How A Heart Patient Became A Plant‑Powered Athlete And Advocate For Preventive Care with Dr Akil Taher

Send us Fan MailA heart patient who became a septuagenarian athlete doesn’t just tell a comeback story—he rewrites how we think about prevention, performance, and purpose. We sit down with Dr Akil Taher to trace his path from stents and a cardiac arrest to plant-powered endurance, deep lifestyle change, and advocacy for a neglected but crucial test: lipoprotein(a).Akil shares the moment he chose a different ending—promising a half marathon while being wheeled to bypass surgery—and how he rebuilt with simple, repeatable habits. Running became “meditation in motion,” food shifted to whole plant staples, and sleep, breathwork, and social support rounded out the routine. We unpack the six pillars of lifestyle medicine and the science behind them: how nutrition, movement, rest, stress control, substance avoidance, and community influence inflammation, oxidation, gut health, autonomic balance, and immune resilience. He contrasts acute care’s brilliance in emergencies with its tendency to manage numbers over causes, and offers a practical way to co-create care plans that fit real lives.We also spotlight LP(a), a genetic driver of atherosclerosis and aortic valve disease that far too few clinicians test. Akil explains who is most at risk, why one lifetime test—reported in nanomoles—matters, and what to do if it’s elevated: stricter risk control, family screening, and targeted therapies where appropriate. We look at PCSK9 inhibitors, apheresis, and the pipeline of LP(a)-lowering drugs now in late-stage trials. Along the way, Akil tackles industry pressures, training gaps in nutrition, and the cultural narratives that normalise decline with age. His takeaways are direct and hopeful: adversity can be a teacher, adventure keeps you alive, and age is not a limit.If this conversation sparks a shift for you, share it with someone who needs a nudge, subscribe for more evidence-led stories, and leave a review to help others find the show.Guest BiographyDr Akil Taher is a board-certified physician, author, and septuagenarian athlete who transformed his life after undergoing open-heart surgery at age 61. Today, he’s a passionate advocate for lifestyle medicine and a powerful voice in the push to make LP(a) testing a standard part of preventive care. Through global speaking engagements, his bestselling book Open Heart, and innovative outreach like “Shop and Cook with the Doc,” Dr. Taher continues to inspire others to reclaim their health—no matter their age or history. Social Media Handles:🌐 Website: https://www.akiltaher.com/📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akiltaher/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akiltaher/📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AkilTaherSubscribe on SubstackVoices in Health and Wellness is published on Substack, as part of The Diagnostician. Every episode lands there with written notes and reflections you won't find in the podcast feed. Free to subscribe.👉 https://thediagnostician.substack.com/s/voices-in-health-and-wellnessAbout the podcastVoices in Health and Wellness features conversations at the intersection of medicine, lifestyle, and human potential, with clinicians, scientists, and thinkers shaping the future of care.About Dr Andrew GreenlandUK-based medical doctor and founder of Greenland Medical, specialising in Integrative and Functional Medicine. Trained in both conventional and root-cause approaches, Andrew helps people optimise health, performance, and longevity, with a focus on cognitive resilience and healthy ageing.