Healthy for Life

In their new book, the doctors Heller expand upon the principles behind their Carbohydrate Addict's Diet, citing further research to support their contention that controlling carbohydrate intake can improve one's health. Here the focus is on insulin, specifically having too much of it, a condition called Profactor-H by the Hellers, which, they observe, is linked to obesity, heart disease, adult-onset diabetes and cancer. Beginning with a quiz to help readers determine whether they might be Profactor-H positive, the authors offer suggestions for preventing or even reversing this hormonal imbalance. Diet plans, food lists, exercise options and recipes are included. Seasoned dieters will likely be surprised by the fat and calorie content of many of the recommended low-carbohydrate meals. The Hellers' suggestions for food substitutions and behavioral changes, though perhaps less radical than the text intimates, seem, nevertheless, sound and sufficiently easy to attempt. 150,000 first printing; author tour. (Mar.)