in conjunction with Lipitor, even further.

Guest_jodi in NineMSN_Events1 asks: Is rice something we should limit?

Dr Ross Walker says: Yes, because it contains too much in the way of processed carbohydrates. If you wish to eat rice, choose brown rice and only in moderate amounts.

Guest_megga in NineMSN_Events2 asks: What dairy products are okay to use? Are low-fat snack foods good or bad?

Dr Ross Walker says: I believe dairy products can be used in moderation without any problems whatsoever. The problem with low-fat snacks is they are often high in carbohydrates. Read the side of the packet, if there is more than 15gm per serve of carbs then this is too high.

Guest_sydjohn in NineMSN_Events1 asks: Hi, I'm 51, had a heart attack on November 25 and live a reasonably healthy lifestyle. What do I do now? I don't smoke.

Dr Ross Walker says: You clearly have a genetic problem that predisposes you to heart disease. I suggest you read my book, which includes this, and tells you what you can do about it.

Guest_hopeless in NineMSN_Events3 asks: My husband had a heart attack. We both hate fish and vegetables so what advice can you give?

Dr Ross Walker says: Fish and veggies are the most preferable way of getting the appropriate nutrients, but there are some very good supplements on the market, such as fish oil capsules, flax seed oil capsules and there are capsules which have concentrated fruits and vegetables.

Guest_Lee in NineMSN_Events2 asks: I have not read The Cell Factor Diet, however, I am 46 years old, female and overweight. I have irritable bowel syndrome and am on antidepressants with a cholesterol level of about 6.5. Am I a suitable candidate to benefit from this diet?

Dr Ross Walker says: You are a perfect candidate to benefit from this diet. I suggest you buy the book and follow the diet carefully.

Guest_Happy_Girl in NineMSN_Events2 asks: If your main goal is to lose weight, how are high carbohydrate, low-fat diets less affective?

Dr Ross Walker says: Because the body has the choice of either burning fat or burning carbs. If you follow a high carb diet the body burns carbohydrates and no fat. The excess carbs not used for fuel are deposited as fat, therefore you put on weight. Therefore, low-fat, high carbohydrates don't work.

Guest_crayonz in NineMSN_Events3 asks: Are there any foods which are dangerous, even in minimal amounts? And are there any that I can really hoe into?

Dr Ross Walker says: All processed packaged foods, all foods from a bakery and all take-away foods contain synthetic fat and therefore have the potential for harm. However, I believe we should be following the Cell Factor Diet — 19 meals out of 21 per week and the other two we can eat what we like.

Guest_Jo in NineMSN_Events2 asks: Does the weakening of the cell membrane have direct effects upon any areas of health, or does it have a generalised impact?

Dr Ross Walker says: It has effects on all areas of health as well as causing the increasing fatigue we're seeing in western society. It is especially seen with diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, cholesterol problems and cardiovascular disease and I also believe it contributes to the increasing cancer rates we're seeing.

Guest_Katie in NineMSN_Events2 asks: Are even the "low fat" muffins and bakery foods etc "bad"?>br>

Dr Ross Walker says: Absolutely, because they might be low in saturated fats but they contain a significant amounts of synthetic fats. Synthetic fats are used by the food industry to thicken and harden foods, so any foods that are thick and hard, like donuts and muffins contain synthetic fats and should be avoided most of the time.

Guest_Jack in NineMSN_Events2 asks: What is the problem with commercial fruit juices?

Dr Ross Walker says: The problem is, although there is no added sugar, the sugar comes from fruit concentrates and still puts too much sugar in the system as per the new glycemic index, which will hopefully become a routine part of food labelling.

Guest_morgan in NineMSN_Events3 asks: What is a synthetic fat?

Dr Ross Walker says: A synthetic fat is usually a vegetable or fish oil that has been chemically altered through a process of hydrogenation. And as I said before, this is used by the food industry to thicken and harden foods.

Guest_sher in NineMSN_Events3 asks: What level of impact would this diet have in controlling high blood pressure and would it be possible of come off medication ?

Dr Ross Walker says: Once you have established high blood pressure it's often difficult to stop medication. But I have no doubt the Cell Factor diet will reduce your need for tablets.

Guest_Lets in NineMSN_Events3 asks: Is butter preferable to margarine, then?

Dr Ross Walker says: It depends on the type of margarine. The old-fashioned polyunsaturated margarines contained a significant amount of synthetic fats. The new combination olive and canola oil margarines have little synthetic fats and many other benefits.

Guest_Brendan in NineMSN_Events3 asks: What about margarine with the heart tick on it?

Dr Ross Walker says: I still have a problem with the ticks unless it's the two I've just mentioned. The Heart Foundation up to this point, hasn't really focused on synthetic fat, pushing more the low fat, high carbohydrate story, which obviously hasn't worked.

Guest_Reg in NineMSN_Events3 asks: Can you have too much Omega 3?

Dr Ross Walker says: The answer to that question is, you can have too much of anything. It is my suggestion you have two to three fish meals per week and I personally take 2gm of fish oil capsules per day and two capsules of flax seed oil capsules per day.

Guest_sher in NineMSN_Events3 asks: What about home-made chips being cooked in olive oil? Is that just a bad as synthetic oils?

Dr Ross Walker says: The only problem with that is the carbohydrates in the chips.

Guest_Harry in NineMSN_Events1 asks: What is you opinion of the various commercial diets that are available, for example, Lite and Easy, Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers? Is it better to go to a registered dietician?

Dr Ross Walker says: I believe it really depends on what the person is most comfortable with. Some people like group therapy, others on a one-to-one basis. It's the one you're most comfortable with. The principles of the Cell Factor book are not purely based on diet but are a complete lifestyle program — not just for a few months, but for life.

Guest_Amber in NineMSN_Events1 asks: Doesn't a low carbohydrate diet increase fatigue?

Dr Ross Walker says: If you ingest a very low carb diet, such as the Atkins diet, yes this is the case. But the Cell Factor diet is a lower carbohydrate diet that still suggests the low density carbs like fruit and vegetables. In fact, all of my patients that have followed this diet say they have more energy not less, as their cellular energy has been restored.

Guest_maddog in NineMSN_Events1 asks: : How can cholesterol levels be lowered with a diet?

Dr Ross Walker says: In the section in the Cell Factor diet book on good proteins, I discuss the Portfolio diet. This involves soya protein, 10-15 almonds per day, cholesterol lowering margarine, oat-based breakfast and increased consumption of fruit and vegetables. This diet lowered the bad cholesterol by 35 percent, which is similar to a powerful cholesterol lowering drug.

Guest_Amber in NineMSN_Events1 asks: Is it okay to eat wholegrain products like grainy breads and brown rice?

Dr Ross Walker says: It's okay but remember these will eventually end up as sugar in your bloodstream if you have too much.

Guest_Kell in NineMSN_Events2 asks: Can you tell me the website address for you book, The Cell Factor Diet?

Dr Ross Walker says: www.whr.com.au. But it's also available in all good book stores.

Guest_dragon in NineMSN_Events2 asks: Can you tell us about the nuts we should eat daily?

Dr Ross Walker says: My suggestion is 10-15 total —: walnuts, almonds or macadamias. But make sure they are natural and not roasted in vegetable oil.

Guest_Iain in NineMSN_Events1 asks: Is red meat okay with your diet?

Dr Ross Walker says: Of course it is in moderation and I would suggest lean meat over the usual cuts.

Guest_paul in NineMSN_Events1 asks: I get the feeling I may be eating too much carbohydrate. I'm 41, active and eat a plate of cereal in the morning with toast, through the day another six slices of wholegrain bread and a salad bun for lunch. Is that too much?

Dr Ross Walker says: Far too much. I would suggest changing to my Super Charged Breakfast detailed in the Cell Factor book and cutting back to two to three wholegrain pieces of bread per day.

Guest_annie in NineMSN_Events1 asks: Does calorie consumption matter?

Dr Ross Walker says: Absolutely, there is no doubt that a somewhat calorie-restricted diet is the only proven anti-ageing technique.

Guest_Ray in NineMSN_Events2 asks: I had a heart attack in 1994 and I have type two diabetes. I eat, and enjoy, a lot of curries. Is this okay considering my heart problem and diabetes?

Dr Ross Walker says: Although there is nothing wrong with the occasional curry, a lot of curries still contain synthetic fats so I would suggest you should cut back on curries. The Cell Factor diet will get your diabetes under exquisite control not to mention your heart.

Guest_sher in NineMSN_Events3 asks: Being very, very tired, would your diet help in restoring energy?

Dr Ross Walker says: No doubt, because my diet restores the health of your cells, therefore restores the health of your body.

Guest_robyn in NineMSN_Events2 asks: How much weight per week can I expect to lose on the Cell Factor diet?

Dr Ross Walker says: At least half to one kilo per week and I believe more than this is probably too much.

Guest_amanda in NineMSN_Events1 asks: What do you think is the major difference about your diet?

Dr Ross Walker says: My diet is a good fat, good protein and lower carbohydrate diet compared with the usually suggested diets. But it is also more achievable and easier to follow than the standard low-fat, high carbohydrate diets. Let's face it, is very boring as it is.

Guest_Teshe in NineMSN_Events2 asks: Dr Walker, I was impressed with your story. However, how does this program differ from the Atkins diet?

Dr Ross Walker says: The Atkins diet is a much lower carbohydrate diet, which does not promote the use of fruit and vegetables, which have a proven scientific benefit.

Guest_Damien in NineMSN_Events2 asks: Are the suggestions you are now making different in any way to those made in your two books, If I Eat Another Carrot I'll Go Crazy, and the second Carrots book?

Dr Ross Walker says: Yes they are. I have moved towards a lower carbohydrate intake, although no time in the other books did I ever suggest a particularly high carb diet. The difference with the Cell Factor book is that I have now explained why we have an epidemic of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and cardio vascular disease.

Guide_OC_amicus in NineMSN_Events says: Dr Walker, unfortunately we are out of time tonight. Do you have any last words for our many users?

Dr Ross Walker says: I believe all the information you need for good health is in my book the Cell Factor. If you have any further questions, I would refer you to my website which is www.whr.com.au and I thank you all for taking part in this chat.

Guide_OC_amicus in NineMSN_Events says: Again Dr Walker thank you and goodnight. This concludes our A Current Affair Live Chat with Dr Ross Walker, December 3, 2002. Produced by ninemsn.com.au in Sydney, Australia. ninemsn.com.au ©2002.