Dr. Shenkman says a plant-based diet, plenty of exercise, and a whole-hearted approach to living make up the best prescription of all. And in The Vegan Heart Doctor’s Guide to Reversing Heart Disease, Losing Weight, and Reclaiming Your Life, she lays out a simple, manageable protocol for transitioning to a vegan diet and safely leaving your former, sedentary self in the dust.

Yet Dr. Shenkman doesn’t just talk the talk; she walks the walk. Interspersed throughout the book’s advice, she tells her own remarkable story of how as an adult she became an impressive endurance athlete—fueled entirely by a plant-based diet.

In an age when healthy living is no longer optional, Dr. Shenkman’s message could not be more timely or inspiring. When you read this book, you’ll realize heart disease does not mean your life is over. In fact, you can let your diagnosis motivate you to make the needed changes that free you up to—finally—fully live.