18 Facts About Rip Esselstyn

Rip Esselstyn was born on February 16,1963 and is an American health activist, food writer, and former firefighter and triathlete.

Rip Esselstyn is known as an advocate of low-fat, whole-food, plant-based diet that excludes all animal products and processed foods.

Rip Esselstyn calls it a "plant strong" diet, a term he has trademarked.

Rip Esselstyn has appeared in two documentaries about plant-based nutrition: Forks Over Knives and The Game Changers.

Rip Esselstyn is the author of The Engine 2 Diet, My Beef With Meat, Plant-Strong, and The Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue Diet.

Rip Esselstyn is the grandson of surgeon George Crile, Jr.

Rip Esselstyn's father is a former Olympic rowing champion who was one of the early advocates of a whole-food, plant-based diet in the prevention and reversal of heart disease.

Rip Esselstyn has a sister named Jane and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio.

Rip Esselstyn graduated from the Mercersburg Academy in 1981 and attended the University of Texas, Austin on a swimming scholarship from 1982 to 1986.

Rip Esselstyn retired from firefighting to focus on becoming an advocate for plant-based nutrition.

Whilst he grew up eating the standard American diet, Rip Esselstyn switched to a whole-foods plant-based diet in 1987, cutting out meat, fish, eggs and dairy.

Rip Esselstyn was inspired by Dave Scott, who was a vegetarian.

Rip Esselstyn describes his approach as "plant-strong" and has trademarked the term.

Rip Esselstyn says he avoids the word "vegan" in case it discourages people, and believes that "plant strong" sounds healthier and more inclusive.

In 2003, when a co-worker at the Engine 2 fire department discovered that his cholesterol was very high, Rip Esselstyn encouraged the Engine 2 team to switch to a whole foods, plant-based diet to help their colleague.

In 2013, Rip Esselstyn released another book, My Beef With Meat.

Rip Esselstyn later developed and starred in the follow-up documentary, Forks Over Knives Presents: The Engine 2 Kitchen Rescue with Rip Esselstyn.

Rip Esselstyn is married to Jill Kolasinski, with whom he has three children.