NSU will host a free speaker and book-signing event with Rip Esselstyn — former professional athlete, firefighter and author of the New York Times best-selling book “The Engine 2 Diet” — in the Don Taft University Center’s Performing and Visual Arts Theater on Feb. 28 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by Whole Foods Market in Plantation and is open to the public.
Marcela Sandigo, associate director of campus recreation at NSU’s Recreational Complex, feels that it is important for young college students, as well as faculty and staff, to constantly work on maintaining good health — the topic of Esselsyn’s speech. She said that college is the best time to instill healthy habits in students, which could benefit them for their rest of their lives.
“As employees [and] students at NSU, we are all lucky [to] have so many resources to help us take care of our health and wellbeing,” Sandigo said. “We have 24 hours in our day. It only takes 30-60 minutes of exercise to see health benefits. Taking the time to take care of our bodies should really be priority; our minds will be able to function better if we take care of physical well-being. We only have one body, and we need to take care of it.”
Esselstyn’s 2009 book “The Engine 2 Diet” explains the benefits of a plant-powered diet based on the consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds and little-to-no dairy. He advises readers to cut out meats, fats, and oils and provides over 120 recipes.
The book’s title comes from Esselsyn’s former work as a firefighter. In 2003, while serving with Engine 2 of the Austin Fire Department in Texas, he learned that his fellow firefighters were not exactly in the best health. Many were overweight and/or had dangerously high cholesterol levels. But after all the firefighters of Engine 2 followed Esselstyn’s diet program, they each lost weight, lowered their cholesterol, and improved their overall health.
Esselstyn eventually retired from firefighting in order to focus on becoming an advocate for plant-based nutrition. His book was endorsed by Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel and was discussed in the 2011 documentary film “Forks Over Knives.” Esselstyn later starred in the follow-up documentary, “Forks Over Knives Presents: The Engine 2 Kitchen Rescue”.
He has also been featured on “The Today Show”, “Dr. Oz”, the Wall Street Journal, the Miami New Times, Supermarket News and over 25 radio stations, among other media outlets.
Whole Foods Market of Plantation will provide free snacks at the event, on a first come-first-serve basis. For more information on Esselstyn and his diet program, visit engine2diet.com.
