Which Way is Life
Which Way is Life? is designed to help busy, overworked, stressed out people find their way to a more balanced, healthier, inspired life. Two times a week host Bill Klaproth will interview trendsetting doctors, fitness professionals, life coaches, meditation experts and more in a quest for transformational discovery and positive change.

Ep22 - Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease: Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Jr.

From the Show: Which Way is Life
Summary: How to prevent and reverse heart disease with NY Times best-selling author, Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr.
Air Date: 12/26/16
Duration: 29:57
Host: Bill Klaproth
Guest Bio: Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr.
Dr. Caldwell EsselstynCaldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., received his B.A. from Yale University and his M.D. from Western Reserve University. In 1956, pulling the No. 6 oar as a member of the victorious United States rowing team, he was awarded a gold medal at the Olympic Games. He was trained as a surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic and at St. George’s Hospital in London. In 1968, as an Army surgeon in Vietnam, he was awarded the Bronze Star.

Dr. Esselstyn has been associated with the Cleveland Clinic since 1968. During that time, he has served as President of the Staff and as a member of the Board of Governors. He chaired the Clinic’s Breast Cancer Task Force and headed its Section of Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.

In 1991, Dr. Esselstyn served as President of the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons, That same year he organized the first National Conference on the Elimination of Coronary Artery Disease, which was held in Tucson, Arizona. In 1997, he chaired a follow-up conference, the Summit on Cholesterol and Coronary Disease, which brought together more than 500 physicians and health-care workers in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. In April, 2005, Dr. Esselstyn became the first recipient of the Benjamin Spock Award for Compassion in Medicine. He received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Cleveland Clinic Alumni Association in 2009. In September 2010, he received the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame Award. Dr. Esselstyn received the 2013 Deerfield Academy Alumni Association Heritage Award In Recognition of Outstanding Achievement & Service, and the 2013 Yale University GEORGE H.W. BUSH ’48 LIFETIME OF LEADERSHIP AWARD. Dr. Esselstyn has also received the 2015 Plantrician Project Luminary Award, the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award, and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award.

His scientific publications number over 150, The Best Doctors in America (1994-1995 published by Woodward and White) cites Dr. Esselstyn’s surgical expertise in the categories of endocrine and breast disease. In 1995 he published his bench mark long-term nutritional research arresting and reversing coronary artery disease in severely ill patients. That same study was updated at 12 years and reviewed beyond 20 years in his book, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, making it one of the longest longitudinal studies of its type.

Dr. Esselstyn and his wife, Ann Crile Esselstyn, have followed a plant-based diet for more than 26 years. Dr. Esselstyn presently directs the cardiovascular prevention and reversal program at The Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute.

The Esselstyns have four children and ten grandchildren.

What You’ll Learn in this Episode:

  • How 80% of chronic illness can be prevented by eating a whole food, plant based diet.
  • The REAL cause of heart disease.
  • What to shop for at the grocery store.
  • An example of what to eat at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  • How heart disease and many other chronic diseases can be reversed.

High Five Highlights:

  • The one food you should add to your diet today: Green leafy vegetables.
  • Favorite quote: Cardiovascular disease is nothing more than a toothless paper tiger, that need never ever to exist, and if it does exist, it need never ever to progress. Heart disease is a completely benign foodborne illness.
  • Book he would share: The China Study by Colin Campbell (get on audible.com and use code “WhichWayisLife").
  • Most important thing he’s learned in life: Having a loving relationship with his wife.

Connect with Dr. Esselstyn

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