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Martica Heaner PhD, is a nutritionist and exercise physiologist and health writer. She is an adjunct associate nutrition professor at Hunter College in NYC and the author of 6 books including Cross-training for Dummies and Lean Mommy. She has been a group fitness instructor for over 30 years and starred in a fitness TV show while living in London in the 90s. She has been a vegan for 5 years (prior to that was vegetarian for 32) and teaches plant-based nutrition in a conventional nutrition 101 class.Martica and I got on the phone and talked about her childhood, her education, her fitness career, and some of the myths floating around the plant-based world.

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Marcy Madrid is Vice President of Planning and Marketing at Midland Memorial Hospital in Midland, Texas. (That's about halfway between Dallas and El Paso on I-20.)

When Midland decided to embrace plant-based nutrition as a pillar of their disease-treatment protocol, Madrid was brought in to spread the message. Both internally, and to the larger community.

What she didn't expect was to need that message herself, and soon.

Shortly after joining the initiative in late 2015, which included the CHIP program and the introduction of PlantPure meals for patients, Madrid started experiencing numbness in her lower body. An MRI provided a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS), a huge shock to a young woman in (presumably) good health.

At the same time, the hospital staff were being introduced to plant-based nutrition protocols to help their diabetic and cardiac patients. They weren't talking about autoimmune disorders such as MS, but Madrid was able to tap into the network of national plant-based leaders and discovered the groundbreaking work of Dr. Roy Swank.

Madrid and her husband had prayed for divine intervention, and it seemed to them that it had been granted in the form of the plant-based initiative at work. She quit her MS meds after a month, went fully plant-based (just in time for Thanksgiving and all the other challenging food holidays!).

Six months later, an MRI showed significant reduction in lesions, almost to nothing. Her neurologist remarked that he had never seen that in a non-medicated patient. And to this day, Madrid has little to no issues with MS.

In our conversation, we went back and forth between Madrid's own healing journey, and the amazing transformation in progress at Midland Health. We covered:

* the unique nature of the population of Midland

* “God's fingerprints of healing and forgiveness are all over our bodies”

* “after years of cheeseburgers and pizza, it took just months to go back to God's original design – and my body forgave me”

* how Midland Health began to change staff behavior around food

* the Medicaid conundrum: how hospitals are penalized financially for making people healthier

* the clash of health and business model

* how the CHIP program reduced Midland's own healthcare costs

* challenges and opportunities in physician education

* the value of PlantPure meals as part of the initiative

* how Midland Health can coexist with ranchers and oilmen

* structured grassroots activity to get the community involved

* replicating the Midland model elsewhere in Texas – and nationally

* and much more…

Enjoy, add your voice to the conversation via the comment box or audio recording box below, and please share – that's how we spread our message and spread our roots.

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Links

MidlandHealth.org

OurHealthyCity.com

Lifestyle Medical Center at Midland

NutritionFacts.org

The Multiple Sclerosis Diet Book, by Dr. Roy Swank

Marcy Madrid featured on PlantPure TV:

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Ready to embark on your Big Change journey?

Are you tired of knowing what to do, and still not doing it consistently? The Big Change Program, led by Josh LaJaunie and myself, will help you take the steps to finally live according to your knowledge and values.

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Marcy Madrid is Vice President of Planning and Marketing at Midland Memorial Hospital in Midland, Texas. (That's about halfway between Dallas and El Paso on I-20.)When Midland decided to embrace plant-based nutrition as a pillar of their disease-treatment protocol, Madrid was brought in to spread the message. Both internally, and to the larger community.What she didn't expect was to need that message herself, and soon.

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Janice Stanger, PhD, is author of The Perfect Formula Diet and a genius at getting other people to become nutritional geniuses. Her approach to any topic – diabetes, pregnancy, hormones, whatever – is to dig down into first principles and build from there.

This way of thinking helps non-experts understand the issues without having to rely on experts or gurus to tell them what to think. Grok the first principles, and you can build your own understanding on any topic.

Janice is a three-peat guest on this podcast. I usually reach out to book her after hearing one of her new talks. This year, she brought down the house at the Wellness Forum Health annual conference by sharing the science of longevity.

She's fierce and unforgiving in her analysis of data: Blue Zones are nice, but mostly lack any scientific validation. Valter Longo‘s research is “mostly on mice and yeasts” and far too preliminary to apply to humans.

With those two pillars kicked out from under us, we explored the actual data on what helps humans live long and prosper. We covered:

* how to approach the protein question: “what is protein, where does it come from, and how does the body use it?”

* “buying someone else's house to get lumber for yours”

* excess protein gets turned into fat or glucose

* what is aging? “accumulation of damage over time”

* “each cell is its own little life”

* metabolism, oxidation, and the capacity for self-repair

* the usefulness of moderate amounts of stress (age- and situation-dependent)

* airplanes don't defy gravity; they work with it

* stories and myths of long-lived populations vs verified scientific data

* Okinawa – the best-documented group of centenarians

* the Okinawans ate the exact opposite of the ketogenic diet: 9% protein, 6% fat, 85% carbohydrates

* Seventh Day Adventists in Loma Linda, California: fewer centenarians, but highest life expectancy in the world

* how to add 10 years of life (it's frequently a choice)

* longer life typically correlates with higher quality of life

* myths and facts of the Inuit, and the fishy origins of the “no heart disease” story

* the surprising link between animal foods and indoor air quality

* three dominant theories of cellular damage

* oxidation

* inflammation

* telomeres

* the difference between plant- and animal-based iron

* the hidden danger of vegetable oils: lipid peroxidation (I'd never heard of it either)

* how sedentarism damages the body

* the takeaways: healthy diet, moderate physical activity, and a meaningful, purposeful life

* and much more…

Enjoy, add your voice to the conversation via the comment box or audio recording box below, and please share – that's how we spread our message and spread our roots.

Talk Back

Links

Dr Stanger's website: The Perfect Formula Diet

“Ten Years of Life: Is It a Choice?”

“‘Fishing' for the origins of the ‘Eskimos and heart disease' story: facts or wishful thinking?”

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Like what you hear? You can contribute to the growth and improvement of the podcast by becoming a patron. Click the “Support on Patreon” or “Donate” buttons on the right to help out.

Announcement

Thanks to Kelly Michiya, there's a new transcript available, for

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Janice Stanger, PhD, is author of The Perfect Formula Diet and a genius at getting other people to become nutritional geniuses. Her approach to any topic - diabetes, pregnancy, hormones, whatever - is to dig down into first principles and build from there.This way of thinking helps non-experts understand the issues without having to rely on experts or gurus to tell them what to think. Grok the first principles, and you can build your own understanding on any topic.

Click to subscribe to the Mindset Mastery Memo.

Support the show

Matt Tullman wants 30% of the US population to go plant-based by the year 2030. And that's not an idle wish – Matt is doing something (a lot of things, actually) about it.

Matt is a long-time policy wonk, entrepreneur, bio-hacker, and venture capital guy. And he brings all these talents and outlooks to bear on the central problems of our time in history – all of which, he points out, can be solved or significantly improved by the switch to a plant-based diet.

If you're curious about Complement, his vitamin/omega-3 formulation specifically for vegans, Matt has offered a discount code to all Plant Yourself listeners. (I make no money from this transaction.)

In our conversation, we covered:

* the dynamic tension between the laid-back outdoorsy Colorado lifestyle and the frenetic pace of the entrepreneur

* why 30% plant-based is a monumental tipping point for economics, politics, and culture

* developing end-to-end solutions in the digital education space

* education is our most powerful problem-solving tool

* our K-12 education system doesn't touch diet and lifestyle education

* losing two loved ones to chronic disease, and the frantic phone call to his wife that followed

* the importance of systems thinking

* the significance of the question, “What does this precedent mean?”

* Ray Dalio's machine metaphor

* Matt's years of “quantified self” experimentation

* bingeing on steak for creatine, and feeling terrible

* cutting out all meat entirely, losing weight, and feeling great

* Matt's experiences at 7Wire Ventures, and noticing that education was broken

* the frivolity of most corporate wellness initiatives (Google's chefs, rather than dietitians)

* keep the message simple: lose weight and gain energy

* the pitch: “How many more weeks do you expect to live? Are you willing to take 2-3 weeks to test this?”

* Matt's starters' guide email for people new to plant-based eating

* how to make money as a plant-based practitioner or business owner

* why the world's future health depends on entrepreneurs more than philanthropists

* the importance of mentors

* Matt's generous offer to mentor you – yes, you!

* Complement – to protect vegans from health issues related to possible dietary deficiencies

* why vegans may be at risk for B-12, D-3, and DHA/EPA deficiencies (I'm skeptical, and I think it showed in my questions, but I haven't examined the science closely enough to trust my own opinion)

* and much more…

Enjoy, add your voice to the conversation via the comment box or audio recording box below, and please share – that's how we spread our message and spread our roots.

Talk Back

Links

AlpineOrganics.co – Matt's company that makes Complement

Save 50% on your first order of Complement (I get no referral fee for sharing this)

30 by 30

Matt's personal website: Tullman.org

7Wire Ventures

The Honest Stand – plant-based cheese company

Miyoko's Kitchen – plant-based cheese company

Support the Podcast

Like what you hear? You can contribute to the growth and improvement of the podcast by becoming a patron. Click the “Support on Patreon” or “Donate” buttons on the right to help out.

Ready to embark on your Big Change journey?

Are you tired of knowing what to do, and still not doing it consistently? The Big Change Program, led by Josh LaJaunie and myself,

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know.

Matt Tullman wants 30% of the US population to go plant-based by the year 2030. And that's not an idle wish - Matt is doing something (a lot of things, actually) about it.Matt is a long-time policy wonk, entrepreneur, bio-hacker, and venture capital guy. And he brings all these talents and outlooks to bear on the central problems of our time in history - all of which, he points out, can be solved or significantly improved by the switch to a plant-based diet.

Click to subscribe to the Mindset Mastery Memo.

Support the show

Clint Paddison was pursuing a career as a stand-up comedian in Australia when he was struck with a debilitating case of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A former athlete and science all-star, Clint found himself almost unable to work, to move, to enjoy life. He discouraged his girlfriend from marrying him because he didn't want to ruin her life. (Spoiler: that's her in the photo :).

At first, Clint followed the doctors' advice, and embarked on an aggressive pharmaceutical protocol that was almost as bad as the disease. Pain, disability, misery, and early death seemed the only path forward. Then, one day, he discovered a secret delivered via a poisoned cherry: fasting, induced by food poisoning, profoundly relieved his symptoms.

Intrigued, Clint fired up his science brain and began searching for answers. He discovered a world of evidence, not taught in medical school, that diet and lifestyle can manage, stall, and even reverse severe cases of RA. He made it his mission to first heal himself, and then share what he had learned with the world.

Now Clint runs the Paddison Program, an online training course dedicated to helping RA sufferers everywhere reverse their disease and lead happy, healthy, vibrant, fulfilled lives.

Clint is not only wise and energetic and compassionate, but he's also funny as hell. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I have. We covered:

* our irrational calculus of risk and danger – are you more frightened of the box jellyfish or a cheeseburger?

* diet and exercise are not sexy

* getting struck by RA and living with unrelenting pain

* “you'll never have kids”

* going down the pharmaceutical route

* “Nobody gets better”

* putting comedy – and life – on hold

* “you can't debate the story”

* the big breakthrough: food poisoning from unwashed cherries

* eliminating symptoms through fasting

* the gift of Bikram yoga

* returning to his science roots

* the BLAAME for RA:

* bacterial overgrowth

* leaky gut

* acidosis

* acid deficiency in stomach

* mucosal lining depletion

* enzyme deficiency

* the dangers of NSAIDS

* how to avoid victim mentality – “treat the whole thing as a project”

* Clint's diet and lifestyle prescriptions

* the link between lifestyle and other autoimmune diseases

* and much more…

Enjoy, add your voice to the conversation via the comment box or audio recording box below, and please share – that's how we spread our message and spread our roots.

Talk Back

Links

The Paddison Program

Clint's Scientific Guide for Rheumatologists – free download

Clint's speaking website

Paddison Program on Instagram

The Enzyme Factor, by Hiromi Shinya, MD

Rayu, from Street Fighter 2

Support the Podcast

Like what you hear? You can contribute to the growth and improvement of the podcast by becoming a patron. Click the “Support on Patreon” or “Donate” buttons on the right to help out.

Ready to embark on your Big Change journey?

Are you tired of knowing what to do, and still not doing it consistently? The Big Change Program, led by Josh LaJaunie and myself, will help you take the steps to finally live according to your knowledge and values.

Join the Plant Yourself mailing list (top right of this page) to learn more,

Thoughts on the episode? Let us know.

Clint Paddison was pursuing a career as a stand-up comedian in Australia when he was struck with a debilitating case of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A former athlete and science all-star, Clint found himself almost unable to work, to move, to enjoy life. He discouraged his girlfriend from marrying him because he didn't want to ruin her life. At first, Clint followed the doctors' advice, and embarked on an aggressive pharmaceutical protocol that was almost as bad as the disease. Pain, disability, misery, and early death seemed the only path forward. Then, one day, he discovered a secret delivered via a poisoned cherry: fasting, induced by food poisoning, profoundly relieved his symptoms.

Click to subscribe to the Mindset Mastery Memo.

Support the show

Sarah “Mergoddess” Bofinger swam before she walked – literally. Born with hip dysplasia (I thought the same thing: “Isn't that something Golden Retrievers get?”), she required six surgeries before she celebrated her fourth birthday.

Sarah was put in the water for therapy and rehabilitation, and took to it like a, well, mergoddess to water. Swimming, as well as dancing and gymnastics, helped take her mind of the discomfort and pain of the constant hip problems.

A seventh surgery at age 15, which cut the bone and added pins, proved especially painful. And the rehabilitation took much longer than before, taking Sarah out of her element and community. She became addicted to morphine, and following her discharge from the hospital, tylenol with codeine.

As she recovered physically and sank ever deeper into substance abuse, Sarah watched her Olympic dreams drifting away. After all, good female swimmers typically make the Olympics as teenagers. She felt sorry for herself, gave up, and used pills as the way out.

(Coincidentally, here's a 16-minute video echoing Sarah's that I found in The New York Times this week: The Pull. The protagonist got addicted to pain meds in his teens, and has been struggling with addiction ever since. It's heart-wrenching, and also includes profanity.)

Her rock bottom, and slow and unlikely redemption, is one of the most inspiring stories I've ever been privileged to share on this podcast. Spoiler alert for you plant-fans: Sarah went vegan 120 days before we spoke