The Fruits of Healthy Living

Dr. Marie Savard's Apples and Pears is her Latest Book Aimed at Promoting Good Health

Dr. Marie Savard is a nationally known internist, women's health expert, and advocate for patients' rights. She has written two helpful books to assist patients in recording, understanding, and overseeing their own healthcare. In January of 2005, Dr. Savard announced the arrival of her newest book, Apples and Pears, which explains how body shape is the best predictor of one's future health.

How to Save Your Own Life was Dr. Savard's first book on controlling one's own healthcare and was published in 2000 by Warner Books. This 240-page paperback book explains the importance of collecting copies of one's own medical records and having a working knowledge of any conditions. It also lists texts, exams, and immunizations that everyone should routinely receive. The book goes on to instruct readers on how to be an active partner with their doctor, and how to work with the system — including hospitals and insurance companies.

Dr. Savard's second book on this same topic is The Savard Health Record: A Six-Step System for Managing Your Health Care. Published in 2000 by Time-Life Books, this information is packaged in a three-ring binder — complete with a user's manual and heavy-weight-paper instructions, forms, and pocket pages for filling in and organizing vital health forms.

Both How to Save Your Own Life and The Savard Health Record provide numerous samples of medical reports and letters. They also include definitions of common medical abbreviations and terms.

Her most recent book, Apples and Pears (written with Carol Svec), explains how fat around the middle, i.e., "an apple shape," is dangerous, whereas fat around the lower portion of the body (below the waist), i.e., "a pear shape," is protective. Specifically, Dr. Savard instructs readers on how to determine if they carry extra weight in the middle — with a bigger gut area, or if they carry extra weight in the hips, buttocks, and thighs. The book is primarily directed to women, but according to Dr. Savard, men may also benefit by following the same dietary and exercise recommendations.

In Apples and Pears, Dr. Savard states that health is measured by inches and not by the pound. Apple-shaped women are more likely to develop disorders such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and breast cancer, while pear-shaped women are more susceptible to problems like osteoporosis, cellulite, and varicose veins. This book gives information on healthy diets for the different body shapes and lists foods that help protect against disease. It talks about easier weight loss and stresses the importance of exercise. For more information about this book, readers may call (717) 747-0936 or go to www.applesandpears.org

Dr. Savard explains, "My life's mission is to empower every woman to take charge of her health. If the woman is my patient, I can sit her down, explain the importance of body shape, warn her of her specific disease risks, and tell her exactly what she needs to do in order to live longer, look better, and feel healthier. For the millions of other women, the ones I can't treat personally, I am putting that same power in your hands with Apples and Pears."

Dr. Savard's background includes receiving a Bachelor's degree in nursing (BN) and a medical degree (MD), both from the University of Pennsylvania. She has held many positions, including hospital director, associate professor, technical advisor, and Board member, for a number of prestigious medical centers, universities, and associations. She has been featured in many national publications and has appeared on The Today Show. Dr. Savard speaks frequently before a variety of groups and government hearings. She is currently the senior medical director of the Cabrini Nursing Home and is also the senior medical advisor to Lifetime Television's "Strong Medicine."

Some readers may remember that Dr. Savard was featured by MSAA in an earlier article in The Motivator. This was titled, "Women's Issues and MS," appearing in the Spring 2002 issue. Anyone wishing to receive a copy of this article may call MSAA at (800) 532-7667.

All three of Dr. Savard's books are available through www.amazon.com and Barnes   Noble at www.bn.com. Books may also be ordered by calling Barnes   Noble at (800) 843-2665. How to Save Your Own Life may also be borrowed through MSAA's Lending Library (MSAA book #172; for information on how to obtain books from the Lending Library, please refer to page 56 of this issue). Readers may also visit Dr. Savard's website at www.drsavard.com, or contact her via email at info@drsavard.com or phone at (717) 747-0936.

Please note that MSAA does not endorse any specific product or treatment. The information about these books is given to raise readers' awareness about what is available; the books are not necessarily recommended by MSAA. Readers are strongly advised to consult their medical professional before making any changes to their diet, activity level, or treatment regimen.