A Leading Cardiologist’s Perspective on Plants for Heart Health

Share this with a friend

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Season 1, episode 3 Guest Kim Williams, MD

In this conversation with Director of Cardiovascular Medicine at Rush University, Dr. Kim Williams, we discuss his perspective on plants for heart health; specifically, the power of a plant-pure approach to cardiovascular disease, particularly in very high-risk patients. Providing a perspective from the juxtaposition for many he has seen in the coronary catheterization lab, some who were on the brink of death (save only for his clinical and procedural skills) he leverages the moment as an action point for discussing the power of plant-based lifestyle change.

We begin with a discussion about Covid-19 data that shows that a decrease in obesity, hypertension, diabetes and cholesterol, all of which have separate mechanisms to worsen Covid, will improve the prognosis for future Covid diagnosis. The way to achieve a better Covid outcome is through lifestyle change in general and in specific, through nutrition. We then delve into Dr. Williams’ instruction on plants for heart health.

Though Dr. Williams has been plant pure since 2003, it would be less than fully accurate to simply call him a “vegan.” He makes it very clear that his approach is minimally processed, whole food and purely plants.

Dr. Williams provides his perspectives on vegan approaches that integrate significant amount of highly processed, calorie dense and sodium rich foods (with a specific focus discussion on sodium). And he pulls no punches about it on this, nor anything else. A very compelling interview!

Listen to Dr. Williams’ advice for eating well and his great tips for how to become a life-long exerciser, producing endorphins, and “simultasking” using a stationery bike or a Cubii.

Kim Williams, MD Head ShotKim Williams, MD

Dr. Kim Allan Williams was born and raised in inner-city Chicago, and attended the College of The University of Chicago (1971 to 1975), followed by the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine (1975 to 1979), internal medicine residency at Emory University (1979 to 1982), and overlapping fellowships in Cardiology at the University of Chicago (1982 to 1985), Clinical Pharmacology (1984 to 1985), and Nuclear Medicine (1984 to 1986). He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases, Nuclear Medicine, Nuclear Cardiology and Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.

Dr. Williams joined the faculty of the University of Chicago in 1986, specializing in clinical cardiology, nuclear medicine and nuclear cardiology. He served as Professor of Medicine and Radiology and Director of Nuclear Cardiology at The University of Chicago School of Medicine until 2010. Among numerous awards and honors for his teaching in the medical school, residencies and fellowships, he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha in 2008.

Read Dr. Williams full bio here.

True Health Revealed

MPH, RDN, LD

Meet Our Experts

In this engaging podcast series, health experts reveal the truth about lifestyle as medicine and share empowering ways to improve your life with each episode.

ABOUT THE THR PODCAST

Subscribe

Donate

Support Our Work

Your generous donation will help put an end to preventable disease and safeguard the health of our shared planet. We thank you in advance for supporting changes in policy that will create changes in culture and a healthier future.