Welcome to Episode 3 of The Real Heal, where my guests are filmmaker Kevin Smith and Mackie Shilstone, a fitness, wellness, and sports performance expert who has worked with top athletes including Serena Williams and Peyton Manning.

In this episode, Kevin discusses how going vegan saved his life following a massive heart attack in 2018, and Mackie breaks down diseases, the foods that cause them, and what he does for best performance. 

I found this episode so interesting because food is so powerful. Every bite we take has the power to heal or hurt us. But so many of us don’t know where to start. We’re stuck in a system that’s turned food into “food products” that taste delicious but are loaded with unhealthy ingredients. 

Kevin talks about how after his heart attack he stopped eating “for pleasure” and just as a function of survival. But you know what? I’m here to say we can do both. We can eat the yummiest, most delicious food on the planet that is actually healthy for us (even the dairy-free cashew ice cream we talk about in the episode), boost our overall health, protect against disease, and look and feel vibrant.

Mackie also brings some great perspectives on cancer, specifically breast and prostate cancer, and how best to protect against them both with the food choices we make.

These small changes can save lives. And they can open you up to a whole new world of delicious foods. Want more inspiration after listening? Check out these posts from The Kind Life.

The Benefits of Eating Nuts and Seeds

The Incredible Benefits of Cruciferous Vegetables

The 7 Most Important Nutrients for a Plant-Based Diet

The 20 Best Healthiest Plant-Based Ingredients

5 Myths About Eating Plant-Based Explored