The Trinity of Plant-Based Education: Liberation from an Animal Diet

On today’s program, we review three different books, all of which express the same powerful message for the physical, emotional, and ecological benefits of a plant-based lifestyle. These three books are, “Eating Animals” by Jonathan Safran Foer, “The Engine 2 Diet” by Rip Esselstyn, and “The China Study” by T. Colin Campbell, PhD and Thomas M. Campbell II, MD. The author discusses what it means to eat meat, coming from an inhumanely industrialized system, which causes immense suffering to animals and rampant destruction of the environment. “Eating Animals” quickly became a New York Times bestseller, and later formed the basis for a documentary of the same title. The film is directed by Christopher Quinn, and narrated and co-produced by renowned actress, Natalie Portman, who, after reading the book, immediately switched from a vegetarian diet to being fully vegan. Our next book is, “The Engine 2 Diet” by Rip Esselstyn. Rip is a former Austin, Texas, USA firefighter, professional triathlete and health activist. Through “the Engine 2 Diet” program he developed, he transformed the wellness of the entire Austin Fire Department. “The Engine 2 Diet” is a low-fat, plant-based plan that seeks to prevent or even reverse illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and cancer. For over 40 years, Dr. T. Colin Campbell, has been on the forefront of nutrition research and the advocacy of a low-fat, whole food, plant-based diet. His legacy, “The China Study,” is one of the largest, most comprehensive studies on the relationship between nutrition and cancer, heart, and metabolic diseases ever conducted. It was launched through a partnership between Cornell University, Oxford University, and the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, using data collected over a 20-year time span. In conclusion, these three inspirational books take the readers on different excursions of discovery concerning the food we eat, along with the effects it has on humans, the animals, and the Earth. The unifying message is clear: For us to prosper in health and happiness, we must quickly turn away from meat, dairy, fish, and eggs and embrace the life-saving, benevolent vegan diet today!