Pritikin, the Man Who Healed America's Heart: Plus a Special Section Highlighting the Pritikin..

Monte and Nathan Pritikin's widow here collaborate on a biography of a remarkable man who campaigned for sensible nutrition as a weapon against heart diease and other maladies. Born in Chicago in 1915, Pritikin early distinguished himself as a successful businessman and inventor of photographic devices. During his middle years, living in California as a family man, he set out to research why heart failures rarely occurred in people on so-called ""poor'' diets. The malady was increasing among affluent citizens who ate abundantly of ``rich'' red meat, creamy desserts, etc. Convinced that these folk were killing themselves, Pritikin published a diet that made him famous and controversial to the medical establishment. But by the time of his death in 1985, he had been vindicated, his accomplishments recognized by his opponents. Many doctors now recommend the low-fat, low-cholestrol menus Pritikin introduced in 1976. Photos not seen by PW. Film rights to CBS/TV; author tour. (November 17)