How to reverse heart disease: Doctor's plan

Despite all the progress of medical science to combat heart disease, it still remains the people's No. 1 killer. Every 40 seconds someone somewhere dies from heart disease, the Newsmax Health reported. 

Steven Masley, M.D., has come up with a simple five-point plan for preventing and reversing the progression of heart disease, based on his own clinical studies. In his new book, "The 30-Day Heart Tune-Up," he details how to effectively boost your heart health in as little as a few weeks.

No. 1: Fiber. Making sure you're getting enough natural fiber in your diet — from vegetables, fruit, beans, and nuts.

No. 2: Fitness. The standard minimum guideline — 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week — is a good rule of thumb to follow. 

No. 3: Body fat. High body fat is a primary predictor of heart health, which is why most Americans need to adopt sensible diets and exercise regularly to burn it off.

No. 4: Fish and fish oil. Dr. Masley recommends 1,000 milligrams per day of healthy fish oils, from food or supplements. "That's like three servings of canned wild salmon per day, if you're on a budget," he says. 

No. 5: Food nutrients: Most Americans don't consume enough healthy nutrients, putting them at risk for heart disease, Dr. Masley says. Among the nutrients he recommends: 2,000 International Units a day of vitamin D, 400 milligrams of magnesium, and vitamin K from green leafy vegetables. "They are powerful and 70 to 80 percent of Americans are grossly deficient" in these vitamins and nutrients, he notes.

He adds that controlled scientific studies he has conducted with his own patients to test his 30-day program have proven it is effective.

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