Rip Esselstyn
Rip Esselstyn | |
---|---|
![]() Rip Esselstyn speaks at an event in Oakland | |
Born | 1963 (age 60–61) Upstate New York |
Occupation | Health activist and food writer |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | University of Texas, Austin |
Subject | Low-fat, whole foods, plant-based diet |
Notable works | The Engine 2 Diet (2009) |
Spouse | Jill Kolasinski[1] |
Children | 3 |
Relatives | Caldwell Esselstyn (father), Anne Esselstyn (mother), Jane Esselstyn (sister), Kole Esselstyn (son), Sophie Esselstyn (daughter), Hope Esselstyn (daughter) |
Website | |
engine2diet |
Rip Esselstyn (born 1963), a former firefighter and triathlete, is an American health activist and food writer. He is the author of The Engine 2 Diet (2009), "Plant-Strong" (2016) previously published as My Beef With Meat (2013), and "The Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue Diet" (2017).
Esselstyn is known as an advocate of a whole food, plant-based diet, one that omits meat, fish, eggs, dairy and processed foods.[2] He calls it a "plant strong" diet, a term he has trademarked.[3] He appeared in the 2011 documentary about plant-based nutrition, Forks Over Knives.
Background and early career
Esselstyn was born in Upstate New York, named after Rip Van Winkle, and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio.[1][4] He is the great-grandson of George Washington Crile and the grandson of George Crile, Jr. His father, surgeon Caldwell Esselstyn, is one of the early promoters of a whole foods, plant-based diet in the prevention and reversal of heart disease.[5]
Esselstyn attended the University of Texas at Austin on a swimming scholarship from 1982-1986.[6] During that time he was an All-American swimmer.[7] After college, he became a triathlete and competed for approximately ten years.[3] In 1997, he retired from being a pro-triathlete and turned his attention towards becoming a firefighter and Emergency medical technician, joining the Engine 2 of the Austin Fire Department.[1][8] Esselstyn eventually retired from firefighting to focus on becoming an advocate for plant-based nutrition.[9]
Writing
While he grew up eating the standard American diet, Esselstyn switched to a whole-foods plant-based diet in 1987, cutting out meat, fish, eggs and dairy.[10] He was also inspired by Dave Scott, who was a vegetarian.[6][11] Esselstyn describes his approach as "plant-strong" and has trademarked the term. He says he avoids the word "vegan" in case it discourages people, and believes that "plant strong" sounds healthier and more inclusive.[3]
The Engine 2 Diet (2009)
In 2003, when a co-worker at the Engine 2 fire department discovered that his cholesterol was very high, Esselstyn encouraged the Engine 2 team to switch to a whole foods, plant-based diet to help their colleague. This experience eventually led him to write The Engine 2 Diet, which begins with a foreword by T. Colin Campbell, author of The China Study (2005).[9][12] The Engine 2 Diet appeared on The New York Times Best Seller List[13][14] and was endorsed by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who made a public appearance with Esselstyn in January 2013.[15] In 2010, Whole Foods Market included The Engine 2 Diet as a "Healthy Eating Partner."[16]
My Beef With Meat (2013)
In 2013, Esselstyn released another book, My Beef With Meat.[17][18][19] It was a New York Times best seller ("Advice, How-To, & Miscellaneous List") that reached the #1 spot for the week of June 2, 2013.[20]
Forks Over Knives (2011)
Esselstyn appeared, along with his father and T. Colin Campbell, in the 2011 American documentary on whole foods, plant-based eating, Forks Over Knives. He later developed and starred in the follow-up documentary, Forks Over Knives Presents: The Engine 2 Kitchen Rescue with Rip Esselstyn.[21][22]
Awards
- 2001 World Police and Fire Games: First Place
- Capital of Texas triathlon: Eight-time winner
- Escape from Alcatraz (triathlon): Six-time winner[8]
Works
- Books
- Esselstyn, Rip (2013-05-14). My Beef with Meat: The Healthiest Argument for Eating a Plant-Strong Diet--Plus 140 New Engine 2 Recipes. Hachette Book Group USA. ISBN 978-1455509362.
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(help) - Esselstyn, Rip (2009-02-25). The Engine 2 Diet: The Texas Firefighter's 28-Day Save-Your-Life Plan that Lowers Cholesterol and Burns Away the Pounds. Hachette Book Group USA. ISBN 978-0446506694.
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(help) Foreword by T. Colin Campbell. - Esselstyn, Rip (2016-12). The Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue Diet. Hachette Book Group USA. ISBN 978-1-4555-9117-6. With recipes by Jane Esselstyn.
- DVD
- Forks Over Knives Presents The Engine 2 Kitchen Rescue with Rip Esselstyn (2011)
See also
References
- ^ a b c Rip Esselstyn biography Archived 2013-08-19 at the Wayback Machine, engine2diet.com.
- ^ Deborah Blumenthal, "Firefighters Gone Vegan? Even Austin Is Impressed", The New York Times, March 26, 2006: "The five firefighters of Team C at Firehouse 2 — Rip Esselstyn, James Rae, Matt Moore, Derick Zwerneman and Scott Walters — now eat vegan".
- "Vegan firefighter on his 'Beef With Meat'", CBS This Morning: "Rip Esselstyn, a firefighter in Austin, Texas, convinced his firehouse to switch to a vegan diet."
- Roseann Marulli Rodriguez, Interview with Rip Esselstyn, Super Vegan, August 16, 2010.
- ^ a b c Howard Lyman, Mad Cowboy Interview 07: Rip Esselstyn (Part 1), The Mad Cowboy, undated.
- Kerry Lengel, "Firefighter puts out 'plant-strong' message", Arizona Living, May 12, 2011: "'I like "plant-strong" as opposed to vegan or vegetarian,' he says. 'I think it's much more inclusive and embracing and friendly, and a more accurate description of what it is we're trying to do here, because it's about a whole-food, nutrient-rich, plant-based diet.'"
- ^ Howard Lyman, Mad Cowboy Interview 07: Rip Esselstyn (Part 2), The Mad Cowboy, undated.
- ^ Spector, Kaye. "Great-grandson of Cleveland Clinic founder offers his own advice for healthy living, The Plain Dealer, May 5, 2009.
- ^ Author/Firefighter Rip Esselstyn ’82 Promotes Health, Wellness
- ^ a b Esselstyn, Rip. The Engine 2 Diet. New York: Wellness Central/Hachette Book Group USA, 2009 :10.
- ^ a b Former fireman preaches 'plant-strong' gospel in doc. Winnipeg Free Press, June 2, 2011.
- ^ Kirkham R. Hamilton, "Rip Esselstyn Heart Disease Weight Loss And The Engine 2 Diet" (interview), prescription2000.com December 30, 2009: "So in 1987 without looking back I dropped the meat and the dairy and the eggs and the fish and I ate all plant-strong and ... it has given me the edge not only as a human being but as an athlete."
- ^ Black, Rosemary. Texas firefighter Rip Esselstyn aims to save lives - through his new diet book. Daily News (New York), February 25, 2009.
- ^ Going Cold Turkey From Meat, CBS, April 26, 2009.
- ^ The New York Times Best Seller List, March 15, 2009
- ^ The New York Times Best Seller List, May 17, 2009
- ^ Engine 2 Diet gets Mayor Emanuel's endorsement
- ^ Health Starts Here™ launches at Whole Foods Market
- ^ "Words of encouragement: Better health through diet with My Beef with Meat." The Denver Post, May 7, 2013.
- ^ "Vegan firefighter on his 'Beef With Meat'." CBS This Morning, May 14, 2013.
- ^ "CNN SUNDAY MORNING: Winning Powerball Ticket Sold in Florida; More Severe Weather Expected Today; Report: North Korea Fires Another Missile; Digging Through Train Wreck Damage," CNN Sunday Morning, May 19, 2013.
- ^ New York Times Bestseller List, June 2, 2013
- ^ Forks Over Knives Cast
- ^ Forks Over Knives Presents: The Engine 2 Kitchen Rescue: Official Site