PULSE.

Byline: Mariko Thompson

CARDIAC KING: Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of both men and women. But because the early warning signs often are overlooked, many people don't realize that they're suffering from a heart problem. Capitalizing on the cachet of all things celebrity, CNN talk show host Larry King sets out to educate and inspire in ``Taking on Heart Disease (Rodale; $23.95). King shares his own experience of suffering a heart attack and undergoing quintuple bypass surgery in 1987. He intersperses his story with first-person accounts from such luminaries as Tommy Lasorda, Regis Philbin, Walter Cronkite and Peggy Fleming. The book also contains the latest on prevention and treatment from the celebrities' doctors. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, which funds life-saving procedures for cardiac patients who otherwise could not afford them.

TRANS FATS FREE: Trans fats, aka partially hydrogenated oils, are the reason so many of your favorite convenience foods have a shelf life that extends into the next millennium. In 2006, food manufacturers will be required to include trans fats - which have been linked to high cholesterol and an increased risk for heart disease - on their nutrition labels. But until then, Judith Shaw's ``Trans Fats: The Hidden Killer in Our Food'' (Pocket Books; $6.99) can help consumers reduce their risk of exposure. Shaw's primer explains which foods contain trans fats and which ones don't. She also supplies a handy appendix of brands that are trans fats free.

OVERCOMING FOOD ADDICTION: For Debbie Danowski, journaling became a vital tool in her quest to slim down from 328 pounds. Danowski has maintained her 175-pound weight loss for more than 10 years. Keeping a journal allowed her to uncover and confront the role that food played in her life. With ``The Overeater's Journal'' (Hazelden; $10.95), Danowski provides writing prompts and exercises to help others examine their eating patterns, emotional associations and more. Questions include ``What are my eating rituals?'' and ``Is food love?'' Danowski, an assistant professor of English at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., also is the author of ``Locked Up for Eating Too Much.''

HEY HO, LET'S GO: The only rule to punk rock aerobics is that there are no rules. You want to pogo while everyone else does the skank? Maura Jasper and Hilken Mancini don't care. The creators of ``Punk Rock Aerobics'' (Da Capo Press; $17.95) say their workout is totally DIY (as in ``do it yourself''). Unwilling to endure the conformist gym bunnies in the typical aerobics class, Jasper and Mancini began holding their own classes, punk rock style, in New York and Boston nightclubs. Their book has step-by-step illustrations of 75 aerobic moves, such as Iggy's pop, circle jog, and, of course, air guitar. But before you get moving, you'll want to read the sidebar Q&As with members of the Minutemen, Sonic Youth and the Butthole Surfers, and see how your music collection stacks up against the authors' top 50 list.

CAPTION(S):

5 photos

Photo:

(1) no caption (book: ``Taking On Heart Disease'')

(2) no caption (book: ``Trans Fats: The Hidden Killer in Our Food'')

(3) no caption (book: ``The Overeater's Journal'')

(4) no caption (book: ``Punk Rock Aerobics'')

(5) Hilken Mancini, left, and Maura Jasper created Punk Rock Aerobics.