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Famous People Thriving on Plant-Based Lifestyle

Many renowned individuals have reached peak success in sports and even reversed serious diseases, all by switching to plant-based nutrition.

Dr. Kim Williams – President of the American College of Cardiology(2015)

Dr. Kim Williams, (MD, FACC, FASNC, FAHA, president-elect of the American College of Cardiology) often treats patients with hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol by primarily advising them to switch to a vegan diet.[2]

Before the 2003 ACC meeting, Dr. Williams discovered his LDL cholesterol was 170. This prompted him to reflect on a patient’s success with Dean Ornish, MD’s “Reversing Heart Disease” program[7], which includes a plant-based diet. A patient working with Dr Williams had a triple vessel ischemia(three of the major coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle are significantly narrowed or blocked) who had resolved their issue within 6 weeks by making the change to the Reversing Heart Disease” program[7], and her scan results had normalized.

After reviewing Ornish’s research on the plant-based diet, Dr. Williams realized that his own diet, despite being free of red meat and fried foods, was still high in cholesterol from chicken. He immediately switched to a cholesterol-free diet using meat substitutes, and within 6 weeks, his LDL dropped to 90.

For more information about Dr.Kim Williams: https://theproof.com/the-food-we-eat-is-killing-us-with-cardiologist-dr-kim-williams/

Novak Djokovic – #1 Tennis player in the world

Novak Djokovic is one of the greatest tennis players of all time. He attributes much of his success and physical well-being to his dietary choices. Djokovic follows a gluten-free, plant-based diet, which he credits for his improved performance, endurance, and recovery. His experience is detailed in an article on the Olympics website[8], where he discusses how eliminating gluten and embracing plant-based foods has transformed his health and allowed him to continue to be a high-performing athlete. This proves that plant-based nutrition can enhance the physical performance and well-being of everyone and allows the world’s most elite athletes. It was with his plant-based nutrition he was able to achieve many impressive feats throughout his career such as winning his first Olympic gold medal, accumulating the most weeks as the #1 global ranked tennis player, and holding the record for the most yearly #1 finishes for 8 consecutive years.

To keep updated about Novak Djokovic: https://www.atptour.com/en/players/novak-djokovic/d643/overview[3]

Arnold Schwarzenegger- Bodybuilding Legend and Actor

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the iconic bodybuilding champion and former Governor of California, has also embraced the benefits of a plant-based diet. Once a symbol of meat-eating machismo, Schwarzenegger has stated “I stay away more from the meats and more from animal products because there was this misconception it’s the only way you get big and strong. I backed off from that and I feel much better.”, Schwarzenegger revealed cutting down on meat has improved his cholesterol levels and overall vitality.

His transition to a plant-based diet, despite his long-standing association with bodybuilding, serves as a powerful example of how powerful plant-based nutrition can be for the most intense physical endeavors. This change has bolstered his health and reinforced his commitment to environmental sustainability, aligning his personal choices with broader efforts to combat climate change.[6]

Dr. Brooke Goldner- Medical Doctor

Dr. Brooke Goldner is a featured expert lecturer in the reversal of autoimmune diseases using nutrition, (who graduated with honors for genetic research in leukemia and neurobiology,) At the age of 16 was told that she had 6 months to live as was diagnosed with lupus, stage 4 kidney disease and had multiple blood clots which caused mini-strokes. She endured years of chemotherapy and steroids just to survive.

Through years of suffering with the symptoms of Lupus, Dr. Goldner pursued her medical career. and during her medical career, she discovered the profound impact that a whole-food, plant-based diet could have on her health. By adopting this approach, she was not only able to put her lupus into remission but she was able to cure her lupus entirely. Dr. Goldner’s approach is rooted in scientific research and clinical experience, making her a trustworthy source of information for those looking to improve their health. Her work emphasizes the healing power of a whole-food, plant-based diet, which she has successfully used to help patients overcome autoimmune diseases and achieve optimal health.

To learn more about Dr.Brooks journey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeuYpsnqcSw[9]

Dr. Campbell, M.S., Ph.D. Nutrition, Biochemistry, Microbilogy Dr. T. Colin Campbell, grew up on a dairy farm and was the first in his family to go to college, where he studied pre-veterinary medicine. After, he completed his education at Cornell University (M.S., Ph.D.) and MIT (Research Associate) in nutrition, biochemistry, and microbiology. He presently holds his Endowed Chair as the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry in the Division of Nutritional Sciences. He is a renowned biochemist and nutritional scientist, and made significant discoveries about the link between diet and disease through his work on the China-Cornell-Oxford Project, also known as “The China Study.” Conducted in the 1980s, this comprehensive study examined the diets and health outcomes of thousands of people in rural China. Over several years, Dr. Campbell and his team found that populations consuming primarily plant-based foods had much lower rates of chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes compared to those who consumed more animal products. When Dr. Campbell returned to the United States, he faced significant resistance from the meat and dairy industries, which were challenged by his findings. Despite the scientific rigor of his research, the controversial nature of his conclusions led to backlash within the scientific and medical communities. Ultimately, this pushback resulted in Dr. Campbell losing his position at Cornell University, where he had been a respected faculty member. Despite losing his job, Dr. Campbell continued to advocate for plant-based nutrition, and his work has since become foundational in the plant-based nutrition movement, emphasizing that a diet rich in whole, plant-based foods promotes better health and can prevent many common Western diseases. His findings are detailed in his book The China Study, which has inspired further research and discussion on plant-based diets. Several peer-reviewed studies and reviews have supported the health benefits of plant-based diets, reinforcing Dr. Campbell’s conclusions:
  1. Chen, J., Campbell, T. C., Li, J., & Peto, R. (Eds.). (1990). Diet, Lifestyle and Mortality in China: A Study of the Characteristics of 65 Chinese Counties. Oxford University Press.
    • The official report of The China Study, detailing data correlating diet with health outcomes.
  2. Hu, F. B., & Willett, W. C. (2002). Optimal Diets for Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease. JAMA, 288(20), 2569-2578. doi:10.1001/jama.288.20.2569
    • This article supports the health benefits of plant-based diets, particularly in reducing heart disease.
  3. Fraser, G. E. (2009). Vegetarian Diets: What Do We Know of Their Effects on Common Chronic Diseases?. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 89(5), 1607S-1612S. doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.26736K
    • Reviews evidence supporting the reduced risk of chronic diseases with vegetarian diets.
  4. Key, T. J., Appleby, P. N., & Rosell, M. S. (2006). Health Effects of Vegetarian and Vegan Diets. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 65(1), 35-41. doi:10.1079/PNS2005481
    • This review highlights the health benefits of vegetarian and vegan diets, consistent with The China Study’s findings.
Dr. Campbell’s work, despite the professional challenges he faced, remains influential in discussions about the benefits of plant-based nutrition and continues to inspire research and dietary shifts toward healthier, plant-focused eating patterns.

References:

  1. Goldner, Brooke. “Home.” Goodbye Lupus, Goodbye Lupus,
    https://www.goodbyelupus.com/?s2-ssl=yes.
  2. “The Food We Eat Is Killing Us with Cardiologist Dr. Kim Williams.” The Proof, The Proof,
    https://theproof.com/the-food-we-eat-is-killing-us-with-cardiologist-dr-kim-williams/.
  3. “Novak Djokovic | Overview | ATP Tour | Tennis.” ATP Tour, ATP Tour,
    https://www.atptour.com/en/players/novak-djokovic/d643/overview.
  4. Sadeghi, Ehsan, et al. “The Role of Diet and Nutrient Supplementation in Parkinson’s Disease Progression.” PMC, National Center for Biotechnology Information, 7 Dec. 2004,
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11212527/.
  5. Satija, Ambika, et al. “Plant-Based Dietary Patterns and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in US Men and Women: Results from Three Prospective Cohort Studies.” PubMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 20 Aug. 2019,
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31422013/.
  6. “The Game Changers: 11 Record-Breaking Plant-Based Athletes.” Guinness World Records,
    https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2019/11/the-game-changers-11-record-breaking-plant-based-athletes-601566.
  7. Ornish Literature Review. UCLA Health,
    https://www.uclahealth.org/sites/default/files/documents/Ornish_LiteratureReview.pdf?f=90b7156a.
  8. “Novak Djokovic’s Gluten-Free Diet.” Olympics.com,
    https://olympics.com/en/news/novak-djokovic-gluten-free-diet.
  9. My story of reversing Lupus and autoimmune disease – Full Movie.” YouTube,
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeuYpsnqcSw&t=697s.
  10. Forks over knifes – Full Movie.” YouTube,
    https://youtu.be/EjTWFoqLy34?si=9D_xVrRSTELm3ibr
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