Ann Esselstyn has been using a plant-based diet for over 40 years. She also just set a world record for the longest dead hang achieved by the oldest female. Her record time is two minutes and 52 seconds, a time that surpassed the previous record set by an 81-year-old American woman. “It was new for me to be going for a record, and to be celebrated in this way, since I have spent my life cheering for our four children and 10 grandchildren in their varied athletic events and achievements,” Ann said to GWR. Her son, Rip, was the one who told her about the record initially and how his mother might be able to train to challenge it. He became her coach as she began training. If you are unfamiliar with Rip, he had a successful collegiate swimming career and then became a professional firefighter. He also has followed a plant-based diet for many years and has shared much information about how to transition to a plant-based diet and its health benefits. His father, Caldwell, is a medical doctor who also consumes a plant-based diet and shares information about plant foods. Dr. Esselstyn has influenced many people to adopt plant-based diets or to reduce their meat consumption. Health and longevity are related to both exercise and diet, not one or the other. ‘And to all the other seniors out there who may find inspiration in Ann’s story, she has just a few words of advice: just keep moving. Take the stairs, lift weights, stretch, walk, do yoga, dance, and always just MOVE!” she said. Not all plant-based foods are healthy. If a person decided to go plant-based and only ate chips, dips, cookies, crackers, cereal, and vegan ice cream, that would not be the best diet at all. Fresh vegetables and fruits, seeds, nuts, whole unrefined grains, legumes, etc. — these are healthier options. CleanTechnica is not a health website. But our human food choices do have an impact on the planet. Some of the worst foods for climate change are beef, dairy, lamb, farmed shrimp, and vegetable oils. Plant foods typically have far lower carbon footprints — or the lowest.
