Richard Pooley To Conduct Heart Health Seminar

Dr Richard Pooley, a retired cardiothoracic surgeon and Ridgefield resident, will conduct “Heart Health: A Surprising, Refreshing Approach,” a two-part seminar on Thursdays, February 21 and 28. The programs will run from 7 to 9:30 pm each week at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 16 Sawmill Road.

Dr Pooley, who received his medical training at Tufts and Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, practiced at Westchester Medical Center for 25 years.

The first part of the seminar will focus on studies of specific groups of people and their diets in the early 1900s, such as Aborigines, Eskimos, Africans, Swiss (those living in the Alps), who were separated from civilization. Despite having a diet heavily dependent on animal foods and fats, which traditionally have been categorized as foods bad for the heart, research has shown the above-mentioned groups of people were extremely healthy and did not suffer from many common maladies  until they began eating processed foods.

Dr Pooley will also talk about how this research affects current-day thinking about saturated fats, cholesterol, and trans fats.

The second part of the seminar will cover important information about specific foods.

The seminar is open to the public free of charge. It is being sponsored by the Relief Society (women’s organization) of the Danbury Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

For additional information about the seminar call Karyne Anderson at 746-5631 or Sue Wutzke at 364-1533.