Ep. 343: Charles Gassenheimer - From Multiple Meds to Marathons: How a Plant-Based Diet Changed His Life

At just 43 years old, Charles Gassenheimer was 75 pounds overweight, pre-diabetic, struggling with joint pain and memory loss, and taking high-dose cholesterol medications. His doctors were managing his decline — not reversing it. Then one conversation changed everything. After meeting cardiologist Dr. Robert Ostfeld, Charles committed to a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle. The results were extraordinary: he lost over 70 pounds, came off medications, reversed his cardiovascular risk markers, and returned to running. Today, Charles has completed over 15 marathons — including running the New York City Marathon faster in his 40s than he did in his 20s — while raising three plant-based children and supporting cardiac wellness programs for underserved communities. This episode is about reclaiming your health, challenging your assumptions, and making Plant Strong living non-negotiable. Episode Webpage: Watch the Episode on YouTube: Learn More About our 2026 Live PLANTSTRONG Events: Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG Journey Learn More About Our Corporate Wellness Program: COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstyn Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star Rating Apple Podcasts Spotify

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Ep. 343: Charles Gassenheimer - From Multiple Meds to Marathons: How a Plant-Based Diet Changed His Life is an episode from PLANTSTRONG by Rip Esselstyn.

This episode is 01:02:21 long.

This episode was published on Mar 5, 2026.

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