The Dangerous Sopranos Diet | TIME
Actor James Gandolfini’s tough Mafia don character valued family but was incessantly anxious about his ability to keep them well. Tony Soprano kept his family safe, in his decidedly unconventional fashion. And Gandolfini, a husband and father of two, also looked after his own–until he was claimed by a heart attack at age 51.
Let’s not ignore the obvious: at just over 6 ft. (180 cm) and around 300 lb. (136 kg), he was an outsize personality in a dangerously outsize body.
Stress may play a key role in weight gain–and a celebrity isn’t immune to it. Stress hormones like cortisol can hijack our normal appetite sensors, pushing us to eat even when we are not hungry.
This is particularly dangerous when the excess fat is belly fat, which squeezes the kidneys. Since the kidneys regulate blood pressure, it’s no surprise that overweight people are at such high risk for hypertension, a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes. Nearly half of all victims die from their first heart attack because they do not know their risk factors or recognize the warning signs.
Awareness can be a lifesaver, and two of Gandolfini’s Sopranos castmates are living proof. Vincent Pastore and Frank Vincent had heart-artery blockages that resembled the type that may have killed Gandolfini. They both noted increasing shortness of breath, and although at the time they did not realize they were at risk of heart disease, they were brave and wise enough to seek help; each had lifesaving surgery at my center during The Sopranos’ run.
It wasn’t easy for Pastore and Vincent to shed their mob characters and see the doctor. In fact, when Pastore first met my colleague Michael Argenziano, he introduced himself by his Sopranos nickname, Big Pussy. Dr. Argenziano had never seen the show and was caught off guard. Don’t worry, he assured Pastore, we’re all afraid in situations like these! But showing up was a profound act of courage–courage that is fortified by our deep desire to protect our families.
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