Open Heart: The Transformational Journey of a Doctor Who, After Bypass Surgery at 61, Ran Marathons and Climbed Mountains
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4.8 • 5 Ratings
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- $1.99
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- $1.99
Publisher Description
Angioplasty at fifty-six, open-heart surgery at sixty-one, running his first half marathon less than a year later. This is the remarkable and inspiring story of Dr. Akil Taher, who transformed from a middle-aged couch potato with a dangerously bad diet into a vital, energetic athlete, ever seeking new challenges and adventures.
In this book, Dr. Taher relates the journey of his transformation—how even as a physician who knew better, he led an unhealthy lifestyle; how he ignored the warnings of his heart disease and other chronic ailments; and how after his bypass surgery, he set out to radically change his life to heal his body and his spirit. Training for and competing in his first half marathon was only the start. In compelling detail, he recounts his running in the Chicago, Boston, and Mumbai Marathons; his pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro; his first triathlon and 100-mile bike race.
More importantly, Dr. Taher also discusses the enormous role diet plays in preventing as well as recovering from heart disease as well as other chronic illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes, and kidney disease. Citing reputable sources and using his own diet and health as examples, he guides the reader away from a diet heavy in meat, dairy, eggs, and sugar and proposes healthier eating—and living—that is grounded in a whole-food, plant-based diet.
OPEN HEART is an essential read for anyone eager to change unhealthy lifestyle choices and embrace the excitement of a vibrant new life.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
In his uplifting memoir, physician Akil Taher writes about how open-heart surgery inspired him to refocus on his health—and happiness. After Taher was diagnosed with advanced heart disease, he underwent arduous bypass surgery to save his life. Though the brush with death at first left him terrified, it eventually transformed him, forcing him to overcome both his post-op uncertainty and his old “know-it-all physician” attitude. Taher’s experiences set him on a path to become an active, adventurous 60-something who’s run the Boston Marathon and trekked through the Himalayas. Open Heart is a wholehearted guide to living a fulfilling life, complete with tips for managing your diet, mental health, and more. You’ll be taking notes on learning to live life with an open heart.
