Rip Esselstyn spent a decade as one of the premier triathletes in the world. He then joined the Austin Fire Department where he introduced his passion for a whole-food, plant-based diet to Austin’s Engine 2 Firehouse in order to rescue a firefighting brother’s health. And discovered dangerously high cholesterol levels among his firefighter comrades. He led a station wide revolution of dietary change that resulted in markedly better health, which he detailed in his bestselling book, The Engine 2 Diet which shows the irrefutable connection between a plant-based diet and good health. He is featured prominently in the famous documentary Forks Over Knives: What if one simple change could save you from chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease? Take a deep dive into the plant-based diet documentary that has influenced millions around the world. Read more
Most American adults, and even children, believe they should aim for three servings of dairy a day—thanks to the US Dietary Guidelines. From a young age we are taught to believe that by devoutly consuming dairy on the daily, we will be protected from brittle bones and grow up “big and strong.” A new scientific review published in one of the world’s most prestigious medical journals, The New England Journal of Medicine, has put the benefits of milk into question. Humbly titled, “Milk and Health,” the thoroughly comprehensive review concludes point-blank that despite our government-trained devotion to milk, humans simply do not need it and are far better off without it.
I, like many others, was both impressed and confused with the release of Game Changers late last year. For those unaware, this James Cameron-produced, Arnold Schwarzenegger-starring documentary shook the fitness industry with claims that vegan diets were not only healthy for you and the environment, they could also help you build muscle and strength.
A common, and somewhat lazy, accusation against vegan diets is that they don’t provide the requisite protein and calories needed to excel in sports or in the gym. Showing athletes, strongmen and bodybuilders thriving on the vegan lifestyle, Game Changers forced coaches and trainees to seriously consider their diets.
What confused me about Game Changers was not its scientific claims, but the general public’s reaction. For the most part, people seemed perplexed at the claim that athletes and lifters could be vegan.
But this is not a particularly new idea. Far from novel, Game Changers represents the latest in a series of efforts over the last 150 years to prove the benefits of plant-based in modern times, or in the past, vegetarian diets, for strength seekers. Read more
Ever since I hit puberty, due to cultural conditioning; mass opinion, taste, convenience and tradition, I ate as many animal products as I could fit in my stomach. I heard that was “how you built muscle.” This lifestyle consisted of, for my junior college year before going vegan, eating 27 eggs, a pound a half a ground turkey, multiple glasses of milk and several cups of shredded cheese a day. I believed that animal protein was an essential building block, not only for human life itself, but for the goals I had regarding my physical development. Read more
Walking out of the doctor’s office, reality had finally sunk in. I was not going to be around for another year. My wife and kids would very likely not have a husband or father within the year. My blood pressure was 255/115, I was on three medications to bring it down. My cholesterol (300) and triglycerides (279) were off the charts (literally). I was on a ton of heavy medications, I was also self-medicating, and I struggled with addictions of all kinds. My weight became so out of control that the doctor could no longer weigh me in his office. I was having trouble breathing and had severe sleep apnea. I was born with a genetic disorder called Elhers Danlos Syndrome and my joints are very loose and hyper mobile. The excess weight was too much for my already destroyed joints to handle.I was constantly on crutches, canes, and immobilizers. I was cast and fitted for very expensive leg braces that would stop my legs from buckling. My wife was actually putting my socks and shoes on me in the morning. Nothing was working and my life was spiraling out of control. I was going to die and I don’t know if I really cared. Read more
A doctor’s inspirational journey to veganism and fitness
“When I die, I want to leave a legacy of a plant-based doctor who actually cared about the health of her patients, and treated underlying disease with nutrition rather than pharmaceuticals.”
Cured her chronic health issues after switching to a completely vegan diet Lost 30lbs in 8 months following a healthy whole foods plant-based diet Completely transformed her life Advises her patients to adopt a vegan diet Gained confidence to compete in a fitness competition Workout routine and favorite meals revealed belowRead more
Ellen Jaffe Jones (The Veg Coach) is a best-selling vegan cookbook and health and fitness author, as well as a sought-after speaker at vegfests, foodfests, health fairs, book festivals and many other venues. She has published 6 books with the oldest and largest vegan publisher in the US, and is currently working on a 7th. She is legendary in engaging her audiences and conducting her Q and A while holding a plank contest. Her record was 10 minutes at the Tampa Vegfest. She is a certified personal trainer and has coached high school girls cross country and track.
Ellen was a 2-time Emmy-winning TV investigative reporter for 18 years, while she watched her mom, aunt and both sisters get breast cancer. Her family became part of the original BRCA1 and BRCA2 breast cancer gene studies. Figuring out how to beat her genes and continue remaining the only adult female in her family without cancer became the investigative reporting job of her life. At the age of 28, she almost died of a colon blockage and saved herself from a hysterectomy by going on a vegan diet. (Watch her powerful Video below on how “your family genes don’t determine your destiny.”)
Rip Esselstyn spent a decade as one of the premier triathletes in the world. He then joined the Austin Fire Department where he introduced his passion for a whole-food, plant-based diet to Austin’s Engine 2 Firehouse in order to rescue a firefighting brother’s health. And discovered dangerously high cholesterol levels among his firefighter comrades. He led a station wide revolution of dietary change that resulted in markedly better health, which he detailed in his bestselling book, 
I, like many others, was both impressed and confused with the release of 
