Dr. Esselstyn’s Plant Based Diet

Dr. Esselstyn’s Plant Based Diet

Why We Have Changed to Dr. Esselstyn’s Plant Based Diet:

My husband and I know that there is more to understand about heart disease than just family history. However, family history is a very important clue and should not be ignored, especially when both sides of the family have a history of high cholesterol and heart disease. That is particularly the case for me (Dana) because both of my parents and my aunts and uncles on both sides of my family have suffered from heart disease.

We were blessed to be at a lecture given by Caldwell Esselstyn M.D., October 19, 2013. He is a cardiovascular surgeon and author of the book, “Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease” (Buy the book here). After years of operating on patients with cancer and diseased hearts, Dr. Esselstyn studied the diets of people around the world who did not have heart disease, even in their smoking citizens. Simultaneously, T. Colin Campbell was conducting a huge study on health and diet in China. Dr. Esselstyn, in a twenty year period, started a study of a group of the sickest cardiovascular patients he could find in Cleveland, Ohio. He prescribed a plant based diet with no oils. The results of his study were astounding. The diet reversed the heart disease and reduced cancer in those patients who followed his prescription. My husband, who is also a physician, now recommends that his patients read the book and/or watch the video, “Forks Over Knives.” The video explains the China study as well as the plant based diet.

My husband, William V. Choisser, MD, stated in a recent letter to the Jacksonville Times Union:

“I know this is heresy to a lot of physicians but I believe doctors need to open their eyes and see the truth of Dr. Esselstyn’s research. In my practice, roughly half of my patients have developed heart disease and half have cancer in their lifetime, sometimes both. I believe Americans need to make some serious changes in our perception of what a healthy diet should be, especially in light of the number of obese, diabetic patients we have with heart disease. It took me over thirty years to learn this lesson. I hope that others will read the book and see the video to open their minds to better living. For me, this is part of improving my role as a physician and counselor to my patients and I think it is making a big difference.”

I wholeheartedly agree with my husband and therefore have gone on the Plant Based Diet. I am doing my best to be proactive to avoid the path of heart disease. After switching to this diet and doing additional research, I feel confident that I have greatly reduced my chances for diabetes, cancer, obesity, strokes and dementia. I hope you will consider doing more research about the importance of a plant based diet.

Sincerely,
Dana Merritt
(As a daughter, mother and wife)