Ep. 262: Akil Taher, MD - Living Life with an Open Heart
PLANTSTRONG Podcast
Rip Esselstyn
4.8 • 2.3K Ratings
🗓️ 15 August 2024
⏱️ 70 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Dr. Akil Taher describes himself as a former “couch potato, and a pampered consumer who feasted over the best foods without worrying about unhealthy consequences.”
Like a lot of us, he didn’t worry until he had to, and then he eventually succumbed to the habits of the decadent western lifestyle. At age 62, this remarkable doctor had bypass surgery. “Fortunately,” he says, “Determination ran deep in my veins, so I decided to completely change my life.”
And, wouldn’t you know, Dr. Akil Taher – now in his 70s - is an experienced marathoner, cyclist, and whole food plant-based advocate. He’s even climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro - the highest free standing mountain in the world!
He shares his experiences before and after surgery, discussing his struggles with depression and how he turned adversity into motivation for a healthier lifestyle. The conversation explores the importance of mental health alongside physical well-being, emphasizing the role of community, spirituality, and a whole food plant-based diet in his transformation.
Dr. Taher’s insights, detailed in his book "Open Heart," serve as a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to embark on a journey of health and happiness.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | I'm R. Besselston and you're listening to the Plan Strong Podcast. |
| 0:05.3 | Today I'm going to introduce you to a surgeon who, like so many of us, thought, |
| 0:12.0 | oh, heart disease will never happen to me. But you know how this |
| 0:18.8 | story goes at the age of 62. this gentleman needed to have open heart surgery and it challenged |
| 0:27.5 | every single belief that he had around his health and longevity. Today, Dr. Akeel Teher is a plan-strong marathoner, mountaineer, and cyclist who shares his journey with his patients, |
| 0:42.0 | and all of us in his book, Open Heart. |
| 0:45.8 | We'll meet Dr. Teher right after this message from Plant Strong. As most of you know, we just wrapped up our 13th annual Planstock Celebration |
| 1:02.1 | weekend event and I want to sincerely thank everyone who either |
| 1:06.6 | came in person and joined us on the mountain and those who tuned in from home. |
| 1:12.2 | If you'd like to take advantage of our next in-person experience, |
| 1:16.8 | come join me and the Plant Strong team in beautiful Sedona, Arizona, |
| 1:22.3 | this October, from the 8th to the 13th, we've got 12 spots available, |
| 1:29.2 | and enjoy an immersive and an interactive retreat amongst the red rocks of Arizona. We'll do all the |
| 1:36.1 | cooking. You get to come relax, meet new friends, get answers to all your |
| 1:41.6 | burning questions, |
| 1:43.0 | enjoy some yoga, take daily hikes, |
| 1:46.0 | enjoy endless buffets of plant-strong meals, |
| 1:49.0 | be entertained and educated with our world-class presentations or |
| 1:53.8 | challenge me at pickleball and all the while you'll be fully supported by |
| 1:58.8 | your incredible Plant Strong team. Register at live Plant Strong.com |
| 2:05.0 | or send us an email with all your questions at hello at plantstrong.com. |
| 2:10.0 | Dr. |
... |
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