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

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/plantstrong-podcast-244579/ep-343-charles-gassenheimer-from-multiple-meds-to-marathons-how-a-plant-based-diet-changed-his-life
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/plantstrong-podcast-244579/ep-343-charles-gassenheimer-from-multiple-meds-to-marathons-how-a-plant-based-diet-changed-his-life.md
Podcast: [PLANTSTRONG Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/plantstrong-podcast-244579)
Published: 2026-03-05T07:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.plantstrongpodcast.com/blog/charles-gassenheimer
Audio file: https://op3.dev/e/episodes.captivate.fm/episode/4c66e3d4-ebe3-4d66-8540-a374dbedc134.mp3
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Duration seconds: 3763

## Resource

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: https://www.plantstrongpodcast.com/blog/charles-gassenheimer Watch the Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Tb2twg7p9Pg Learn More About our 2026 Live PLANTSTRONG Events: https://plantstrongevents.com/ Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG Journey Learn More About Our Corporate Wellness Program: https://liveplantstrong.com/corporate-wellness/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstyn https://plantstrong.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/ https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star Rating Apple Podcasts Spotify

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