
Free Videos & Audio Programs
What I Wished I Learned About Nutrition In Medical School
As the focus of our "Moving Medicine Forward" Initiative, I’ve been traveling to medical schools across North America, Europe & Australia giving the students the presentation I wish someone had given me 50 years ago, about how the patient’s diet is key to reversing many of the most feared degenerative diseases known to medicine. Here is the lecture I’ve been giving to the students - complete with slides for you to read.
Feel free to share this with your doctor or any student of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, chiropractic, nursing, naturopathy or any other health sciences. It’s time for a nutritional awakening across the healing professions!
Released: January 2020. Duration: 80 Minutes. Free.
DHA - On Further Thoughts...
I recently posted this video where I stated I have grown uneasy about recommending routine DHA supplementation for vegans. I said that I had become unsure what possible adverse effects the supplement might be facilitating & until I learned more about this subject, I would use this calendar year to optimize my ALA intake with daily ground flaxseeds & an otherwise ALA-rich diet. I plan to reassess the state of testing methods & see which test, if any, could give me meaningful information about my DHA status. I'm not saying that DHA supplements are evil nor that people who take them or advocate their use are wrong or that I have closed the door on their use. I’m saying that, at this time, the science is not mature enough to permit me to feel comfortable giving advice on DHA supplementation.
It was not unexpected that such a video would cause distress in my friend & colleague, Dr Joel Fuhrman, a passionate advocate of DHA for vegans as a preventative against dementia, which he reports having seen frequently in his practice. I call your attention to the following article that kindled my concerns (1) that demonstrated that the elevation in EPA levels commonly seen with DHA supplementation is not, as widely believed, from “backfilling,” wherein 22-carbon atom DHA somehow turns back into 20-carbon-atom EPA. On the contrary, this study shows that the elevation of EPA demonstrated here is the result of DHA inhibiting EPA clearance from the blood, thus, producing EPA accumulation in the tissues. This concerns me greatly, as it is a red flag saying to me, “If swallowing pre-formed DHA is backing up EPA metabolism, what else is it doing?”
I also found evidence confirming that taking DHA supplements increases cell permeability & it makes me wonder if that increases permeability to carcinogens. (2)
These concerns were enough for me to question if I really know what I am doing as I tell people to take DHA on a daily basis & until I can be confident that my advice is doing no harm, including making the cells more permeable to carcinogens, I have, for now, decided to hold off on my recommendation to take supplemental DHA. If people want to continue taking it, I can understand why that would seem reasonable, as there is evidence supporting that stance, as well.
I know Dr Fuhrman’s condemnation of me as a physician has been very vehement. It will not dim my friendship with or appreciation of Dr Fuhrman as a man of character & a fine doctor who has the best interest of his patients at heart. (Likewise with my friends & colleagues Dr Joel Kahn & Dr Michael Greger who probably also will disagree with my clinical decision at this time. They are all respected & cherished lights in the field of plant-based nutrition & my appreciation for them remains undimmed.)
As I said at the beginning, I am choosing to not take DHA supplements for the rest of this calendar year & to optimize my own DHA production to see what I learn about the subject but have not closed my mind on the subject. As time unfolds & the research studies are done, if I find solid scientific evidence to alleviate my concerns & to support its use, I may consider it appropriate, once again. The science will tell the story & dictate my decisions.
I appreciate all, including Dr Fuhrman, who is helping me find my way to the truth about this important, complex & subtle subject.
Michael Klaper, M.D.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31204771
(2) Stillwell W, Wassall SR. Docosahexaenoic acid: membrane properties of a unique fatty acid. Chem Phys Lipids. 2003;126(1):1–27.
Hossain Z, Kurihara H, Hosokawa M, Takahashi K. Docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid-enriched phosphatidylcholine liposomes enhance the permeability, transportation and uptake of phospholipids in Caco-2 cells. Mol Cell Biochem. 2006;285(1-2):155–163.
Stillwell W, Ehringer W, Jenski LJ. Docosahexaenoic acid increases the permeability of lipid vesicles and tumor cells. Lipids. 1993;28(2):103–108. doi:10.1007/bf02535772
Using Your Food to Heal
Dr Klaper discusses how he uses food to heal patients. This talk can change the way you think about nutrition & the current treatment of the chronic diseases that are plaguing our society. Learn how to achieve superior health for you & your loved ones through the food you eat!
Released: January 2020. Duration: 80 Minutes. Free.
Vegan World 2026: Exploring Solutions Online Summit – Personal Health & Medicine with Dr Michael Klaper and Dr Sailesh Rao
Dr Sailesh Rao interviewed Dr Michael Klaper on Personal Health & Medicine. Dr Klaper gave a passionate & educational presentation, & for so generously answered questions about how to transform the healthcare system as well as specific questions on disease, health & nutrition for almost an hour! He gave so much valuable information, as one participant said, "this could be a 2-day interview!"
Dr Sailesh Rao is your host of the Exploring Solutions Summit, & the Founder & Executive Director of Climate Healers, a non-profit dedicated to healing the Earth’s climate. Dr Rao is the author of 2 books, Carbon Dharma: The Occupation of Butterflies & Carbon Yoga: The Vegan Metamorphosis, & an Executive Producer of 4 documentaries, The Human Experiment (2013), Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret (2014), What The Health (2017), & A Prayer for Compassion (2019).
Released: October 2019. Duration: 109 Minutes. Free.
Beyond Cholesterol Presentation
Has a recent blood test shown elevated levels of total cholesterol or LDL-cholesterol — despite your eating a plant-based diet? Should you start on statin medications? Should you worry about your cholesterol numbers, at all? All these important questions are explored in this clear presentation on cholesterol — a complex subject that perplexes doctors & patients alike. After you view “Beyond Cholesterol” you’ll be able to free yourself from the “tyranny of the numbers” that unnecessarily frighten so many.
Released: June 2022. Duration: 27 Minutes. Free.
Interview with South Florida Vegans
On this episode of the SoFlo Vegans Podcast, the SoFlo Vegans team of Sean Russell, Jacque Tarlton, & Alba Mendez interview Dr Michael Klaper about Moving Medicine Forward & whole food, plant-based nutrition.
Audio Recorded: April 2019. Duration: 60 Minutes. Free.
How to Safely & Effectively Fast
From the Lillian McDermott Radio Show, we discuss the benefits of the ancient healing power of fasting.
Recorded: November 2018. Duration: 54 Minutes. Free.
Eating Our Future or Feeding Our Health Webinar
An important presentation on the relationship between health, diet & climate change.
Location: First Presbyterian Church, San Anselmo, California
Sponsor: Climate-Diet Team of 350 Marin
Released: August 2016. Duration: 68 Minutes. Free.
Dairy Doubts Webinar
Dr Michael Klaper spells out his health concerns about human consumption of dairy products – for humans, cows, water, soil, & air. In this free, 42-minute illustrated video presentation, he describes the scientific, ethical, & environmental underpinnings of his point of view.
Released: January 2017. Duration: 42 Minutes. Free.
Plant-Only Medicine Man
In this special 5-minute video, Dr Michael Klaper talks about his awe of the human body, the pleasure he derives from working with his patients, his life as an ethical vegan, & what he hopes to say & feel at the end of his life.
Posted: September 2011. Duration: 5 minutes. Free.
Patient-Doctor Relationship
Dr. Michael Klaper speaks with 40 years of experience as a Medical Doctor to explain what your relationship should be with your family physician & health care organization.
Recorded: February 2012. Duration: 6 minutes. Free.
Vegan Protein Deficiency
Dr Klaper advocates a whole foods diet consisting of what he refers to as, "food as grown". He identifies protein sources and a set of guidelines for a vegan or plant-based diet.
Posted: November 2011. Duration: 5 minutes. Free.
From Operating Table to Dining Room Table
In "The Evolution of a Nutritionally Aware Physician" Dr Michael Klaper shares his personal story as a general practitioner of medicine for 40+ years & speaks about the importance of a healthy diet.
Recorded: February 2012. Duration: 83 minutes. Free.
Linda Long Talks with Dr. Michael Klaper
Dr Michael Klaper is interviewed by Linda Long, author & photographer of "Virgin Vegan, The Meatless Guide to Pleasing your Palate" you'll hear some surprising questions & interesting, entertaining answers.
Posted: March 1, 2013. Duration: 27 minutes. Free.
Olive Oil Is Not Healthy
Dr Klaper says the Mediterranean Diet is healthy IN SPITE OF olive oil, not because of it. He explains why & suggests alternatives to vegetable oils. Excerpted from his talk at the 2012 Healthy Lifestyle Expo.
Posted: January 2013. Duration: 11 minutes. Free
Food Revolution Summit 2013
Dr Klaper was interviewed by John Robbins as part of the Food Revolution Summit 2013, a weeklong series of interviews with 24 of the world's top food experts & activists. Original audio interview enhanced with images.
Aired: May 1, 2013. Duration: 40 minutes. Free.
Dr. Don Radio Show 2013
Dr Michael Klaper was interviewed on the Dr Don Radio Show, a weekday talk radio program that bridges the gap between conventional medicine & lifestyle approaches to health & wellness.
Aired: May 23, 2013. Duration: 40 minutes. Free.
Practical Nutritional Medicine
Dr. Michael Klaper's presentation at Dr. McDougall's Advanced Study Weekend in Santa Rosa, California, "Practical Nutritional Medicine: Putting Hippocrates' Advice to Work to Treat Today's Diseases."
Presented: September, 2013. Duration: 84 minutes. Free.
Heal Yourself, Heal the World
Dr Michael Klaper speaks with students in the College Buddhist Association at Pasadena City College about their food choices & their future. 65-minute illustrated presentation & 35-minute question & answer session.
Recorded: November 26, 2013. Duration: 110 minutes. Free.
Curing Leaky Gut Syndrome
Dr Michael Klaper discusses the critical importance of gut bacteria, lists diseases & conditions that can be caused by "leaky gut syndrome," & details how to cure it.
Published: January 27, 2014. Duration: 9 minutes. Free.
Chef AJ with Dr Michael Klaper
Listen to Dr Michael Klaper in this lively conversation with Chef AJ about health & nutrition, emphasizing the importance of a plant-based diet.
Published: November 15, 2015. Duration: 58 minutes. Free.
Dr Klaper on Essentials of Healthy Living Radio Show
"Using a whole food plant-based diet to overcome common diseases, such as diabetes, & to heal leaky gut." Listen to a 49-minute interview with Dr Michael Klaper by Dana Laake, a licensed nutritionist, on the Essentials of Healthy Living Radio Show.
Aired: April 16, 2017. Duration: 49 minutes. Free.