– Background:
– Esselstyn born in New York City in 1933 to Dr. Caldwell Blakeman Esselstyn Sr. and Lilian Meyer.
– Esselstyn’s father, a prominent physician, consulted by John F Kennedy for setting up Medicare.
– Esselstyn’s wife’s father and grandfather, George Washington Crile and George Barney Crile, were notable surgeons.
– Esselstyn graduated from Yale University in 1956.
– Esselstyn competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, winning a gold medal.
– Diet work:
– Esselstyn promotes a whole foods, plant-based diet to prevent coronary and cardiovascular disease.
– The diet excludes all animal products and oils.
– Esselstyn’s work gained attention when Bill Clinton cited it for his dietary change in 2010.
– Esselstyn featured in documentary films like “Forks Over Knives” and “The Game Changers.”
– Critics like Nancy Brown and Harriet A. Hall question the efficacy of Esselstyn’s claims.
– Awards:
– In 2005, Esselstyn received the Benjamin Spock Award for Compassion in Medicine.
– In 2009, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Cleveland Clinic Alumni Association.
– In 2010, Esselstyn received the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame Award.
– Selected publications:
– “Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: The Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven, Nutrition-Based Cure” was published in 2007.
– “The Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook: Over 125 Delicious, Life-Changing, Plant-Based Recipes” was published in 2014.
– See also:
– List of vegans.
Caldwell Blakeman Esselstyn Jr. (born December 12, 1933) is an American physician, author and former Olympic rowing champion.
Caldwell Esselstyn | |
|---|---|
 Esselstyn in May 2019 | |
| Born | December 12, 1933 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Yale University (AB, 1956) Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (MD, 1961) |
| Known for | Forks Over Knives |
| Spouse | Ann Crile |
| Children | 4, including Rip Esselstyn |
| Awards | Gold Medal, 1956 Olympic Games – Men's eight |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Cardiology Plant-based diet |
| Institutions | Cleveland Clinic |
| Website | www |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's rowing | ||
Representing the  United States
| ||
| Olympic Games | ||
 |
1956 Melbourne | Men's eight |
Esselstyn is director of the Heart Disease Reversal Program at the Cleveland Clinic. He is also the author of Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease (2007), in which he argued for a low-fat, whole foods, plant-based diet that avoids all animal products and oils, as well as reducing or avoiding soybeans, nuts, and avocados. The diet has been criticized for its unfounded health claims.