Rip Esselstyn

Rip Esselstyn (born February 16, 1963) is an American health activist, food writer, and former firefighter and triathlete. He is an advocate of a low-fat, whole-food, plant-based diet that excludes all animal products and processed foods.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. He calls it a "plant strong" diet, a term he has trademarked. He is the author of The Engine 2 Diet (2009), My Beef With Meat (2013), Plant-Strong (2016), and The Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue Diet (2017). Esselstyn is the founder and CEO of PLANTSTRONG, a company focused on whole food, plant-based nutrition and combating the rise of ultra-processed foods.

Early life Esselstyn was born in Upstate New York on February 16, 1963, the son of Ann and surgeon Caldwell Esselstyn. He was named after Rip Van Winkle. He is the grandson of surgeon George Crile, Jr. and the great-grandson of surgeon George Washington Crile. His father is a former Olympic rowing champion who was one of the early advocates of a whole-food, plant-based diet in the prevention and reversal of heart disease.Spector, Kaye. "Great-grandson of Cleveland Clinic founder offers his own advice for healthy living, The Plain Dealer, May 5, 2009. He has a sister named Jane, a brother Zeb (Caldwell III) (and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio.Rip Esselstyn biography , engine2diet.com.Howard Lyman, Mad Cowboy Interview 07: Rip Esselstyn (Part 2), The Mad Cowboy, undated.

Esselstyn graduated from the Mercersburg Academy in 1981. He attended the University of Texas, Austin on a swimming scholarship from 1982 to 1986.INTERVIEW: "The Engine 2 Diet" author and "Forks Over Knives" star Rip Esselstyn , Philadelphia City Paper, May 19, 2011 During that time, he became an All-American swimmer.Author/Firefighter Rip Esselstyn '82 Promotes Health, Wellness After college, he became a triathlete and competed for approximately ten years.

In 1997, he retired as a triathlete and turned his attention towards becoming a firefighter and emergency medical technician, joining Engine 2 of the Austin Fire Department. He retired from firefighting to focus on becoming an advocate for plant-based nutrition.

Career

PLANTSTRONG and recent work In 2019, Esselstyn rebranded his Engine 2 business as PLANTSTRONG, expanding into a line of whole-food, plant-based food products, meal planning services, and educational content. The company emphasizes simplicity, accessibility, and avoiding ultra-processed foods. As CEO, Esselstyn has positioned PLANTSTRONG as a voice in the fight against nutritional confusion, advocating for evidence-based, minimally processed diets. He also hosts the PLANTSTRONG Podcast, where he interviews experts in nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and plant-based living.

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.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." He was inspired by Dave Scott, who was a vegetarian.Black, Rosemary. Texas firefighter Rip Esselstyn aims to save lives – through his new diet book. Daily News (New York), February 25, 2009. 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.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.'"

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).Former fireman preaches 'plant-strong' gospel in doc. Winnipeg Free Press, June 2, 2011.Going Cold Turkey From Meat, CBS, April 26, 2009. The Engine 2 Diet appeared on The New York Times Best Seller listThe New York Times Best Seller List, March 15, 2009The New York Times Best Seller list, May 17, 2009 and was endorsed by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who made a public appearance with Esselstyn in January 2013.Engine 2 Diet gets Mayor Emanuel's endorsement In 2010, Whole Foods Market included The Engine 2 Diet as a "Healthy Eating Partner".Health Starts Here launches at Whole Foods Market

My Beef With Meat (2013) In 2013, Esselstyn released another book, My Beef With Meat."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. 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.New York Times Bestseller List, June 2, 2013 NYT Sunday Book Review: Inside the List

Forks Over Knives 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.Forks Over Knives CastForks Over Knives Presents: The Engine 2 Kitchen Rescue: Official Site

Personal life Esselstyn is married to Jill Kolasinski, with whom he has three children.

Awards 2001 World Police and Fire Games: first place Capital of Texas triathlon: eight-time winner Escape from Alcatraz triathlon: six-time winnerEsselstyn, Rip. The Engine 2 Diet. New York: Wellness Central/Hachette Book Group USA, 2009 :10. U.S. Masters Swimming: 200 meter backstroke record for men 55–59, set 7/20/2019Lifetime Records for Rip Esselstyn https://www.usms.org/comp/poolrecords.php?ri=i&SwimmerID=02R25

Works Books

Foreword by T. Colin Campbell. Esselstyn, Rip (December 2016). The Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue Diet. Hachette Book Group USA. . With recipes by Jane Esselstyn.

DVDs Forks Over Knives Presents the Engine 2 Kitchen Rescue with Rip Esselstyn (2011)

Rip Esselstyn

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