Why Most Doctors Still Keep Their Patients Sick with Dr. Michael Klaper

Dr. Rak here. When I first began to understand the connection between food and health, I was already a doctor.

I had written prescriptions, treated chronic conditions, and checked every box our system told me to check. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something essential was missing—that we were managing disease, not healing people.

And then I found doctors like Michael Klaper, who I’m so delighted to welcome to The Feast. Dr. Klaper has been living and teaching the truth about food as medicine for over 40 years. Long before lifestyle medicine had a name, he was walking away from the pill-for-every-ill model and helping patients heal through plants, movement, and compassion.

He’s also now on a mission to do what our medical schools never did: teach future doctors the tools that actually heal.

In our conversation today we discuss:

• The moment that changed everything in his medical practice

• Why most doctors are still unknowingly keeping their patients sick

• His take on GLP-1 drugs, the carnivore diet, fasting, and the longevity hype

• And the one medical myth that still drives him crazy

Underscoring all of this, we talk about what it means to practice medicine with integrity and soul. What it means to see the patient in front of you not as a case to manage… but as a person to support.

If you’ve ever felt like there has to be a better way to do healthcare, this conversation is for you.

And hey—if you make it to the end of the episode, or even just this note—I just want to say thank you. I don’t take your time or presence here for granted. If the episode moved you or made you think, I’d love if you left a quick review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps others find The Health Feast and be part of this bigger conversation.

Live well and RAK ON,

Dr. Rak 👊🏽 — 💬 Got thoughts, questions, or topic ideas? DM on Instagram @thehealthfeast or @rakyourlife or here on the Substack.

Guest Bio

Dr. Michael Klaper is a physician, teacher, and internationally recognized pioneer in the field of lifestyle medicine. After practicing acute care and traditional medicine for years, he shifted his focus to plant-based nutrition and disease reversal.

He served on staff at the TrueNorth Health Center and has worked with NASA on nutrition for space colonists. Today, he lectures at medical schools across the country through his nonprofit initiative, Moving Medicine Forward, helping shape a new generation of doctors trained in the fundamentals of food and lifestyle as medicine.

🌐 Learn More:

• 🔗 Website: doctorklaper.com

• 🎓 Moving Medicine Forward: movemedicineforward.org

• 📺 YouTube Channel: Michael Klaper, MD

• 📷 Instagram: @doctorklaper

• 🐦 Twitter/X: @doctorklaper

• 📘 Book: Coming Soon (Dr. Klaper is currently working on a book chronicling his decades in medicine and lifestyle change.)

Timestamps

(00:00) - Moving Medicine Forward

(10:48) - The Power of Plant-Based Diets

(20:44) - Transforming Health Through Plant-Based Diets

(26:29) - Shifting to Plant-Based Nutrition

(32:10) - Exploring Health Trends and Longevity Science

(41:41) - The Power of Fasting and Food

(54:40) - Plant-Based Nutrition in Medical Education

(01:06:50) - Embracing Kindness Through Plant-Based Nutrition

(01:13:12) - Unity in Advancing Health Movement

Follow @thehealthfeast on IG and YT for more. The Health Feast is available wherever you get podcasts and at thehealthfeast.com.

👊🏽 Join the RAK ON Tribe for live sessions (strength training, breathwork, cook-alongs) + giveaways. Start for free at https://community.rakyourlife.com/

Level up your health journey! Learn how to join a Tribe (Men’s Peak or Plant Based) for a transformative health journey. Limited spots are available! Visit us at https://www.rakyourlife.com

Disclaimer: The Health Feast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. As with any changes affecting your health, we recommend and encourage you to consult your medical doctor or other qualified healthcare professionals before making lifestyle changes. The opinions expressed are our own and do not necessari