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Rachael Brown's book, For Fork's Sake, takes readers on a 10-day journey from the SAD diet to the HAPPY Diet – that is, “Healthy and Plant-Powered, YAY!!”  Rachel discusses her family’s journey and all of her trusted tips for making this transition, including: What does this way of eating even entail? How do you bring your family along, especially if they’re reluctant? How do you handle naysayers and questioners? What are some of the common misconceptions and pitfalls you will encounter? And, oh my goodness, how do you handle the picky eaters in your family? This book is easily digestible but packed full of so many tips. As she says on her website, “Changing your family’s food, health, and life for the better doesn’t have to be drastic. Transition to healthier, happier Whole Food, Plant-Based, No Oil eating with help from a mom who’s done it.” Episode Resources Episode Webpage Watch the Episode on YouTube Learn More About Rachael Brown and For Fork’s Sake Join our PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 9-14, 2023 To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our cereals, granolas, pizza kits, broths and soups, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode

New York Times bestselling author and PLANTSTRONG founder, Rip Esselstyn, is joined by a very special guest, his father, Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., discussing the nine ways he has documented reversal of cardiovascular disease over the last 40 years. When Dr. Esselstyn started his work at the Cleveland Clinic in the early 80s, he was the chairman of the breast cancer task force. In his work, he encountered multiple cultures where breast cancer was virtually non-existent and the same was true for cardiovascular disease.  Why was the incidence of cancer and cardiovascular disease so prevalent in the U.S. and other Western cultures, but not so in others?  Essy set out to prove that cardiovascular disease COULD be reversed with a whole food, plant-based diet, but first he had to find compliant patients and that’s where the conversation starts today. Once he had amassed compliant patients he did, in fact, prove reversal of heart disease in nine different measures, including: Oh, and stick around to the end when he answers audience questions ranging from caffeine, salt, and alcohol, to diabetes, saturated fats, and gum disease.
   Episode Highlights 10:10 Where does cardiovascular disease begin? 11:00 Role of nitric oxide 13:00 Is it ever too late to bring endothelial cells back to life? 14:30 What are the foods you should and shouldn’t eat to protect endothelial cells 16:00 Benefits of chewing your greens six times daily 21:20 Top Greens to Consume (i.e. Essy’s Rap!) 39:45 Essy Answers Your Questions 40:30 Will this also help with type 2 Diabetes? 41:05 Why are my triglycerides so high when I’m compliant? 42:00 Is one drink of beer or wine ok with dinner? 42:35 Are you against statin drugs? 44:50 Can old plaque be reversed? 46:50 Are plant-based milks ok? 48:50 Why is the totality of sodium intake important? 49:50 What are your recommendations on B-12? 50:53 Is there a link between gum disease and heart disease? 51:11 What are your thoughts on red rice yeast extract in place of statins? 51:25 What’s more toxic - salt or sugar? 55:50 How can avocados damage endothelial cells? Episode Resources Watch the Episode on YouTube Order Dr. Esselstyn's Book, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: The Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven, Nutrition-Based Cure Dr. Esselstyn’s Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Website Slides from Dr. Esselstyn's Presentation Join our PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 9-14, 2023 To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our cereals, granolas, pizza kits, broths and soups, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode

What do cruciferous vegetables, tomatoes, soy, and green tea all have in common? According to hundreds of scientific studies, they all can drastically reduce the risk of prostate cancer in men. Here are a few facts: Prostate cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer in men One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their life Sadly, one in 40 will succumb to this disease However, much like heart disease and many other lifestyle diseases, this cancer can mostly be prevented, and today's guests lay out the extensive research and practical solutions in their book, Preventing Prostate Cancer: Reduce Your Risk with Simple, Proactive Choices Dr. Benny Gavi, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Stanford University, teamed up with researcher Maya Eylon to compile more than one hundred recent, reliable, and relevant international studies on the effects of diet on prostate health. As you probably guessed, all signs point to a whole-food, plant-based diet, combined with exercise and screenings, as your best defense against prostate cancer. Today, we discuss some of their research, along with outlining the biggest cancer-fighting foods to consume on a regular basis. 16:00 Cruciferous Veggies - super fighters for our bodies 20:25 Tomatoes and Lycopene 23:20 Healthy Soy Consumption 27:28 Green Tea They also share research on foods you should avoid, including meat, dairy, and eggs in excess This book is a powerful tool to empower men (and those of you who love those men) to make healthy, lifestyle changes that can save thousands of lives. Episode Resources Watch the Episode on YouTube Order Preventing Prostate Cancer: Reduce Your Risk with Simple, Proactive Choices Email Maya: maya@interactivewellness.com Email Dr. Gavi: drgavi@interactivewellness.com Join us in Black Mountain, NC for a Transformative PLANTSTRONG Retreat - April 16-21, 2023https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/2023-black-mountain-retreat Learn more about the PLANTSTRONG Sedona Retreat - October 9-14, 2023 To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our cereals, granolas, pizza kits, broths and soups, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode

What is the most common myth about adopting a whole food plant-based diet? (Ok- besides that crazy fear of not getting enough protein)...The biggest misconception is that this way of eating is expensive, unattainable, and elitist even. This simply isn’t true. I mean, what’s more economical than potatoes, beans, and rice?!  Toni Okamoto (plantbasedonabudget.com) has been on a mission to bust this myth to smithereens since she launched her website in 2012 to prove that healthy eating doesn’t have to be expensive. She’s created meal plans that show how to eat plant-based if you only have $25 per week to spend, she started the Plant-Based on a Budget Facebook group and has written multiple books, including her latest, which drops on March 7th - Plant-Based on a Budget: Quick and Easy, featuring 100 fast and healthy meals. There’s no pretentiousness here - just plant-powered fun as she walks through her story and digs into some of the tips and recipes in her new book that will stretch your dollar and leave you with quick, easy, mouth-watering meals. Episode Highlights: 25:40 The Value of Meal Planning  29:00 Have a Well-Stocked Pantry and Freezer 31:40 Time-Saving Kitchen Tools 33:10 Smart Storage for Produce to Maximize Freshness 37:03 Recipe Highlights from Plant-Based on a Budget Quick and Easy 40:14 Make Ahead Breakfast Highlights -Fluffy Freezer waffles -Baked Oatmeal -Overnight Oats 45:50 One-Pot Meal Highlights - Leave the dishes and messy kitchen behind with one-pot meals -Alfredo pasta -Curry lentil soup -Turmeric, lentils, and split peas - Ethiopian-inspired flavors 52:05 30-Minute Meals Highlights - Spend under $30 a week and only 30 minutes of time -Pesto pasta - Use raw sunflower seeds because they are cheaper than pine nuts -Cauliflower fried rice -Southwestern lettuce wraps 1:02:20 Sheet Pan Dishes and Casserole Highlights -Sheet pan fajitas -Chili cornbread casserole -Vegetable and garbanzo beans foil packets 1:12:15 Mix and Match Bowls -Always prepare a base of quinoa, brown rice, beans -Frozen veggies, baked tofu 1:17:00 Make and Take Snacks 1:17:55 Desserts   About Toni Okamoto TONI OKAMOTO is the founder of Plant-Based on a Budget, the popular website and meal plan that shows you how to save dough by eating veggies. She’s also author of the Plant-Based on a Budget cookbook, The Super Easy Vegan Slow Cooker Cookbook, and the co-host of The Plant-Powered People Podcast. Okamoto’s work has been profiled by NBC News, Parade Magazine, and she’s a regular presence on local and national morning shows across the country, where she teaches viewers how to break their meat habit without breaking their budget. She was also featured in the popular documentary What the Health. When she’s not cooking up a plant-based storm, she’s spending time with her husband in Sacramento, CA. Episode Resources Visit the Episode Webpage Watch the Episode on YouTube Order Toni’s New Book, Plant-Based on a Budget Quick and Easy Plant-Based on a Budget Website Follow Toni on Instagram: @plantbasedonabudget To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our new granola and teas, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Join us in Black Mountain, NC for a Transformative PLANTSTRONG Retreat - April 16-21, 2023 https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/2023-black-mountain-retreat Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode

For almost 15 years now, we’ve been beating the drum about the positive health impacts of a whole-food plant-based diet.  We know that it can improve your physical health in remarkable ways but, surprisingly, no research study has ever been done on the impact of a plant-based diet on addiction and recovery— until now.  Enter our friend, Adam Sud and the Infinite Study. Inspired by his own addiction and mental health recovery, Adam sought to prove that his own recovery wasn’t a fluke so he piloted the first controlled trial to investigate the impact of nutrition and nutrition education on early addiction recovery outcomes. The long-awaited results of his groundbreaking research study are out and let’s just say we think they’re pretty plantstrong.  About Adam Sud Adam Sud is a behavioral wellness & nutrition expert, international speaker, and the founder and CEO of Plant Based for Positive Change, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing research and understanding of how nutrition impacts mental health and addiction. He has studied the use of nutrition in disease reversal under the mentorships of leading plant-based physicians and has worked in mental health and behavioral health treatment centers using plant-based nutrition as a tool for strengthening recovery and relapse prevention. In 2012 Sud was personally struggling with multiple addictions, serious chronic diseases, and mental health disorders. His life nearly came to an end when he attempted suicide by drug overdose. With the help of treatment and the implementation of a plant-based diet, he began a journey that led to the reversal of his chronic disease conditions, the cancellation of all medications, and the lowering of his weight from Class III Obesity levels. He is currently 10 years sober.   Episode Resources Episode Webpage Watch the Episode on YouTube The Infinite Study from the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine Forbes Magazine Article on The Infinite Study results Psychology Today - Can Plant-Based Diets Help Us Overcome Addiction? Adam Sud Website Follow Adam on Instagram @plantbasedaddict To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our new granola and teas, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Join us in Black Mountain, NC for a Transformative PLANTSTRONG Retreat - April 16-21, 2023 https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/2023-black-mountain-retreat Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode

Bonjour, mes amis. This week, we’re heading to the bayou to celebrate Mardi Gras with Camryn Clements, The Plant-Based Cajun! Dan Buettner from the Blue Zones was the first to introduce us to Camryn because she’s one of the chefs featured in his new book, The Blue Zones American Kitchen.  Camryn is a busy Mom and when her young family moved from Louisiana to Texas for her husband’s medical residency, she found herself missing her cajun culture, especially being so isolated and far away from home during the pandemic. At the same time, she and her family were also trying to improve their own health so she started taking some of her favorite cajun dishes and making them plantstrong. We’re talking about mushroom etouffee, jambalaya, tofu shrimp, red beans and rice, and even king cake. The plant-based cajun knows just the right combination of spices to kick up your taste buds and have you dancing with your friends and family. And, with Mardi Grad right around the corner, we couldn’t think of a better time to celebrate Camryn and the authentic cajun flair she shares with her audience. So, no matter where you are on your plantstrong journey, let’s let the good times roll, or as they say down there in Louisiana - “Laissez les bons temps rouler!" About The Plant-Based Cajun Camryn grew up in Lake Charles, LA with all the trappings of a true Cajun: Mom made the cuisine, Dad and her siblings studied and spoke French (very rusty at this point in life!), and her Dad played in a Cajun band that we performed in often. Her childhood was full of culture. Her husband began his residency in Internal Medicine in 2018. At the time, he was battling fatty liver disease along with other health issues related to unhealthy eating (the Standard American Diet). They knew they needed to change, and they knew where the evidence pointed: the plant-based diet. The plant-based Cajun was born! Episode Resources Episode Webpage Watch the Episode on YouTube The Plant-Based Cajun Instagram: @theplantbasedcajun The Plant-Based Cajun Website The Plant-Based Cajun YouTube To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our new granola and teas, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Join us in Black Mountain, NC for a Transformative PLANTSTRONG Retreat - April 16-21, 2023 https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/2023-black-mountain-retreat Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode

D. Anthony Evans loves pain. Pain, you might say, is his superpower, which is a good thing because he lives with excruciating pain every second of the day.  D. Anthony was born with Neurofibromatosis (NF), a rare genetic condition causing multiple tumors to grow on the nerve tissue. He has hundreds of them on and in his body.  Unfortunately, they can become malignant and turn into an aggressive, mostly terminal, form of cancer.  In 2012, D. Anthony was diagnosed with this cancer. Doctors removed hundreds of tumors and told him he had six months to live.   Eleven years later, he’s thriving.    How in the world did he go from a death sentence to the physical specimen and motivational force that he is today?  One word: PLANTS.  This beautiful soul embraces a daily rigorous physical and spiritual practice where he chooses to celebrate a birthday every day because every day is a renewal of life and one more day he gets to celebrate being alive.  About D. Anthony Evans Adidas called D. Anthony Evans one of the world’s most inspirational athletes, and they’re not alone in being amazed at his powerful story. As a plant-based lifestyle transition coach and dynamic advocate, D. Anthony is dedicated to helping people with major health issues defy the odds and learn to thrive - because he knows how to. Despite being diagnosed with terminal bone cancer, being given 6 months to live, and having 385 tumors removed from his body over the course of eleven nine-hour operations, he has not just survived but thrived for 11 years longer than anyone in history with his cancer. He attributes all of his success to adopting an alkaline mindset and lifestyle that rest perpetually on the foundation of a positive mindset, consistent challenging physical fitness, and a whole food plant-based lifestyle. Through his nonprofit Cheri Inspires which he founded in his mother's name, he aims to bridge the widening access gap that poor and fixed-income patients face should they decide to fight for their life holistically with treatments traditional insurance just doesn't cover. This is where D, identified the need and created a solution. D didn't fight his fight traditionally because he had the help of Chef Dave. This is why this part of his mission is so important to him because understands that unless you are independently wealthy, fighting cancer holistically is really not an option. Episode Resources Episode Webpage Watch the Episode on YouTube D. Anthony Instagram @danthonytrains D. Anthony Facebook Cheri-Inspires.org - D’s non-profit dedicated to helping people receive holistic treatment H.O.P.E. The Project - Cancer Patient Given 6 Months To Live in 2012 | D Anthony Evans Part 1 | Plant Power Stories - Part 1 H.O.P.E. The Project - Cancer Thriver Defies His Prognosis | D Anthony Evans Part 1 | Plant Power Stories - Part 2 To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our new granola and teas, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Join us in Black Mountain, NC for a Transformative PLANTSTRONG Retreat - April 16-21, 2023 https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/2023-black-mountain-retreat Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode

Let’s cut right to the chase today. A whole food, plant-based diet CAN save your life.  It sounds like hyperbole, but it isn’t, because today’s guest is living proof.  John Tanner was out on a run in 2009 and went into cardiac arrest. He collapsed to the ground and his heart stopped beating. Fortunately, the quick action of others to get help saved his life.  In recovery, John started reading everything he could about the causes of heart disease and how to prevent it. His research, of course, led him to the work of Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr, T. Colin Campbell, and others. He learned what most doctors don’t know: Heart disease need not exist. It is reversible and, in most cases, preventable.  John tells his harrowing story and discusses the remarkable advocacy work he is doing now with his non-profit NuSci and food delivery company, Little Green Forks.  In fact, he’s offered a generous discount code at Little Green Forks: Rip15New to receive $15 off your order.  A plantstrong diet brought him back to life and it can help you, too. About John Tanner, PhD John Tanner earned his M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering and his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Caltech. John is the Founder and CEO of Tanner Research, Inc., an advanced R&D company that was named to the "LA Fast 50" five years in a row and that develops software, electronics, and robotics. Dr. Tanner is also the founder and Director of NuSci, The Nutrition Science Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives through education of nutrition science. More recently he founded the healthy meal delivery company, Little Green Forks.   Episode Resources Watch the Original Episode on YouTube Episode Webpage NuSci.org Little Green Forks - Use code: Rip15New to receive $15 off your order To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our new granola and teas, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Join us in Black Mountain, NC for a Transformative PLANTSTRONG Retreat - April 16-21, 2023 https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/2023-black-mountain-retreat Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode  

Rip welcomes the mover, shaker, and influencer that is Pinky Cole - founder of The Slutty Vegan restaurant chain based in Atlanta.  In 2018, Pinky started selling her vegan burgers from her kitchen in Atlanta on Instagram. Yes, Instagram!  They immediately became an enormous hit and now, just five years later, she’s gone from her apartment kitchen to nine brick-and-mortar locations in and outside of Georgia– including her newest locations in Brooklyn and Harlem. Pinky Cole is unapologetic about her brand and you can feel that in the energy she brings to her food, her Pinky Cole Foundation, and her new book, Eat Plants, B*itch - 91 Vegan Recipes that will Blow Your Meat-Lovin Mind. Episode Resources Watch the Episode on YouTube The Slutty Vegan Website Buy Pinky’s Book, Eat Plants, B*itch - 91 Vegan Recipes that will Blow Your Meat-Lovin Mind. The Pinky Cole Foundation To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our new granola and teas, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Join us in Black Mountain, NC for a Transformative PLANTSTRONG Retreat - April 16-21, 2023 https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/2023-black-mountain-retreat Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode

We’re happy to welcome back the popular, Jessica Hegarty, to the podcast! Jess and Rip did this Facebook live event a few weeks ago and the response was so powerful, we wanted to share it with all of you. Jess is the Director of Food Development and Strategy around all of our PLANTSTRONG food lines. She’s the one who researches every new product and ingredient we look at for our foods and if it doesn’t pass her sniff test, it doesn’t make it into the mix! Needless to say, we trust her implicitly and, if you’ve tasted our PLANTSTRONG foods, you know the rigorous taste and nutritional standards she holds us all to.  Today, Jess is here to talk coconuts. As you may know, we at PLANTSTRONG aren’t huge fans of it because of the ridiculously high amount of saturated fat. Saturated fat isn’t just detrimental to our arteries and endothelial cells, but it’s also harmful to our brain health. In fact, it’s pretty much the only whole plant food we just can’t endorse and you’ll hear exactly why. But, Jess doesn’t just look under the hood of the coconut itself.  she also explores other popular coconut-based products: Coconut oils Coconut waters Coconut extract Coconut yogurts and milks Coconut flours Can any of these products be considered a plantstrong food? Are all the “supposed” health benefits just marketing hype? Is any of it worth our valuable dollar? She’ll tell us and even provide some fun and healthy alternatives! It’s a fun and in-depth look at this exotic fruit. Episode Timestamps 6:25 Why is coconut the one plantstrong food we recommend you stay away from? 6:40 Why is saturated fat so detrimental to our health and endothelial function? 12:30 What is the saturated fat of typical foods in the American diet? 18:44 Coconuts are saturated fat bombs — similar to a Meal from McDonald’s?? Jess talks about the study to prove it. 24:00 Coconut Oil - Are there any health benefits to our body and skin? 28:48 Coconut Extract - Not flavors!  30:10 How to make your own coconut extract at home 31:10 Coconut Milk and Yogurts - What are some great alternatives to this concentrated saturated fat bomb? 37:08 Coconut Water - Is it really packed with electrolytes?  Alternatives? Green tea and whole foods 40:40 Why was coconut even put on this planet?  46:00 Coconut Sugar - concentrated sugar with no fiber. Alternatives? Try dates!  48:55 Coconut Meat and Dried Shredded Coconut 54:30 Coconut Flours - Can you find de-fatted coconut?    Episode Resources Watch the Original Episode on YouTube PubMed Study - Impairment of endothelial function--a possible mechanism for atherosclerosis of a high-fat meal intake Homemade Coconut Extract Recipe To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our new granola and teas, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Join us in Black Mountain, NC for a Transformative PLANTSTRONG Retreat - April 16-21, 2023 https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/2023-black-mountain-retreat Join Team PLANTSTRONG and Run with Rip! https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/team-plantstrong Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode

We're honored to introduce you to a fellow kale-loving athlete, Dominick Thompson. Imagine growing up poor in Chicago’s west side, witnessing your first murder at age 5, doing whatever it takes to protect yourself and provide for your family, and going to prison at age 21 – all while still excelling in school, athletics, and work. It’s a background that is so different from most, but such an important story to tell because, to understand Dom now, you simply have to look back on his past. Today, Dom is a beautiful humble soul who defies every stereotype we have of a “tough guy.”  He’s an activist, bodybuilder, endurance athlete, dog dad,  and social entrepreneur, known for his businesses, Eat What Elephants Eat and Crazies and Weirdos. It’s even more fascinating to learn that Dom went vegan during his first week of prison. Unbelievable.  He had a spiritual epiphany and the decision to stop eating animals completely transformed his life.  His mantra? “If it requires harm, then nahhh.”  Today, he gives us a riveting look at his past and discusses that spiritual shift that informs his present-day work as an activist and social entrepreneur.  “When you eradicate harm from your life, the universe has your back,” he says. We couldn’t agree more.   Episode Resources Watch the Episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/3cD-KXOAJ28  Eat What Elephants Eat Crazies and Weirdos Follow Dom on Instagram - @domzthompson Follow Dom on TikTok - @domzthompson   Join Team PLANTSTRONG and Run with Rip! https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/team-plantstrong To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our new granola and teas, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Join us in Black Mountain, NC for a Transformative PLANTSTRONG Retreat - April 16-21, 2023 https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/2023-black-mountain-retreat   Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode

Dr. Uma Naidoo has been called a “triple threat” for her work and knowledge in food and medicine. Not only is she a psychiatrist, but she’s also a trained professional chef and nutritionist. If there was ever anyone more qualified to talk about the impact that foods have on our brain and well-being, it’s Dr. Naidoo.  In addition to her work at Harvard and Mass General, Dr, Naidoo is also the author of the best-selling book, This is Your Brain on Food. where she explains the ways in which food can influence our mental health and how a plant-forward diet can improve our mood and help treat and prevent a wide range of psychological and cognitive health issues, from ADHD to anxiety, depression, OCD, and others. We also go through each of her six pillars of nutritional psychiatry: Be Whole, Eat Whole - and why sugar is a problem Eat the Rainbow The Greener the Better Tap Into Your Body’s Intelligence Avoid Anxiety Triggering Foods This Lifestyle is a Marathon and Not a Sprint   In addition, Dr. Naidoo also shares: Spices and foods for optimizing brain power Tips for treating Seasonal Affective Disorder Foods that boost happiness and relaxation Yes, it’s a marathon, but It’s worth it. In the spirit of “New Year’s Resolutions,” resolve to make your mental and physical health a priority one meal at a time. Every step in the right direction is a step towards a better you. Episode Resources Watch the Episode on YouTube Episode Webpage Dr. Naidoo’s Website Order This is Your Brain on Food To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our new granola and teas, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Join us in Black Mountain, NC for a Transformative PLANTSTRONG Retreat - April 16-21, 2023 https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/2023-black-mountain-retreat Join Team PLANTSTRONG and Run with Rip! https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/team-plantstrong Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode

Rip explains the dangerous impact of a sedentary lifestyle and what sitting too long does to our bodies. He also explains the scientific research advocating for us to get up and moving! It doesn’t matter if you’re training for a triathlon, a bodybuilding competition, or seeking the energy to enjoy a day with your grandkids, becoming plantstrong is a true game changer. Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Being physically active will: Improve your brain health Help manage weight Reduce the risk of disease Strengthen bones and muscles Improve your ability to do everyday activities. Only a few lifestyle choices have as large an impact on your health as physical activity and it’s available to everyone regardless of age, abilities, ethnicity, shape, or size. Episode Resources Watch the Original Episode on YouTube Episode Webpage To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our new granola and teas, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Join us in Black Mountain, NC for a Transformative PLANTSTRONG Retreat - April 16-21, 2023 https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/2023-black-mountain-retreat Join Team PLANTSTRONG and Run with Rip! https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/team-plantstrong Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode

We’re thrilled to share this special bonus episode with you as we head into the New Year and give us all something to look forward to…The Future of Medicine. Dr. Zach Burns is a 2nd-year family medicine resident who also works with Dr. Michael Klaper’s Initiative, “Moving Medicine Forward,” where they speak to schools and medical students across the globe about whole food, plant-based nutrition.  Dr. Burns is a bright spot in the medical community and his knowledge, tenacity, social consciousness, and passion for “food as medicine” brings us hope –which is why we want to share it with you on the eve of this new year.  See it as proof that the needle is moving in the right direction. Medicine is moving forward with people like Zach, Dr. Klaper, and all of the pioneers we feature on the PLANTSTRONG podcast.  The future is bright, my friends, and we’ll continue to shine that light on those who are paving the way. Episode Resources Watch the Episode on YouTube Moving Medicine Forward Website - https://www.doctorklaper.com/moving-medicine-forward Dr. Zach Burns’s Website - www.herbivores.life   To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our new granola and teas, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Join us in Black Mountain, NC for a Transformative PLANTSTRONG Retreat - April 16-21, 2023 https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/2023-black-mountain-retreat Join Team PLANTSTRONG and Run with Rip! https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/team-plantstrong Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode

We’re honored to welcome Dr. John McDougall back to the podcast for another hearty discussion. Dr. McDougall was on the podcast on Episode 151, and we took a look at his storied life and career as a pioneering physician and talked about his discoveries that informed his unwavering practice of a starch-based diet. In this episode, Rip dives in on very specific topics to get his opinions on procedures like mammograms and colonoscopies, bone density scans, blood pressure medications and other pills, as well as treatments for hormone-related diseases like male pattern baldness, endometriosis, body odor, bad breath, and more!  Dr. McDougall has been in practice for almost 50 years and, if there’s everyone who has earned the right to state their researched opinions, it’s him. Yes, he has strong opinions about modern medicine, but his point is clear and simple. So many of these screenings, procedures and medications can be diminished or even eradicated with PLANTS, and more specifically, a starch-based diet.  He doesn’t want his patients to undergo treatments that are harmful, painful, and expensive — when so many of the solutions are simple — It’s the FOOD. Episode Resources Watch the Episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/fLoom9Dz99Y  McDougall Foundation Website Dr. McDougall Website Meer.org To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our new granola and teas, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Join us in Black Mountain, NC for a Transformative PLANTSTRONG Retreat - April 16-21, 2023https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/2023-black-mountain-retreat Join Team PLANTSTRONG and Run with Rip! https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/team-plantstrong Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode

Picture this – you’re about to be wheeled into the operating room for triple bypass surgery. One artery is 100 percent blocked and two others are 65 percent blocked. You have an enlarged heart, leaky valves, and a heart murmur, among other issues. At the eleventh hour, your cardiologist says, “Look, we can do this triple bypass, or you can try whole food, plant-based diet.” You have no idea why, but you choose a plant-based diet. Surely it’s easier than a triple bypass. Thanks to the work and encouragement of a certain Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr, you make the radical lifestyle change and your angina disappears within three weeks, putting you on a path to health, self-discovery, and a new purpose in life. Today, we're sharing the remarkable true story of Paul Chatlin. Inspired by the radical shift in his health and the desire to spread the word about plants, in 2014, Paul created the Plant-Based Nutrition Support Group, or PBNSG for short. PBNSG is dedicated to evidence-based education and advocacy of plant-based whole-food nutrition and an active lifestyle to prevent and reverse disease. They provide classes, community, and plenty of support to guide people in this transformation and optimize health. Paul is a true go-getter, working from the heart (pun intended) to help spread to good word about whole food plant-based nutrition. Episode Resources Watch the Episode on YouTube Plant-Based Nutrition Support Group Join us in Black Mountain, NC for a Transformative PLANTSTRONG Retreat - April 16-21, 2023https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/2023-black-mountain-retreat Join Team PLANTSTRONG and Run with Rip! https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/team-plantstrong To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our broths and soups, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, and delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode

Mr. Bluezones is back! That’s right, Dan Buettner is back on the PLANTSTRONG podcast to discuss his newest book, The Blue Zones American Kitchen: 100 Recipes to Live to 100. As most of you know, Dan Buettner uncovered the five places around the world where people consistently live past 100 years old. It isn’t the exception. It’s the norm. Only one of those Blue Zones happens to be in the United States - Loma Linda, California – but, did you realize that our traditional American food is firmly “planted” in a rich abundance of plant-based nutrition? Our indigenous and Native American brothers and sisters thrived on grains and beans. Immigrants to the US brought with them potatoes, pasta, masa, corn, beans…beautiful nutritious food. Buettner and his team took a tasty historical tour around the US and worked with contemporary chefs to create some of these traditional dishes and, today, Dan and I talk about many of these recipes and he shares memories and stories of the chefs, cultures, and meals that have shaped the diverse people we are today. I know we think of American cuisine (if that’s what you want to call it) as hot dogs, hamburgers, and apple pie, but our history is radically more diverse, nutritious, and dare I say – PLANTSTRONG?! Episode Resources Watch the Episode on YouTube Join Team PLANTSTRONG and Run with Rip! https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/team-plantstrong Order The Blue Zones American Kitchen

 To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, including our broths and soups, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode

This week, we present a bonus episode from our friends at Switch4Good. If you’re not familiar with the work of Switch4Good, they are an evidence-based nonprofit, advocating passionately for a dairy-free world. For too long, society has accepted the distortion and misinformation Big Dairy feeds us. So Switch4Good exists to set the record straight, for the sake of human health, food justice, and the future of our planet. They work with health experts, athletes, social justice warriors, enlightened policy-makers, and progressive corporations to promote ethical lifestyles and widespread behavioral change related to how we eat. The Switch4Good podcast is hosted by Olympic medalist, Dotsie Bausch and former Baywatch actress, Alexandra Paul. I believe so much in the work they’re doing that I wanted to share one of their podcast episodes with you today, especially as it relates to athletic performance.  Ryan Duff is a medical student and a recreational ultra-endurance runner, but more impressive than his academic and athletic achievements is his story of overcoming an eating disorder. Dotsie and Alexandra talk with Ryan about his struggle from anorexia to binge eating, and how he’s overcome those hurdles by shifting to a plant-based diet.  They discuss the underlying causes of eating disorders, coping mechanisms, and the holistic impact of a whole-goof plant-based diet on your physical and mental health. As he says in the interview, “I don’t run to eat. I eat and run.”   Episode Resources Download the Free Plant-Based Playbook from Switch4Good: https://switch4good.org/plant-based-playbook/ Join Team PLANTSTRONG and run with Rip! https://plantstrongfoods.com/pages/team-plantstrong  Original Episode show notes  - https://switch4good.org/from-binge-eater-to-an-ultra-runner-with-ryan-duff/  Ryan Duff Instagram - @unleashtheduff  

Rip welcomes back our cancer-crushing warrior, Dr. Kristi Funk, for her third appearance on the PLANTSTRONG Podcast   Dr. Funk is a board-certified breast cancer surgeon & physician, bestselling author of the book, Breasts - the Owner’s Manual, and women's health advocate. Simply put, she is an encyclopedia of knowledge and a dynamo personality, which is why she’s the perfect expert to dig into the latest in cancer prevention research. They catch up on some of that research and discuss four healthy lifestyle habits that will minimize your risk of breast cancer and optimize your health for the long haul:  Eating a plant-based diet Maintaining a healthy weight Getting regular exercise Putting the kibosh on your alcohol consumption  One of the big takeaways is learning about easy additions that can have profound benefits - simple things like adding in a little fruit each day or scooping a couple of tablespoons of flax into your food. These little changes can make a huge difference in slowing cancer down and prohibiting it from growing. Dr. Funk shoots straight.  It doesn’t matter if she’s on Good Morning America, The Rachael Ray Show, or the PLANTSTRONG Podcast, she is always unapologetically promoting the benefits of plants to crush cancer.  Episode Timestamps 10:45 Dr. Funk describes her four-plan attack to reduce the risk of breast cancer. 11:49 Exactly why is eating plants our best defense against breast cancer? What does the research say? 29:00 What about processed plant-based foods?  33:20 Does a late-age pregnancy elevate the risk of cancer? 34:40 What is the median age of getting breast cancer and other important stats about breast cancer risk 39:10 Why in the world should people eat mushrooms?  40:30 Benefits of Exercise - Can it really reduce the chance of breast cancer? 43:00 What is it about alcohol that is a massive contributor to cancer growth? 47:30 Why you should be a Loser when it comes to weight and a quitter when it comes to smoking and drinking  52:30 Pink Lotus - Dr. Funk’s empowering website  56:20 What does the research say about coffee and cancer risk? 58:20 What about drinking sparkling water?   Episode Resources Watch the Episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/nXrNPE1nnIQ Pink Lotus Website - https://pinklotus.com/ Dr. Kristi Funk Intstagram - @drkristifunk Download the Free Holiday Guidebook - https://plantstrongfoods.com/holiday  Join TEAM PLANTSTRONG and run the Austin Marathon, Half Marathon or 5K with Rip! plantstrongfoods.com/team Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong  Theme Music for Episode

Dr. Dawn Mussallem is a board-certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician at the Mayo Clinic Jacoby Center for Breast Health where she works with breast cancer patients during and after their diagnosis to heal and thrive using the pillars of lifestyle medicine alongside their conventional cancer treatments.  Dawn has many remarkable stories of patient recovery, but the biggest recovery story of all is her own. You see, in addition to being a physician, teacher, wife, and mother, Mussallem is also a cancer survivor, 2021 heart transplant recipient, and as of February 2022, she's also a marathon finisher! It's a story you simply have to hear to believe and her passion and positivity will leave a lasting impact. Not only does she acknowledge her family and faith in this decades-long journey, but she also credits her whole foods plant-based diet with her ability to thrive and train with a renewed sense of purpose and boundless energy. It's a life force she brings both to her life and the lives of the patients she works with on a daily basis.  About Dawn Mussallem, DO Dr. Mussallem is a consultant in the Department of General Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic and is an Assistant Professor of Medicine. She is a diagnostic breast specialist at The Robert and Monica Jacoby Center for Breast Health and serves as Medical Director for Mayo Clinic Florida Lyndra P. Daniel Center for Humanities in Medicine. Dr. Mussallem is double-board certified, including a board certification in Lifestyle Medicine. She has over 25 years of patient-centered clinical wellness experience with international recognition in the field of breast medicine, lifestyle medicine, integrative oncology, cancer prevention, and cancer survivorship, and a unique personal experience as a stage IV cancer patient diagnosed 3 months into medical school, as well as a heart transplant recipient. She shares that her journey as a patient cultivated her boundless energy and deep purpose to help guide patients toward renewed vitality. In 2015, she founded the Integrative Medicine and Breast Health Program at Mayo Clinic Florida, a patient-centered program that works with breast cancer patients during and after a breast cancer diagnosis, introducing them early on to the importance of lifestyle optimization and evidence-based mind-body practices alongside conventional cancer treatments with a goal to reframe the cancer diagnosis as a “teacher of life,” leading patients to discover renewed vitality through healthier living.    Episode Resources Join TEAM PLANTSTRONG - plantstrongfoods.com/team Watch the Episode on YouTube Become an Organ Donor Mayo Clinic News Network Story on Dawn Dawn's Journey from Cancer Survivor to Heart Transplant Recipient Running to a New Beat - Heart transplant recipient to mark 1-year anniversary with marathon To stock up on the best-tasting, most convenient, 100% PLANTSTRONG foods, check out all of our PLANTSTRONG products HERE. Give us a like on the PLANTSTRONG Facebook Page and check out what being PLANSTRONG is all about. We always keep it stocked full of new content and updates, tips for healthy living, delicious recipes, and you can even catch me LIVE on there! We’ve also got an Instagram! Check us out and share your favorite PLANTSTRONG products and why you love it! Don’t forget to tag us using #goplantstrong 🌱💪 Want to live your best PLANTSTRONG life? Join our exclusive PLANTSTRONG Community of friendly, plant-loving peeps! This is a goldmine of resources, recipes, and incredible support to feed your PLANTSTRONG life. Theme Music for Episode