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Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Try a plant-based diet with Rip
A year ago, as part of research for a story I wrote about former professional triathlete and firefighter Rip Esselstyn, my husband and I changed the way we eat. It’s essentially a vegan diet plan — no meat, no dairy and no oil — designed to lower your cholesterol.
I was skeptical about the program, outlined in Esselstyn’s book, “The Engine 2 Diet.” But we tried it, and for a month our plates were bursting with beans, leafy greens and tofu. We had our blood tested along the way, and at the end of the month, both of our cholesterol levels had dropped nearly 40 points. (Read the entire article here).
I haven’t stuck to the program 100 percent, but I’ve taken a lot away from my plant-powered month. I saute in vegetable broth instead of oil; I make my own hummus, with garbanzo beans and no oil; I eat tons of spinach and beans and Swiss chard and not very much meat at all.
Now the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a nonprofit organization that promotes preventive medicine and conducts clinical research, is encouraging people to try the program for 21 days — and they’re offering free online support to those who do.
The online program goes live Jan. 1 here. There is no cost to join.
Participants get daily emails with recipes and cooking tips, a 21-day meal plan and an interactive vegan restaurant guide. They also get access to online videos and discussion boards featuring registered dietitians and physicians including Dr. Neal Barnard and Dr. Dean Ornish.
A few celebrities are getting on board as well, including “Oprah” chef Tal Ronnen, author of “Skinny Bitch” Rory Freedman and Austin’s own Esselstyn, who has retired from his firefighting career and is focusing on helping other people get healthy through his Engine 2 program.
They all will offer advice on what to eat and grocery shopping, plus personal stories about eating a plant-based diet.
“This makes it more accessible,” says Susan Levin, a nutritionist and dietician with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. “We’re doing more hand holding — here’s a grocery list and here’s a community message board, where people can pose questions and nutritionists and each other will answer.”
According to a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, a plant-based diet can help participants lose weight, lower blood sugar and reduce their need for medications used to treat diabetes and other health conditions. They also can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
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