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Have you heard the glorious quote, by previous president of the American College of Cardiology Kim Williams,

(“I like to joke…) There are two kinds of cardiologist: vegans and those who haven’t read the data.”

I like to joke is often left off the quote however either way, my guest today vegan Cardiologist Dr Heather Shenkman has certainly read the data!

Dr Shenkman first became vegetarian for the animals at 16 and then adopted a plant-based diet (and a vegan lifestyle) at 29.

For a little official bio: Heather Shenkman, MD, FACC, is an interventional cardiologist in practice in Tarzana, California. Originally from the Detroit area, she attended medical school at Albany Medical College and completed her internal medicine residency training at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. She completed her cardiology fellowship training at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York, and her interventional cardiology fellowship training at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts.

While she performs complex angioplasties to open up clogged coronary arteries, she prefers to help her patients reduce their risk of heart disease through not only medication, but also a healthy lifestyle, including a plant-based diet and regular exercise.

Dr. Shenkman says a plant-based diet, plenty of exercise, and a whole-hearted approach to living make up the best prescription of all.

In fact she shares her whole-hearted approach to living in her book: The Vegan Heart Doctor’s Guide to Reversing Heart Disease, Losing Weight, and Reclaiming Your Life.

In this conversation we discuss:

• Why when we have more knowledge than ever we are not healthier than ever.
• Is there still much genuine confusion from patients about the benefits of plant-based eating?
• Dr. Shenkman’s simple recommendations for transitioning to a vegan diet.
• How has it changed so far as cardiologists who advocate WFPB?
• Are there specific attitudes or habits that Dr. Shenkman’s patients who successfully transition to plant-based share?
• Dr. Shenkman’s book, The Vegan Heart Doctor’s Guide to Reversing Heart Disease, Losing Weight, and Reclaiming Your Life.
• How a plant-based diet has fuelled Dr. Shenkman’s athletic success.
• Why exercise is good for the heart.
• Although numerous studies have demonstrated the benefits of adopting a whole food plant-based diet in the prevention and even reversal of coronary artery disease there is some controversy online regarding the “reversal” part. What are Dr. Shenkman’s thoughts?

I find it so very heartening that the tide seems to be changing so far as cardiologists who recommend plant-based. I am especially grateful for the professionals like Dr. Shenkman who also are not afraid to lead with the V word.

Because even though adopting the lifestyle might well be the best thing you do for your individual health, hundreds of podcast conversations on, I am finding sticking to the lifestyle is made so much easier when you connect with the ramifications of taking animals off your plate beyond your personal health.

To connect with Dr Shenkman I have you linked up in the show notes below.

Connect with Dr Shenkman across the socials: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Via her website, https://drheathershenkman.com/

Purchase, The Vegan Heart Doctor’s Guide to Reversing Heart Disease, Losing Weight, and Reclaiming Your Life.

That’s it for this week in Healthification.

However I do want to give a huge shout out to my Plant Positive Journal!

I am so very proud of this stunning little (508 page 940gm) journal.

If you are plant-based curious. Or already vegan and need a healthier (happier!) approach to the lifestyle.

In this daily journal you will learn how to consistently prioritise food, exercise and other healthy habits that build on each other to have a compounding and lasting effect. 

To help you create a BODY and LIFE you LOVE by successfully managing your TIME and your MIND.

It makes a great gift to YOU!

Or, for the loved one who is vegan curious or who has been a valuable vegan ally to you.

To learn more check out: strongbodygreenplanet.com/journal. Importantly, the journal follows a twelve month format however is not dated so it is perfect to use at ANY time of the year.

For now the journal is shipping to a handful of countries including: Aus, NZ, USA, Canada, UK and Ireland. I am working on wider distribution. Absolutely there will be an e-version available everywhere later this year!

Beyond checking out strongbodygreenplanet.com/journal I would love to hear from you if you have any additional questions about the journal and how to get your hand on it! You can reach me via kate@strongbodygreenplanet.com.

With love and gratitude plant friends.

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