{"podcast":{"title":"PLANTSTRONG Podcast","slug":"plantstrong-podcast-244579","podcast_index_feed_id":244579,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/plantstrong/","website_url":"https://www.plantstrongpodcast.com/","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/d3c541b5-7562-4eb3-891e-0c543589eddc/LRgcvo3DHnrR7eJPrqxaAFky.jpeg","author":"Rip Esselstyn","episode_count":368,"summary":"The PLANT STRONG Podcast is for people who want real answers about food, health, and longevity—without the noise, fear, or extremes. Maybe you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic condition and want a path forward that actually supports healing. Maybe you’re an athlete looking to fuel performance and recovery. Maybe you’re a parent trying to escape the ultra-processed food aisle and feed your family real, nourishing meals. Or maybe you’re simply tired of being confused about what “healthy” actually means. The challenge? Eating more real food can feel overwhelming. You’ve heard warnings about protein, cost, or restriction. You’ve been told it’s complicated, boring, or socially isolating. This podcast exists to change that. Each week, host Rip Esselstyn sits down with leading doctors, researchers, athletes, authors, and everyday people who are proving—through lived experience and science—that eating more whole plants and moving your body consistently can deliver powerful, lasting results. We’re not interested in perfection or dogma. We’re here to be extremely practical, extremely evidence-based, and extremely encouraging. Rip’s work began more than two decades ago, when he helped transf…","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/plantstrong-podcast-244579"},"episode":{"title":"Ep. 337: Jet Benitez -  The Keto Diet Almost Killed Him. So, He Turned to Plants.","slug":"ep-337-jet-benitez-the-keto-diet-almost-killed-him-so-he-turned-to-plants","published_at":"2026-01-22T07:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/plantstrong-podcast-244579/ep-337-jet-benitez-the-keto-diet-almost-killed-him-so-he-turned-to-plants","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/plantstrong-podcast-244579","url":"https://www.plantstrongpodcast.com/blog/jet-benitez","audio_url":"https://op3.dev/e/episodes.captivate.fm/episode/8038952e-d120-4679-a6da-73981b4e3a74.mp3","summary":"In this episode, Rip sits down with Jet, a 66-year-old husband, father, hiker, and former keto devotee whose health collapsed despite doing “everything right” according to low-carb gurus. After a terrifying calcium score, debilitating angina, and near-widowmaker blockage, Jet found himself out of breath, unable to hike his favorite mountains, and feeling an impending sense of doom. A reunion — and one shocking scar from a friend’s open-heart surgery — jolted him into action. Jet pivoted from years of high-fat keto eating to a whole-food, plant-based, SOS-free lifestyle inspired by Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn. Within weeks, his symptoms vanished. Within months, he was summiting mountains he hadn’t touched in over a decade. Today, his cholesterol is stellar, his A1C is normal, and he’s hiking peaks he hasn't done in years. Jet’s story is an inspiring reminder that the body can heal when given the right fuel — and that it’s never too late to turn your life around. Key Topics Covered: Growing up in the Philippines on a fat and sugar-heavy diet The moment Jet realized keto was harming — not helping — his heart How a reunion wake-up call shifted his perspective The emotional and physical toll of worsening symptoms Why he finally chose a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle The shocking improvements in angina, energy, cholesterol, sleep, and mood His new life of hiking, strength, and vitality at 66 Advice for anyone curious but hesitant to go plant-based Episode Webpage Watch the Episode on YouTube 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.co…","meta_description":"In this episode, Rip sits down with Jet, a 66-year-old husband, father, hiker, and former keto devotee whose health collapsed despite doing “everything ri…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":4424,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/plantstrong-podcast-244579/episodes/ep-337-jet-benitez-the-keto-diet-almost-killed-him-so-he-turned-to-plants/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/plantstrong-podcast-244579/ep-337-jet-benitez-the-keto-diet-almost-killed-him-so-he-turned-to-plants.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}