A Heart Scare Changed Bob Wood's Life

by Jane Stahl

When Bob Wood, former Boyertown Junior High East English teacher,  began feeling a burning sensation in his chest while walking up a hill near his home more than a decade ago, he brushed it aside.

“I wasn’t concerned enough to do anything about it,” Bob recalled during a recent episode of B Inspired podcast.“You stop for a while, the burn goes away, and then you go again slowly.”

A routine doctor’s appointment changed everything.

After mentioning the discomfort almost in passing, Bob’s physician told him not to go home, but instead head directly to the emergency room. Within 24 hours, he had been transferred to a Bethlehem hospital, where doctors inserted two stents into his right coronary artery.

“I thought, ‘They fixed me. It’s over,’” he said. “But that was a mistake. It’s never over.”

Now 81, the Boyertown area resident says that experience launched him on a years-long search to understand what causes heart disease— and whether it can be reversed.

A Personal Investigation

Bob said he was disappointed when, after his procedure, his cardiologist told him there was little diet could do to improve his condition.

Instead of accepting that answer, he spent years reading medical literature, books, and research by physicians studying nutrition and chronic disease. His journey introduced him to the work of pediatric endocrinologist Robert Lustig, nutrition researcher T. Colin Campbell, and Cleveland Clinic surgeon Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, all of whom have argued that diet plays a significant role in cardiovascular health.

Bob said Esselstyn’s research particularly influenced him. He described studies in which patients with advanced heart disease adopted a strict whole-food, plant-based diet while eliminating meat, dairy products, eggs, and added oils. According to Bob, the reported outcomes convinced him to change his own lifestyle.

“I reached this conclusion over many years. Bit by bit.”

Changing His Lifestyle

Rather than overhaul everything overnight, Bob said he gradually removed processed foods, sugary drinks, eggs, dairy products and eventually all meat from his diet before fully adopting what he describes as a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle about four or five years ago.

Asked what shoppers would find in his grocery cart today, his answer was simple.

“Plants,” he said.

His typical meals now include salads, greens, beans, vegetables, brown rice and fresh fruit. He also prepares simple homemade dishes, preferring uncomplicated recipes over elaborate cooking.

Bob acknowledges that the diet requires commitment.

“Eating whole-food plant-based is neither convenient nor inexpensive,” he said, adding that eating out with friends can also be challenging because so many social gatherings revolve around food.

“I Consider Myself Cured”

Bob says the most encouraging validation came during a recent visit with his cardiologist, who told him he no longer needed regular follow-up appointments because his test results were so good.

Beyond changing his diet, he also exercises regularly, including running interval workouts on a steep hill in Greenland Park.

“So right now,” he said, “I consider myself cured. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to walk out of here and fall over dead— which could happen to any of us. But right now, heart-wise, I’m good.”

A Conversation, Not Medical Advice

Throughout the interview, Bob emphasized that he is not trying to persuade everyone to follow his example. In addition, he added that the diet need not be followed so strictly for those who are asymptomatic. But for those with a heart-related problem, he believes a reversal of the problem can be effected through a strict adherence to the whole foods, plant-based diet he follows. 

“I’m not proselytizing for it,” he said. “I don’t care what you do or not. But if you want to talk about it, I’ll talk about it.”

We invite our readers to share their own experiences if they decide to try a plant-based diet or develop recipes inspired by Bob’s approach.

Editor’s Note: The health and nutrition views expressed in this article are those of podcast guest Bob Wood and reflect his personal experiences and opinions. Readers should consult qualified healthcare professionals before making significant changes to their diet or medical treatment.

The B-Inspired podcast shares moments of transformation and inspiration all around us. Access the complete B Inspired Podcast interview with Bob Wood here or find it online where you regularly access your favorite podcasts. This article was created in part using  a transcript of the episode. 

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