Episode 128. How Plant-Forward Living Reversed This MD’s Chronic Illness with Dr. James Thompson
In this episode, Dr. James Thompson, MD — a board-certified allergist, immunologist, author, and health educator — shares how a 21-day Daniel Fast sparked a life-changing shift toward plant-forward living. After 34 years in medicine, he realized that despite following what he believed was a “healthy” diet, he still required multiple long-term medications for blood pressure, cholesterol, and chronic inflammation. A plant-based lifestyle helped him eliminate medications, improve sleep and joint pain, and even restore vision.
Today, Dr. Thompson leads the Healthy Living With a Vision Foundation, delivering accessible nutrition and lifestyle medicine education to underserved communities. His FEARLESS Method (Food, Exercise, Avoid Toxins, Restorative Sleep, Less Stress, Engage Mind, Social Energy, Spirituality) is a practical roadmap for chronic disease prevention and sustainable health.
What You’ll Learn
How fasting and plant-forward eating triggered Dr. Thompson’s health transformation
Why medical education still provides minimal nutrition training
How plants impact inflammation, cholesterol, metabolic health, and cognitive resilience
The truth about protein needs and nutrient considerations (B12, omega-3s)
How to start a plant-forward lifestyle without going “all or nothing”
Health disparities in Black communities and why trust in healthcare remains fractured
The FEARLESS Wellness pillars and how to apply them
Key TopicsPlant-forward nutrition · fasting · inflammation · lifestyle medicine · sleep · stress · chronic disease prevention · community health · spirituality · affordability
Time Stamps:
00:00 — Intro: Why nutrition conversations are polarized
01:30 — Meet Dr. James Thompson
03:11 — How the 21-day Daniel Fast changed everything
04:00 — Running, meds, and early health struggles
05:23 — The nutrition gap in medical training
07:20 — Diving into nutrition education
08:00 — Fasting & time-restricted eating
10:00 — How plant-forward living improved his health
11:20 — Greens, beans, berries & whole foods
12:21 — Unexpected vision improvements
14:29 — Defining plant-based vs. plant-forward
15:20 — Protein myths & amino acid basics
18:43 — How much protein you really need
20:44 — Key nutrients: B12 & omega-3s
24:26 — Getting omegas from plant foods
26:04 — Why patients trusted his holistic approach
29:51 — Introducing lifestyle medicine in practice
32:32 — Reversing chronic conditions through diet
34:29 — Planting seeds for long-term change
37:13 — Asthma, acne & inflammation stories
40:01 — Creating the FEARLESS Method
42:45 — The 8 FEARLESS pillars
45:16 — Starting small without overwhelm
48:25 — Working with the Black community
51:34 — Why medical mistrust persists
54:00 — COVID-19 & vulnerable populations
56:13 — The limits of access without education
57:03 — His current work & foundation
59:15 — What to buy with $5 for a healthy meal
1:00:50 — Spiritual frameworks for hard times
1:02:08 — Closing reflections
Notable Quotes“Within six months of going plant-based, I no longer needed blood pressure or cholesterol medication.”
“Doctors learn to diagnose and prescribe, not prevent.”
About Dr. James Thompson, MDDr. Thompson spent over three decades in allergy/immunology and internal medicine before shifting to lifestyle health education. His work focuses on plant-forward nutrition, chronic disease prevention, and equitable community wellness. His book FEARLESS Wellness outlines eight pillars for long-term vitality.
Website: FearlessMD21.com
Foundation: HealthyLivingWithAVision.org
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James Thompson, MD
MD/Author
Dr. James Thompson spent over three decades as a board-certified allergist and immunologist, but it was his own health transformation that reshaped the trajectory of his life and career. After 25 years on daily medications, James began questioning the traditional frameworks of chronic disease care—and found answers through integrative nutrition and lifestyle change. Today, he is the Medical Director of Healthy Living With A Vision Foundation and author of 'FEARLESS Wellness: Transform Your Life One Step at a Time'.
James now works at the intersection of medical science, personal transformation, and community education. His FEARLESS Method—an acronym covering food, exercise, toxin avoidance, restorative sleep, stress reduction, cognitive engagement, social connection, and spiritual grounding—offers a blueprint for sustainable wellbeing. Drawing on his experience as both a physician and patient, he equips listeners with practical insights for reclaiming their health in an age of chronic disease, misinformation, and fragmented care.
James speaks especially to underserved and aging populations, advocating for accessible, culturally relevant health education. Through his foundation’s initiatives, he leads community-focused programs tackling everything from prediabetes and dementia prevention to environmental impacts of food systems. He also hosts wellness discussions through PBNSG.org, a platform promoting whole-person health through plant-forward, conscious living.
As a podcast guest, James brings clarity to complex health issues, bridges t… Read More
