The Esselstyn Family: A Lifetime of Hope and Health | The Exam Room LIVE in Washington, D.C.

Get to know the one of the iconic families of health and nutrition like never before!
Join Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, his wife Ann, and children Rip and Jane for an inside look at such a trailblazing family.
The group joined Dr. Neal Barnard and "The Weight Loss Champion" Chuck Carroll for a special episode of The Exam Room Podcast at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., for a look back at Dr. Esseslstyn's incredible career and the immeasurable influence they've had on millions of lives around the world.
Dr. Esselstyn shares his advice for tapping into the healthiest parts of your DNA while turning off the genes responsible for chronic and deadly illnesses. He is living proof that his method works! He cites outliving members of his own family by decades after they all passed away at an early age.
Plus, 88-year-old Ann steals the show by pulling a tire that is twice her size to the astonishment of the sold-out crowd who filled the National Press Club for this once in a lifetime show!
Dr. Esselstyn and Rip also share their thoughts on the hazards of the keto diet and the serious repercussions of following misguided over the top social media influencers.
Other Topics
- Dr. Esselstyn gives his healthiest foods
- Dr. Esselstyn shares his opinion on all oils
- What the Esselstyn family eats for Thanksgiving
- Dr. Esselstyn's 101-year-old whole food, plant-based patient
- Rip and Jan dish about what it was like to grow up in the Esselstyn family
- The Esselstyn family receive the Midge Steuber Ambassador for a Better World Award
- And more!
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🔗 SHOW LINKS 🔗
The Esselstyns
Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn: www.dresselstyn.com
PlantStrong: plantstrong.com
Be A Plant-Based Woman Warrior: amzn.to/3pAleXu
The Esselstyn Family Foundation: esselstynfamilyfoundation.org
Chuck Carroll
Instagram: / chuckcarrollwlc
Twitter: / chuckcarrollwlc
Facebook: / chuckcarrollwlc
Physicians Committee
Instagram: / physicianscommittee
Facebook: / pcrm.org
Twitter: / pcrm
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About Us
The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 12,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

[@ColinFirthFan777]

I have been following Dr. Esselstyn's reversal plan for eleven years. I had a heart attack several years ago. A recent angiogram indicates zero blockages, not even narrowing. He knows what he is talking about and he is very kind and generous with his time.

[@richyakuoko2360]

Awesome!! Congrats Sir!!

[@claresmith9261]

I’m doing it but not fully as all my family eat sad , I’m 71 and doing pretty well but I’d love to be 100 percent, I’m just wondering does the rest of your family do this as everyone on this show eats this way and that makes it really so much easier to sustain the diet

[@georgannecollett8047]

​@claresmith9261 it's so very very important to do it 100% Clare....Dr E warns about this for a reason

[@claresmith9261]

@@georgannecollett8047 I realize that but can’t seem to with all my family eating differently but thanks 🙏

[@georgannecollett8047]

@@claresmith9261 My family don't....I've just had to work at keeping at this for myself

[@kentroskelley1389]

A Family on a mission to save our health, the earth and all its creatures. This is a powerful commitment. Thank you Esselstyn’s!!!

[@sandybayes]

So many plant advocates that we can now follow and be assured are committed to healthy nutrition.

[@5mintify]

Some people think plant-based diet, whole foods diet is extreme. Half a million people a year will have their chests opened up and a vein taken from their leg and sewn onto their coronary artery. Some people would call that extreme. ~Caldwell Esselstyn (1933-)

[@greyhnd001]

I did my first doctors visit in 10 years since going plant based. I can't wait to get the results. My blood pressure blew my doctor away. She said it was the blood pressure of a 20 year old 113/73. with no meds. Just whole food plant based and a beer hear and there. I apricate all the research you've done. Im 53 with a resting heart rate of 47.

[@alanalynn2023]

I'm on day 14 of this eating journey and so far I feel like I eat all I want and I'm satisfied and a bonus to it all is that I've lost 6 lb

[@g.e.boroush5176]

I'm on year 14 and you will be there before you know it. Just stick with it. It's a lovely way to live life. Hugs! -

[@Cubby-cv8qe]

Eating my oatmeal with almond milk & ground flax while listening. Thank you to the Esselstyn family!!!!!

[@suzkstein]

ALL RESPECT to Ann Crile Esselstyn!! She truly made this way of life accessible. SO happy the honored her at the end of the video! GO ANN

[@CompanionAnimals2011]

Dr. Esselstyn saved my life 5 yrs ago. I'm' forever indebted to this man ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@CDLStewart4477]

I love this amazing family. I pray my family will one day be plant based. Thank you

[@ElinorRumming]

I absolutely love this family. I could listen to them talk for days on end about anything. I especially love Rip's Instagram posts of their family meals. Real humans doing excellent work for humankind. ❤

[@janismadigan6178]

I love the Esselstyn Family! Thank you so much for recording this and making it available to all of us!

[@workhardplayharderx2]

Thank you SO MUCH for recording this and sharing it with all of us, very grateful for this platform.

[@white-rabbit93]

Thank you everyone. Thanks to the Esselstyn family, Chuck, Dr. Barnard and all. Great show. ❤

[@bettymaugeri7316]

Thank you Esselstyn family🫶

[@cherylbush9780]

SHARE, SHARE, SHARE, the World's folk need to see and hear this! LIFECHANGING!💌

[@naturalhealthyrecipesremedies]

Since I started the plant based journey my appetite for processed foods and sugar went away. I also have more energy and feel lighter and when I put it to the test by eating processed foods again I feel bad and heavy again. I can not yet walk over water like Jesus but with the plant based lifestyle I feel like getting closer to it.

[@jgrysiak6566]

Took me 6 yrs yo get flour products out. It's everywhere in life from pizza shops & donut places. Occasionally tries to creep back but I'm in control now.

[@brigittereuss1996]

⁠

[@naturalhealthyrecipesremedies]

@@jgrysiak6566 I try as far as possible to create all my recipes from whole food sources

[@somdveganevents3947]

This was one of the best evenings of my life. It was such an honor to be amongst so much human greatness! Thank you so much, PCRM and the Esselstyn family, for being the ultimate of trailblazers and change-makers.

[@lisaferrin]

When you think they could have kept this all to themselves, but chose to share with the world...pretty selfless and amazing. Ann and jane are like Lucy and ethel!

[@kayegooey7454]

5:12 Lucy and Ethel 😅. Ann must be Lucy!

[@kentroskelley1389]

Dr Esselstyn’s closing statement was epic and profound. I scrolled back to listen to it three times.

[@videoartsproductions1]

My dad never made it past 62 he had multiple by pass surgeries and several heart attacks starting when he was in his early forties. This was before stents. I knew intuitively early on it was diet related but I couldn't convince him of it though I did try. I gave him a salt substitute once and he got very angry about it so there wasn't much I could do. I think he truly believed there was nothing wrong with his diet and changing it wouldn't make any difference so he didn't even try, though I knew it was possible. This was in the late 70's. I became a vegetarian early on at age 20 after witnessing his demise and didn't consume any red meat and haven't in over 45 years and now a vegan for the past 6 years. Seeing other people suffer can have a very powerful and profound effect on people who witness it. Life style changing in my case.

[@lisaferrin]

Im 62 now but what a hoot to have jane as a sex ed teacher! This family is just such a class act

[@donnaserpiello6140]

So true about Dr Esselstyn. He called my brother personally to talk to him about his heart condition and what he could do. Unfortunately my brother did not follow the suggestions strictly and has lost his battle😢 I personally believe in the wfpbd and due to my husband recently having stents placed its my goal to make this our way of life. Id also love for my husband to get that stern chat with Dr Esselstyn 😁

[@annemccarron2281]

I'm glad you said "strictly." You can't follow WFPB diet loosely to expect massive results. These people follow their program religiously!

[@DJMovit]

I love Ann "I just wanna say one thing!" Crielle Esselstyn😊 great family!

[@Cyanococcus25]

My mom & I, 3 years vegan! We love this journey🌱🌿💚

[@LashusJourney]

Amazing

[@kimskitchen123]

I was once fooled into believing the Keto diet was a good thing. BOY have I learned a lot since then. It hurt my health. I feel the diet is from the pit. I hate it. I gave it up last winter and my health has only improved. My husband had been on HBP meds and is off them now with perfect BP. Yay. Thank you to all of you! ❤

[@valeriee3039]

Thanks for celebrating the Esselstyn family.

[@Mrm1985100]

Amazing family

[@fairynelly4427]

The family & their foundation...Legends!

[@Butterflyneverlands]

They’re amazing ❤

[@nofirstnolast2059]

Yes, @JaneEsselstyn! That study's finding was awesome.Thank you for beautifully weaving it into the wonderful discussion! 👏 👏 👏

[@plantpoweredcertifiednutri6740]

This was EXCELLENT 🌱🕺💯

[@sunshineday3668]

What an incredible episode. Thank you everyone!

[@cherylbush9780]

For my three plant-based daughter warriors Christmas, ''Be A Plant-Based Woman Warrior: Live Fierce, Stay Bold, Eat Delicious'', recipe book and it's colorful rainbow colored pages, recipes galore and family photographs🥳💖

[@cindyhoskins7391]

Need a link to buy it!!

[@ethicalphytophage]

That was lovely. The Esselstyn family and PCRM are both so inspirational. Also, all very funny. The whole sex ed stuff was on point, but also hilarious in how it was presented. 💚

[@NancyCronk]

I admire these people tremendously. Jane has an interesting personality, doesn't she?

[@user-qg4gx7be2j]

The best!

[@lynn7348]

Lol, Jane..thank you for the humor! Love you

[@turinhorse]

got to meet, shake hands and speak with John Caldwell Esselstyn for about 2 minutes after a talk he gave at a local medical school. his wife was there too but i didnt speak much to her after a brief introduction. wont forget that one. I got pictures to prove it!

[@LashusJourney]

Amazing

[@user-yf9jp7dq6j]

love all of you ❤

[@dogmom1536]

Dr. Esselstyn is a consummate gentleman. A true true treasure!

[@bellen4329]

Jane is fabulous - 10K nerves in the clitoris - I'm 77 and wish I'd known this sooner, losing pleasure after menopause isn't normal no matter what my doctor has said. WFPB diet should be prescribed!!!

[@craftlover9702]

Love this family! I wish I would have grown up with this knowledge, however at 67 I am trying to follow their way of eating. I recently purchased the new cookbook which I am thoroughly enjoying. The one issue I have is the fact that I have had 3 kidney stones over my lifetime, calcium oxalate and eating a lot of certain greens, mainly the best ones for health increases my chances of another stone. I also have hemochromatosis and have to watch my iron intake. I would love suggestions on how to approach increasing greens in my diet without increasing the risk of another kidney stone. Appreciate any and all input on the matter. Congratulations on the award!!

[@terryelizabeth2841]

I so enjoyed this, and they are such a group of lovely people who have been so generous to share health with so many people

[@misterincreds5341]

I enjoyed this. I really have learned so much from the Esselstyn's (all of them). Thank you for your stand in educating people on how important plant-based diet is for our health. Also hearing about Stanley and how well he has done on a plant-based diet was just way cool!!!

[@jg769]

The Esselstyn family has helped me realize that simply being vegan isn’t enough. A person could eat loads of fried tofu and still technically be vegan. I like how they emphasize “plant based whole food” instead.

[@doddsalfa]

Fried tofu is both a plant based and vegan but You would not use oil cooking tofu in the dr.Esselstyn diet

[@jg769]

@@doddsalfa Correct. It’s amazing how oil can have such a negative impact.

[@VeganWellnessTribe]

How I love this group, Im commenting at the clit conversation moment 😂

[@kardste8114]

GO JANE!!! Tell them!! Make it mainstream!! 👍🥰👍🙏

[@beanburrito8903]

This conversation was amazing ❤❤❤ The word of the day The Clitoris 😂😂❤❤

[@loriwilliams2167]

You got it!! 🥰🌱

[@white-rabbit93]

Honestly I've never seen the clitoris. I When everyone talked about clitoris in the red room and chat room, I googled in to locate and view the clitoris and I was shocked.

[@loriwilliams2167]

@@white-rabbit93 ummm... are you male or female? Just curious..

[@NN57143]

Wonderful wonderful...what an incredible family and Dr Barnard is an absolute class act as well. Love him.

[@cyndyrogers2063]

BEST PODCAST EVER!!!!!!!!

[@sherrylenser]

Of course I just pre ordered this book ❤️

[@tinalaplaca6638]

I love this family....they are a lot of fun

[@colleencook9149]

I love this family ❤ They have helped to change my life!

[@judyhoomalamalama]

Thank u to all of you on this video keeping us healthy.

[@tamisimone1377]

This is awesome! Thank you for all your sharing and helping people!❤

[@salviabuckwheats7434]

Wow, what a presentation. I'm floored at it all, expressed so perfectly. Thank you.

[@user-or6tr1jc7s]

This is brilliant!!

[@Lady_Clare4]

Loved this as always. ❤ I’m inspired to do better on my plant based journey!

[@galkinp]

So motivating!!! ❤❤❤❤

[@salviabuckwheats7434]

JANE DESERVED A STANDING OVATION FOR THAT. Superstars, all of them, and Jane is the spice. Ann also crazy lady, love how you could hear a pin drop in the carpet when she spoke of her wedding dinner. Lord, I love those two crazy ladies and I watch their videos all the time. I used to be addicted to Lindsay S. Nixon cookbooks but now it's the crazy Esselstyn ladies' cookbooks - they are great. These women are truly talented. Yeah, the men in that family are also. Jane says her husband Brian is the best cook in the house. Essy himself of course is the Head of the Superstars there...

[@WeCelebrateEatingPlants]

Thank you! 🥦❤🥦❤

[@lisaferrin]

Ann pulling a tire? Incredible!

[@sonjaBiblio]

What a great family! 😍

[@hayleevmealone]

I was at the NY one weeks earlier, wish I could have been here, I LOVE the Esselstyns! Fantastic episode ❤

[@ananavarrete7218]

Bendiciones a esta familia❤

[@lindacarol122]

Rip is my dream man. 😍

[@tinalaplaca6638]

My mother will be celebrating her 101 birthday on January 2024 too....she has no wrinkles l call them creases. She's off all meds except 1 for blood pressure and 1 sleeping pill.....yay for mom. She was born and raised in mainland China. She resides in the bay area of the Silicon Valley. She's a sassy ole gal.....with 4 children and many grands and great. And she only had 1 husband......

[@plantbasedgirl5854]

Love the red, Chuck!

[@sonjaaeschbacher8318]

Herzlichen Dank

[@margarett923]

I wanna make entrances like Ann when I'm that age

[@tiffanybittman7523]

Jane is so funny and true. Sad we never knew this until 2022.

[@lindawinters6285]

Wow!! THANKS, a million times over(!!!) for your contribution to the Plant Based way of life!! ~Lyn W. Fruitland ID USA

[@melissanuno7464]

This was freaking hilarious 😂

[@cathyfitzgerald3032]

The Heart Failure Clinic and the Cardiac Department in Dover NH sure does need to learn about the Esselstyn message.

[@annemccarron2281]

Why don't people learn? This information has been available since at least 1980. I guess the deceiving dairy & meat industries have been too sucessful promoting their propoganda.

[@cindyhoskins7391]

I want the dessert recipe!!!

[@teresak9617]

You all are so blessed! The fact that your children didn’t rebel is amazing! I am plant based, but I served turkey, dressing and desserts that were not plant based for Thanksgiving so my family would come eat. I tried serving plant based last year and it was not well received. I love being plant based, but my family aren’t even slightly interested in eating that way. It’s heartbreaking. I’m so happy for you and your family!😃👏🏽💕

[@SteveWondered-nt9vj]

I was here before 100k views

[@usatodaywife]

I have a quick question ~ I have a heart valve which has "calcification" on it and it's causing a murmur. It's not bad enough to need replacement--yet. The cardiologist says there's absolutely nothing I can do to change it, but then again, he doesn't seem to promote change of food/lifestyle ~ he actually seemed rather negative about me having gone whole-food plant-based, no oil, etc. Is it possible for this heart valve calcification to start to slowly go away? Can it slowly break down over time and kind of fix itself or at least "freeze" where it's currently at? If the answer is "no", then it's no, but I wonder if it's possible.

[@Greg-kz3cf]

More than 5 years of plant based eating and I thought I was doing well - enjoying my food and life. My regular visit to my doctor identified a very high LPa level and a subsequent very high calcium score. I was already eating loads of greens at every meal but no amount of greens is going to reverse my LPa score. I’ve now just had 2 stents because I had an 80% and 70% blockages - no choice. I’m even more determined to eat loads of healthy greens every day. However, my point is I was never going to reverse this diagnosis - I would only have died trying.

[@beepbeepnj2658]

You're Lipoprotein(a) level means nothing to the human body. "Remarkably, one-quarter of the centenarians had high Lp(a) serum levels even though they never suffered from atherosclerosis-related diseases." 1998 G. Baggio. "Nonetheless, the apo(a) size distribution in centenarians did not entirely explain the high Lp(a) levels observed in this population. Factors other than apo(a) size, and which may be either genetic or environmental in nature, appear to contribute to the elevated plasma Lp(a) levels of our centenarian population. We conclude therefore that high plasma Lp(a) levels are compatible with longevity." 1998 article by J Thillet

[@Greg-kz3cf]

Thank you for that. I’ll try and get my hands on that article. With arteries that were 80% blocked and 70% blocked, I really had no alternative even though everything in my plant-based knowledge told me that this shouldn’t be happening. However, I will never give up on my plant based diet.

[@beepbeepnj2658]

@@Greg-kz3cf It was not the Lp(a) that can be verified that caused any problem maybe it was what you were doing before the last 5 years. In some cases a high carb plant diet can cause heart disease which was proven with these slim and fit long term Chinese vegetarians with a BMI of 22 taking no medicines which could hurt their cardiovascular health is provided here. 2005 article "Vascular Dysfunction in Chinese Vegetarians: An Apparent Paradox?" The CIMT does not lie.

[@BNFaraj-vy9zh]

This is like the Second Coming with Dr. Esselstyn overturning the tables of the money changers all over again!

[@Preppy-pink98]

I would love to have an impact like your family and also Thanksgiving with you would be a real fun time

[@PMO438]

💪💪💪👋👋👋

[@justbeingme1806]

I am just currently watching a new documentary on KZbin. It’s called ‘The Obesity Conspiracy’ I got all excited because I saw familiar faces such as Dr. Barnard, Rip, Dr Clapper and some others. Problem is that about 18 minutes into the doc they encouraged people to eat meat. Thought I would pass this info to you folks.

[@Jeffs60]

The average person in the USA consumes about 2.5 ounces or beef per day. So are you saying the obesity epidemic is caused from these 150 calories of food per day?

[@annemccarron2281]

​@@Jeffs60AND the eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, processed foods, oils, chicken & fish!

[@Jeffs60]

@@annemccarron2281 But single ingredient meat, egg, fish have all proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals except Vitamin C the body needs to prevent all diseases, processed foods and oils do not have all those nutrients so why have them listed all in the same one sentence?

[@annemccarron2281]

​@@Jeffs60EVERY food has nutrients - including processed foods. Even dirt has iron, cooper, & other micronutrients. Cardboard has fiber which is a macronutrient. You have to weigh the good components against the bad components. Give me a cup of processed tomatoe sauce with a little sugar (which is not good for me) over a cup with three egg yokes any time. I don't want sugar but I certainly don't want all the cholesterol in the yokes. Most people have to read dozens, if not hundreds, of research articles or watch dozens, if not hundreds, of honest, research-based podcasts to sort out the idiosyncrasies of a healthy diet or obtain a PhD in nutrition. Even then, people have misunderstandings.

[@Jeffs60]

@@annemccarron2281 It's that complicated? How did your grandparents figure it out? And in 1826 President John Adams was 90 and eating pretty good and what type of synthetic vitamins and supplements was he taking?

[@simounibarra1514]

Can whole foods plant based diet also reverse degenerative diseases like cervical spondylosis, ligaments and discs issues, stenosis and same ddd stuff?

[@saladstrongsoprano9625]

1:04:58 Bestow to, or bestow on..? I'm confused.

[@JD-xh6cy]

"Clitorati" is forever in my language now.

[@beanburrito8903]

Omg the liver king 👑💖 😂😂😂 the king dummy

[@Alicia-hf7zb]

Blood is life

[@lauraw.7008]

32:54 🎉”if you want to slay the ed dragon & want your Puff the Magic Dragon to roar…”

[@jgrysiak6566]

OMG, Jane Esselstyn gone mental! Shes the new Margaret Cho! LMAO

[@worthmoremusic]

🥰

[@SkylarWhitmire]

Why no stevia?

[@reggiedunlop2222]

Gather your friends around and become more “clitorate” 😂 Very clever

[@forestforthetrees1111]

I can not find a non stick pan that stays non-stick longer than 2 months. If we're not supposed to use oil, please tell me of a good and healthy non-stick pan that has no teflon, no aluminum, and no chemicals like PFOS. Thank you

[@manjariiyer3484]

Use cast iron…behaves just like non stick except it’s permanent. The only thing is it requires maintenance.

[@annemccarron2281]

​@@manjariiyer3484Dr. Barnard advocates against cast iron pans. It can be ingested and can lead to toxic levels of iron if used often. Just use water to saulte.

[@gayatrishivoham]

William Sonoma ns1 series non stick is what I use

[@donnaserpiello6140]

Do they have a program where one can attend a few weeks to consult and learn etc

[@annemccarron2281]

Dr. Joel Fhurman does outsde San Diego & there are others.

[@MignonWV]

I wish you al lived in Netherlands…

[@MignonWV]

I am 100 % sure I would visit you then.

[@benda777nba]

Whats this about the liver king?

[@marilyn48ful]

I want to go on the plant based diet, but I keep hearing we don’t get all the nutrients we need. Is there someone that has been plant based for years willing to share their labs showing they are not lacking any nutrients? besides B12? Thanks.

[@kefirheals7383]

Good question. I've been watching KZbin a long time. I've watched people that went WFPB share their labs. And this one and that one would say they were deficient in one thing or another (other than B12). Luckily never more than one nutrient or mineral would be low. They'd find out due to a symptom, had it checked by their MD and it would show up in their blood work. However, the good thing was, they healed themselves of all health issues and/or got off all their meds. That alone would be worth going WFPB and risk being low in one thing or another, and being able to take a supplement, OR eating more of the food that has what they are low in. But it's a good concern to raise. It's definitely a learning curve. I'm working towards being completely compliant. It would be so much easier if I were surrounded by people like the Esselstyn family, or people like them, that aren't constantly putting down the WFPB lifestyle.

[@plantbasedanalyst6263]

Just look at the two people on stage who are nearly 90 years old and have been WFPB since the early 1980s. Beyond that, put what you would eat on a WFPB diet into a nutrition tracking app and you'll find that you won't be deficient in any nutrients

[@kentroskelley1389]

Google Plant Based Athlete and go to their website. I believe they have a program to help you find your nutrition profile and recommendations. Or just connect with a good plant based Doctor who can help you do labs to see what you can eat to get all the nutrition from plants needed for you specifically.

[@PlantBasedPrimary]

Vegan and WFPB for over 5 years, no deficiencies. I was anemic BEFORE changing my diet. The only supplements I take are B-12, algae based EPA DHA, and vitamin D in the winter. I’m off all medications, I’ve dropped 25 lbs, reversed pre diabetes, resolved my asthma and eczema, and no more migraines! I’m a 50 year old woman. My only regret is not having started sooner.

[@PlantBasedPrimary]

@@kefirheals7383Maybe ask yourself if the people putting down the WFPB diet are as healthy as the people who are eating this way? 💚✨

[@annwilliams6438]

Next step : to get millions more families like the Esselstyns…

[@11235Aodh]

Fingerslumberparty at Jane's house tonight!