Plant-strong & healthy living: Rip Esselstyn at TEDxFremont
Plant-strong & healthy living: Rip Esselstyn at TEDxFremont
www.tedxfremont.com Rip Esselstyn, a former firefighter and author of The Engine 2 Diet, advocates a plant-strong diet to combat chronic diseases. Esselstyn inspired his fellow firefighting crew at the Austin Engine 2 station to follow a plant-based diet and dramatically heal their health. In 2012, Engine 2 and Whole Foods Market unveiled the Engine 2 food line.
www.engine2diet.com
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Content
0 -> Transcriber: TED Translators admin
Reviewer: Luis Tsai Hsu
5.835 -> So, I'm wearing my shirt inside out,
7.608 -> and a lot of you pointed that out to me.
10.259 -> (Laughter)
11.669 -> I do this from time to time.
13.689 -> And when somebody says it,
15.919 -> I say, "I know... I'm wearing
my shirt inside out."
18.363 -> I'm doing it on purpose.
19.508 -> And I'm doing it to help people
turn their health around.
23.668 -> And they say, "Well, how do you do that?"
27.713 -> And here's the story.
30.261 -> So, I became a firefighter
33.799 -> to help people, to save lives,
36.167 -> and to slay dragons.
38.465 -> Now, obviously,
we are not slaying real dragons,
41.874 -> but that's our term for slaying fires.
46.439 -> And a fire is really a living,
breathing entity,
50.314 -> It's hellbent on creating
all the destruction and devastation
54.765 -> that it can.
55.975 -> So, as firefighters,
we have to use all of our wit,
59.772 -> and we have to outwit,
outsmart it and outlast it,
62.676 -> and whether it's an offensive fire
or a defensive fire,
65.342 -> there're certain tactics.
66.832 -> but the essence
of basically killing a fire is,
70.278 -> "You gotta put the wet stuff,
on the red stuff"
73.48 -> It doesn't matter if it is a house fire,
76.156 -> an apartment fire or high-rise fire,
or it's a wild land fire
79.497 -> We gotta put the wet stuff,
on the red stuff
82.89 -> Now, I retired from firefighting
a little over 3 years ago
86.235 -> So, I'm no longer fighting fires,
but I'm now still helping people,
91.962 -> I'm saving lives, and I'm slaying
a different type of dragon.
98.03 -> The dragon that I'm slaying today,
is what I call
102.046 -> "The 5-headed-chronic
-western-disease dragon"
105.092 -> And this, over the last 100 years,
107.537 -> has gained more strength
and power and momentum
110.396 -> and it is flying around, and it's creating
more death and destruction
116.721 -> on different individuals, families,
cities and states in this country,
121.407 -> It's just absolutely amazing.
124.24 -> And, let me introduce you
to this 5-headed dragon
127.9 -> So, right here we have the leader
of the pack, we have heart disease
131.259 -> 100 years ago, heart disease
wasn't even on the map
134.225 -> as 1 of the top 10 killers of Americans
136.115 -> Today, it's first and foremost.
137.795 -> 1 out of 2 of us will die
from heart disease
140.644 -> here we have breast cancer
and prostate cancer.
143.589 -> Cancer will overtake heart disease
as the number one killer of Americans
148.045 -> if the trends continue.
149.784 -> In the back row, we have diabetes,
and we have obesity
153.79 -> Close to 50% of Americans by 2030
157.639 -> will be either pre-diabetic or diabetic.
160.479 -> And over 70% of America
is now overweight or obese.
164.733 -> This dragon is playing [unclear] , ok?
168.311 -> It's playing hardball.
169.782 -> And the current paradigm that
we are using to try and slay this dragon,
173.583 -> is having absolutely no effect whatsoever.
176.089 -> There is a saying, "You can't break
a glass bottle from the inside."
181.442 -> And what we are currently doing,
with pills and procedures
184.755 -> and more legislation and more doctors,
we're not gonna break that glass bottle,
189.064 -> we have to think outside the box.
191.215 -> And the answer is "Plant-Based Nutrition"
194.725 -> Something so simple, yet so profound,
197.242 -> and so inexpensive, that we can
absolutely lay waste to this dragon
202.942 -> that now comprises 75% of this country's
healthcare cost, right?
208.82 -> 5 diseases, 75% of our healthcare cost
211.804 -> and we know beyond a shadow of a doubt,
214.015 -> every one of these diseases
is either preventable,
217.435 -> or reversible with Plant-Based Nutrition.
220.804 -> Now, let me tell you why I have
so many ripples of hope
224.514 -> about what we can do
as a country going forward.
228.856 -> We did something really remarkable
at a little fire house in Austin Texas.
233.488 -> We had an event that led
to the discovery that one of our own
237.133 -> was basically a dead man walking
240.127 -> And so I challenged these guys,
241.966 -> for 28 days, let's eat All Plant Strong.
245.636 -> Fruits, vegetables, whole grains,
and beans, some nuts and seeds.
249.972 -> And these guys, in 28 days,
253.022 -> morphed themselves from medical
time bombs, into healthy superheroes.
257.878 -> It was absolutely amazing
and it was the spark that we needed
262.512 -> and the confidence that these guys needed
264.745 -> to start a wellness revolution
267.025 -> at a firehouse in Austin Texas,
270.297 -> the land of beef.
271.297 -> (Laughter)
274.047 -> And so we just fed on this.
281.015 -> And the reason we were
so successful is because
284.764 -> We made health a habit
at the fire station.
287.98 -> And some of the things
that made it easy is:
290.558 -> The guys at the fire station,
they're my second family,
293.354 -> so we had tons of support.
295.888 -> We had an amazing amount
of love between us,
299.138 -> compassion, respect and admiration.
302.676 -> So we had the support that you need.
304.451 -> We developed routines.
305.931 -> Every day, we would come in,
307.645 -> and we'd have a plant-strong lunch
that we share together.
310.599 -> Then we'd have a crossfit
workout in the afternoon
313.396 -> then we'd have a dinner,
a plant-strong dinner
315.87 -> We would alternate who would buy
and shop for the food
318.627 -> and then together we would cook it
and eat it and then clean up afterwards.
322.467 -> And then the next morning,
we'd have a plant-strong breakfast,
325.377 -> and then before we left
at noon the next day,
327.817 -> we'd have a plant-strong lunch.
329.464 -> So these are routines that became
consistent for months and years.
336.262 -> And then, I had to educate these guys.
338.361 -> These guys had the same questions
that everybody has,
341.19 -> "Well, where am I going to get
my protein from plants?
343.83 -> What about calcium?"
345.067 -> And I said, "Listen, as far as protein's
concerned, It's a boogie man
348.703 -> Don't worry about it.
350.253 -> The scientific term, the medical term
for protein deficiency is "kwashiorkor"
355.991 -> You don't know it,
and you don't even have to mess with it.
359.011 -> And then for calcium.
361.834 -> Calcium comes from the ground.
It's a mineral.
364.714 -> If you want to get a first-class,
highly absorbable form,
367.74 -> you want to get it from plants,
not from "Cowcium".
372.183 -> It's not "cowcium". Its calcium.
374.606 -> (Laughter)
376.326 -> And then these guys,
379.205 -> They had a huge disconnect between
what they thought was healthy
383.825 -> and what in reality was healthy.
386.412 -> So let's slay some of those dragons
here together.
388.881 -> So first, they thought red-meat
put hair on their chest
393.212 -> and made them more manly.
395.746 -> And I said, "Guys. No, it doesn't.
397.576 -> What it does is it puts plaque
in your arteries
400.428 -> and it makes you less of a man."
403.14 -> The canary in a coal mine
when it comes to heart disease,
406.583 -> the first sign
is an under-performing penis.
411.778 -> And I said you take a look
at the size of the arteries,
414.948 -> they go up to the brain,
to the heart, down in the legs.
418.912 -> They're all about 5 milimeters
in diameter, about the size the straw here
423.456 -> You take a look at the size of the artery
that goes to the male penis.
428.157 -> It's one millimeter. It's about the size
of this coffee stirring straw right here.
432.956 -> And what happens after
you eat all that meat, right?
436.077 -> It gets clogged up with all the fat,
the cholesterol and the animal protein.
440.415 -> And that's problematic.
441.71 -> So if you want to slay
that erectile dysfunction dragon
445.763 -> and allow your
Puff-the-Magic Dragon to roar,
448.61 -> (Laughter)
450.78 -> then you want to ditch the meat,
and reach for the plants
455.573 -> These guys were absolutely convinced
458.886 -> that chicken was like the cat's meow
when it came to health food
463.568 -> I said, "Listen guys. Never mind that cat.
466.042 -> This doesn't even belong
in your dog's breakfast bowl"
469.367 -> It's got the exact same amount
of cholesterol as red meat
475.337 -> It's got the same amount
of problematic animal protein
478.547 -> and the leanest piece a chicken
is still 20 percent saturated fat
483.176 -> You're not gonna be slaying
any dragons with this guy here.
486.799 -> "Okay, Rip. Fine. But fish,
fish is the gold standard
491.279 -> when it comes to a healthy meat, right?"
493.309 -> And I said, No.
It's the 10th standard, okay?
496.176 -> Most fish has more cholesterol
than red meat or chicken;
499.857 -> salmon, which is considered
the healthiest, is 50 mg of cholesterol,
503.69 -> You still have
the problematic animal protein
506.374 -> and varying amounts of the bad fats.
509.341 -> Don't go there guys.
511.009 -> "Okay. Fine, Rip. But the egg!
The egg is the perfect food, right?
515.374 -> We know it's the perfect food."
517.07 -> Yes, the perfect food, if you want
to continue to feed the dragon.
520.854 -> If you want to slay the dragon,
you have to get rid of the egg.
524.23 -> One egg yolk, almost 200mg
of dietary cholesterol.
528.605 -> It's the same amount
as 2 Burger King whoppers.
532.301 -> And the egg white is a concentrated source
of animal protein.
537.891 -> Now these guys knew the processed
and refined foods were not healthy.
541.622 -> They knew about the sugar, and the pop,
and the fried chips and the candy bars.
545.495 -> But they had no idea
that extracted plant oils
548.867 -> weren't heart-healthy
and weren't beneficial.
552.102 -> So I said, "Listen, this epitomizes
the triumph of marketing over science."
556.47 -> Let's pick on olive oil for a second.
558.284 -> It takes 1,375 olives
that you have to squeeze to death
563.716 -> to get enough olive oil
for one 32-ounce bottle.
567.149 -> And you get rid of all the fiber,
the water,
569.369 -> and the phytonutrients
and the anti-oxidants in the water.
573.258 -> And you're left with
a hundred percent fat,
575.418 -> the most concentrated
source of calories on the planet
578.808 -> and it's 15 percent saturated fat.
581.391 -> and all it's doing, is contributing
to America's heart disease
585.232 -> and obesity epidemic.
587.583 -> "Okay. But MILK! Milk does
the body good, right?"
590.04 -> (Giggles)
593.04 -> And I said, "Guys. Milk
does nobody any good.
596.712 -> You've been marketed to death.
Don't buy the hype."
599.532 -> As a matter fact,
this milk is just liquid meat
603.871 -> Is what it is. It's got a very similar
nutritional composition
608.425 -> and as a matter of fact,
one eight-ounce glass of whole milk
611.707 -> has the same amount of saturated fat
as four slices of bacon
618.376 -> "Okay. Fine! But cheese!!
Don't take away our cheese,
622.106 -> whatever you do,
because we love our cheese!"
625.956 -> and I said, "I know you love your cheese,
628.251 -> and that's exactly why
I need to take it from you"
630.667 -> Because when I think
of a loving relationship
633.328 -> I think is something that also
loves you right back,
636.098 -> and that cheese does not love you back.
Not one iota.
639.904 -> And so I hereby declare that you are
all in an abusive relationship
644.611 -> (Laughter)
645.401 -> with cheese
646.327 -> and you need to kick it out of your life.
651.157 -> "Okay, fine! But don't take away
our yogurt! (Laughter)
655.069 -> I mean, this is
the Mediterranean super food
660.693 -> People can live to be
100 on this stuff, right?"
664.355 -> And I said, "Again guys,
it's the magic of marketing, alright?
667.777 -> For example, this newfangled Greek yogurt
670.996 -> that's zero fat and twice
the amount of protein,
673.414 -> It's twice the amount
of problematic animal protein
677.202 -> that's promoting tumors and cancers,
679.299 -> that's leaching calcium from your bones,
682.165 -> that's harsh on the kidneys and the liver,
685.346 -> You don't need to go there, you can get
everything you need from plants
690.593 -> And to put the nail into the coffin
(Laughter)
693.165 -> I said, "Guys, we're the only mammals
that drink another mammal secretions,
697.65 -> okay?"
698.49 -> You don't need to go there, not one bit
702.176 -> There's 51,000 mammals on the planet.
704.599 -> We're the only ones that have
the unmitigated audacity to go there,
709.158 -> Alright? Don't need to do it.
712.153 -> So, the other thing we did
at the fire station after I educated them,
717.178 -> we surrounded ourselves
with these fantastic
720.716 -> "Mantastic" foods. (Laughter)
722.736 -> So it filled them up,
without filling them out.
725.778 -> It tasted great
and it made them feel fantastic.
730.729 -> So we did these great breakfast bowls
with plant-based milks
735.514 -> Spelt-blueberry pancakes
as big as manhole covers. (Laughter)
740.438 -> Quinoa and fruit, the magic grain,
almost 20 percent protein.
744.912 -> Oatmeal Waffles
with nice Apple Sauce on top
748.67 -> and then, for lunches and dinners
750.41 -> We would do
751.881 -> all time, all-american favorites
754.272 -> We do Plant-Strong Pizzas,
756.314 -> Portobello Mushroom Fajitas
with all the fixings.
760.014 -> Lentil Oatloaf.
761.901 -> It's kinda glazed with barbecue sauce
on the bottom and the top.
764.901 -> Macaroni and NOT Cheese. (Laughter)
768.159 -> Red Lentil Sloppy Joe's.
They were a lunchtime favorite.
770.974 -> Bean and Grain Burgers,
773.006 -> Red Curry Tofu Stir-fry,
774.846 -> Three-Bean Chili
777.926 -> Kale Ceviche Salad.
779.406 -> Kale, It's angry lettuce. (Laughter)
781.906 -> It needs to be tamed.
783.336 -> So we would take
a little bit of lemon juice
785.566 -> avocado, some spices
and drive it in there.
790.723 -> Sweet Potato Lasagna,
an all-time dinner favorite.
793.406 -> Makes fantastic leftovers.
794.886 -> Black Beans and Rice Extravaganza.
797.409 -> This is the ultimate peasant food,
799.847 -> We could feed 5 hungry firefighters
for less than 15 dollars.
804.543 -> Dark Chocolate
Oatmeal Cookies for dessert,
808.334 -> Chocolate Mousses,
810.134 -> Date Nut Crust Fruit Pies,
812.281 -> and then a variety of fruits.
813.663 -> But what happened
is over the course of 28 days
817.147 -> and then beyond, these guys
developed a much more sophisticated
821.729 -> and mature palate that appreciated
all the little nuances and subtleties
826.309 -> that are in these plant-based foods.
828.513 -> and when you're eating
the standard american diet,
830.892 -> all you're really tasting
is the salt, the sugar and the fat
834.133 -> that it's all laced with.
835.595 -> So I challenge you all.
836.935 -> If you really want to develop
a sophisticated palate,
841.791 ->
842.929 -> And also what happened
with these guys over the 28 days
846.128 -> They started pooping
849.116 -> Perfectly, Regularly (Laughter)
851.016 -> Most Americans are consuming
5 to 15 grams of fiber a day.
856.038 -> You start eating plant-based, and suddenly
858.136 -> it goes up to 30 to 70 grams of fiber,
860.456 -> and now you're regular
as a Swiss commuter train, ok?
864.211 -> (Laughter)
865.341 -> and you're light and unencumbered
867.552 -> and the quality your life
goes through the roof.
870.802 -> So you gotta kick the habit!
872.396 -> And I'm not talking about
smoking cigarettes right now,
875.042 -> but i wanna talk about cigarettes
for a second
877.333 -> 50 years ago, close to 50% of America
was smoking cigarettes
881.57 -> Now, it's less than 20 percent.
883.327 -> and what happened
is America basically got educated,
886.825 -> and understood that smoking cigarettes
was not good for your health.
892.658 -> We need to do the same thing
around the standard American diet.
895.666 -> And this is more insidious
and more destructive
899.329 -> than smoking cigarettes.
901.319 -> 94 percent of our calories
are calories that don't count
906.855 -> They're destructive
instead of constructive
909.907 -> only a mere 6 percent
are coming from fruits, vegetables,
914.459 -> whole grains and beans, that are
really constructive, healthy calories.
919.901 -> So we need a complete paradigm shift
that goes on in this country.
924.369 -> And so this is what I want you to do.
926.21 -> I want you to make health a habit.
928.401 -> take the 28 day challenge. Okay?
930.385 -> And change your health destiny,
932.545 -> change your relationship with food.
934.801 -> You will forever have
a different relationship
937.265 -> Find Support.
938.2 -> This culture, this society
does not support healthy living
941.633 -> or healthy eating right now.
943.014 -> So you need to find support
at family at work, online.
947.21 -> There're all kinds of communities
where you can get support
950.683 -> Develop Routines
that make this sustainable
953.907 -> Whether it's breakfast, every morning,
the same thing. Monday through friday
958.313 -> Whether it's finding a couple restaurants
that you can go to
962.209 -> but Find Routines!
963.835 -> Educate Yourself!
965.039 -> Read the litany of fantastic books
that are out there on this subject,
968.702 -> Because once you have the knowledge,
it's a different ballgame.
972.503 -> And then surround yourself
with healthy foods
974.677 -> We do not want this to be
about willpower, okay?
977.966 -> So have a nice,
sterile environment at home.
981.843 -> And then make food you enjoy.
983.358 -> You saw all the fantastic pictures
that we're eating at the firehouse
986.641 -> This is not about deprivation,
this is about empowerment.
990.504 -> If you're a true foodie, you want to go
towards eating plant-based.
994.73 -> 99 percent of the food on the planet
comes from plants,
997.979 -> a mere 1 percent comes from animals
and animal byproducts
1002.896 -> So, I have so many ripples
of hope going forward
1008.558 -> that this country can turn it around.
1011.076 -> I know that if a little fire house
in Austin Texas can do it,
1014.681 -> any house in America can do this,
1017.7 -> And I know that the trends are changing.
1020.375 -> I've seen it with my own eyes
over the last six years.
1023.543 -> I've seen "Forks Over Knives"
become the number 1 viewed
1026.877 -> and selling documentary in America
for the last two years.
1029.814 -> I've seen the fast-food president
go plant-based.
1034.294 -> I've seen media moguls
like Oprah and Ellen
1036.874 -> that are now pushing plants.
1038.243 -> I've seen CEO's like John Mackey
and Biz Stone of Twitter,
1043.36 -> and Bill Ford, of the Ford Motor Corp.,
that are going plant-based.
1047.431 -> I've seen professional athletes
like Serena and Venus Williams
1051.204 -> and the #1 running back in the NFL,
Arian Foster, are now plant-based.
1057.022 -> The time is here! The time is now!
1060.214 -> Go Plant Strong!
1062.314 -> Slay!
1063.883 -> Slay the five headed dragon in your life.
1067.454 -> And it all starts with
what's at the end of your fork,
1071.005 -> your spoon and your knife.
1073.615 -> Awesome!!!
(Laughter)
1075.293 -> (Applause)
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAkEYcmCCCk