#141: Prediabetes, No More: Whole-Food Approach To Change Everything
"Prediabetes isn’t a final diagnosis — it’s an invitation to change.” In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with health coach and cookbook author Javant Benton to talk about how he reversed prediabetes, lost 80 pounds, and rebuilt his health using a nutrient-dense, whole-food plant-based diet.
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Hi friends,
This is a must-listen. Javant opens up about a family history of diabetes that normalized poor health, the wake-up call that changed his life, and the daily habits that helped him reclaim his health
Together we dig into the science-backed nutrition strategies that improve blood sugar, reduce inflammation, and support long-term metabolic health. Javant shares a wealth of practical tips anyone can start using right away. Along with that, he brings warm encouragement that taking small steps can have a snowball effect that brings about impressive change in everything from energy to sleep to mindset.
Whether you’re dealing with prediabetes yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply wanting more energy and vitality, this episode offers hope, clarity, and actionable guidance for your health journey.
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
- Javant shares how his standard American diet led to standard American problems, even in his 20s
- How diabetes seemed normal and inevitable but a lymphoma scare woke him up
- Signs & symptoms of early prediabetes
- How Javant slowly began learning and taking control of his health
- Medical experts who inspired Javant and the epiphany moment with Dr. Fuhrman
- How Javant started with the easiest path and found ways to get veggies in
- The energizing effect of juicing
- The four levers of health: diet, exercise, adequate sleep, positive mindset
- How eating healthier raised the baseline for feeling good to feeling great
- How improved diet led to increased energy for exercising
- How exercising led to better sleep and then to better mindset
- The contagious effect of Javant’s excitement about his health change
- Establishing a mindset of being comfortable doing things differently
- The strategy of eating a big salad every day to get a wide variety of nutrients
- How Javant’s goal is to meet people where they are, not make clones
- Ways to power up a smoothie
- Ways to power up a salad
- Excellent sources of plant-based protein, including amino acids that stimulate muscle growth
- How the ultimate self-care is feeding your body what it needs
- How high macro-nutrient and low-to-moderate calorie foods naturally resulted in weight loss
- Javant reframes discipline as focus so the want-to and know-how can combine into winning results
RESOURCES
- Javant on YouTube and Instagram (@HealthyVeganEating)
- Javant's NEW cookbook: Make Your Own Cookbook
- Javant's App
- Lentil Hummus recipe (HealthyVeganEating)
- Pomegranate video (HealthyVeganEating)
- Book rec: Don't Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen
RELATED EPISODES
- Ep 131. Eat for Life with Dr. Joel Fuhrman
- Ep 119. The Type 2 Diabetes Revolution with Diana Licalzi & Jose Tejero
- Ep 105. How Not to Age with Dr. Greger
- Ep 93. The Daily Dozen & How Not to Die with Dr. Greger
- Ep 89. Three Generation Vegan Family Shares Secrets for Health, Vibrancy, and Longevity with Jane and Ann Esselstyn
- Ep 78. Sprouting for Health with Doug Evans
- Ep 76: Gut Health Part II with Dr. Will Bulsiewicz
- Ep 75: Gut Health & Why It Matters with the Bestselling Author of Fiber Fueled, Dr. Will Bulsiewicz
- Ep 68: Preventing & Reversing Heart Disease with Dr. Esselstyn
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR!
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