At the 2024 Glass City Half Marathon, Nancy Wells—a lifelong athlete with over 60 races under her belt—collapsed just past mile four. The cause: a massive heart attack known as the “widowmaker,” caused by a blockage in the LAD artery, which supplies half the heart’s blood. Thanks to the immediate CPR of a retired nurse and the swift response of paramedics, Nancy survived. But the journey ahead would test her resilience in every way.
After completing cardiac rehab, Nancy still felt uncertain. “I was terrified of another heart attack,” she recalls. “I was healthy, but clearly, something needed to change.”
That change came in March 2025 through a short-term, medically supervised experiment with the PLANTSTRONG Pantry Bundle—a meal plan designed to be simple, satisfying, and scalable, providing familiar meals made from whole plants. With guidance from cardiologist Dr. Brian Asbill and PLANTSTRONG founder Rip Esselstyn, Nancy embraced the pantry model.
Unlike traditional medically tailored meals, PLANTSTRONG’s pantry approach includes shelf-stable products (chili, pancake mix, plant-based milks, burger mixes) alongside fresh produce and simple batch cooking techniques. Daily meals include items like Rip’s Big Bowl cereal, Sweet & Smoky Chili over potatoes, and Black Bean Burgers with oven fries—all oil-free, nutrient-dense, and rich in fiber and flavor.
The results were immediate—and enduring. In one week, Nancy’s total cholesterol dropped 14 points. Over the next five months, she lost 13 pounds, reduced her blood pressure from 151/89 to 125/75, and saw her ApoB and non-HDL cholesterol reach ideal ranges for secondary prevention.
“Both my primary physician and cardiologist are super happy with my weight loss and told me to keep eating plants,” she said. “In June 2025, I went to my yearly physical and got a clean bill of health. I’m feeling better than ever.”
This past April, Nancy returned to the Glass City Half Marathon—on her 29th wedding anniversary—and crossed the finish line smiling.
“This was my closure,” she said. “I’m thankful I’m still able to do this.”
Dr. Brian Asbill emphasized, “Nancy’s story shows that food is not just supportive—it can be transformative. We strive to empower patients to reclaim their health with real tools and real food.”
Rip Esselstyn added, “This is about more than recovery—it’s about freedom. The freedom to move again, to eat without fear, and to trust your body.”
Nancy’s journey is more than inspirational—it’s a clinical case study in how food as medicine, when done right, can save lives and transform futures.
Click here to listen to the podcast interview with Dr. Asbill, Rip, and Nancy.
