Conservative diet suggested for Limbaugh

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- A physician has written to Rush Limbaugh, hospitalized in Hawaii with chest pains, wishing him a fast recovery and advising him to consider a conservative diet.

Dr. Neal Barnard, founding president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, suggested the talk show host take a conservative approach to his diet, in keeping with his conservative politics.

"In our grandparents' day, people knew the value of humble beans, vegetables, and fruits -- they have essentially no cholesterol and very little saturated fat, so they tend to reduce cholesterol levels, they are also rich in soluble fiber, which helps the body rid itself of cholesterol," Barnard said in the letter.

"In our grandparents' time, meat was considered a treat, not the central feature of every meal. Similarly, cheese was not consumed in anywhere near the quantities it is today. A century ago, the average American consumed less than 4 pounds of cheese in an entire year. Today, that figure is more than 33 pounds."

Today, many Americans are very liberal with meat, dairy products and other sources of cholesterol and fat and have to rely on medications to counteract the effects of their diets.

"Returning to the healthier habits of our forebears has great value, and exceeding them can be lifesaving," Barnard said. "Twenty years ago, it was shown that coronary atherosclerosis can be reversed by a combination of a plant-based diet, avoiding tobacco, modest exercise -- a half-hour daily walk and stress management."