Heart Doc VIP with Dr. Joel Kahn Bonus Podcast: Monica Aggarwal, MD — Healing Inflammation and Hearts with Plants
Sep 26, 2025
Dr. Monica Aggarwal is a cardiologist and author who turned her health struggles with rheumatoid arthritis into a mission for plant-based nutrition. She shares insights from her book, Body on Fire, explaining how diet changes helped her reduce inflammation and avoid medications. Monica contrasts the effects of whole-food plant-based diets with varying olive oil intake, revealing that low-oil diets outperformed high-olive-oil ones. She emphasizes practical, patient-centric nutrition advice, advocating for whole foods over oils to enhance heart health.
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Personal Rheumatoid Crisis
- Monica Aggarwal developed aggressive rheumatoid arthritis shortly after her third child and was told it was incurable and she'd need lifelong medication.
- She started medications, stopped nursing, improved on drugs, but later explored diet and lifestyle to reduce reliance on medication.
From Vegetarian To Gut-Focused Care
- Monica was already vegetarian but ate lots of dairy and processed foods when she became ill and later removed dairy as part of healing.
- She studied gut health with Alessio Fasano and linked leaky gut and diet to autoimmune activation.
Rest And Gut-Focused Nutrition
- Prioritize sleep, rest, and reduce excessive exercise to prevent flares and support recovery.
- Focus on fiber, omega-3s, turmeric in moderation, and whole-food sources to nourish gut bacteria and lower inflammation.
