WKND Conversations: Why this heart surgeon became a vegan ambassador

Dr Bassem Youssef, 46, had experienced a life-altering incident on September 15, 2013. The Egyptian surgeon-turned-political satirist-turned wellness crusader learnt about how one of his closest friends had recovered from multiple sclerosis, a degenerative nervous disorder, after shifting to plant-based food. “I was sold out on the idea, and I changed my eating habits overnight on September 15, 2013,” says Dr Bassem during his recent trip to Dubai to promote his new Arabic show Isa’al Bassem (Ask Bassem) on Asharq News, a pan-Arab 24x7 television network and digital platform. “The paradigm shift made an immediate difference to my wellness quotient.”

The ‘Egyptian Jon Stewart’, who was inspired by eponymous American political commentator and TV host’s The Daily Show, has been living in Los Angeles, where his comedy career has got a rousing second act among the vibrant Arabic-speaking diaspora. Also, his Plant B movement, a unique wellness initiative, is gaining enormous global traction. Dubai, which celebrates multi-culturism, he cites, could emerge as the centre of gravity for his new show that seeks to create public awareness about the importance of healthy living by tackling diverse wellness-focused issues. The timing of the event couldn’t have been more opportune, as January is being celebrated as Veganuary.

Known for his quick wit, Dr Bassem has evolved from a well-meaning surgeon to a vegan ambassador. His rise has been organic and meteoric, including finding a pride of place on Time magazine’s coveted list of the 100 most influential people in the world. An alumnus of Cairo University’s Faculty of Medicine, he majored in cardiothoracic surgery in 1998. He went on to become a heart surgeon, but ultimately found his new calling when he began recording short YouTube videos that featured his satirical takes on society and politics.

Today, as a wellness crusader, he seeks to change dietary habits in the Arab world. “Over the last 30 years our diets have changed. Drastically. They’ve moved away from the incredible, nutritious foods that our surroundings provided us with and have been Americanised: highly processed, genetically modified and full of sugar, fat and salt,” he says.

The side-effects are alarming and he shares data to bolster his argument. “It’s estimated that 75 per cent of the Middle East’s population is overweight, 9 per cent suffer from diabetes and 50 per cent of all deaths are due to a heart condition,” he cites.

joydeep@khaleejtimes.com