Ep. 343: Charles Gassenheimer - From Multiple Meds to Marathons: How a Plant-Based Diet Changed His Life
About this episode
Charles Gassenheimer shares his transformative journey from being overweight and on multiple medications to becoming a marathon runner through a plant-based diet.
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…
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