--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some people think plant-based diet, whole…" description: "\"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 th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/caldwell-esselstyn-47208_arteries_some-people-think-plant-based-diet-whole_2211515.jpg" --- # Some people think plant-based diet, whole foods diet is… ![“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.” quote by Caldwell Esselstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/caldwell-esselstyn-47208_arteries_some-people-think-plant-based-diet-whole_2211515.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/caldwell-esselstyn-47208_arteries_some-people-think-plant-based-diet-whole_2211515.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/caldwell-esselstyn-47208_arteries_some-people-think-plant-based-diet-whole_2211515.jpg) > “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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caldwell-esselstyn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Extreme medical procedures highlight the urgency of preventive nutrition for heart disease. **In simple terms:** Prevention beats surgery. Key Takeaway Prioritize plant‑based, whole‑food nutrition. Themes health prevention nutrition heart disease Mood informative concerned Type educational motivational When to use this quote - diet planning - patient counseling - policy advocacy - school meals Key Concepts dietary science public health risk reduction Questions to Reflect On - What motivates individuals to adopt healthier diets? - How can communities support dietary shifts? A Different Perspective Changing diet habits is difficult for many. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arteries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arteries/) [Based Diet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/based-diet-309795/) [Cardiologist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cardiologist/) [Chests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chests/) [Diet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diet/) [Diet Extreme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diet-extreme-2462143/) [Diets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diets/) [Extremes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremes/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Foods Diet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foods-diet-687735/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Healthy eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthy-eating/) [Heart surgery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-surgery/) [Legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Physicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physicians/) [Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant/) [Plant Based](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant-based/) [Plant based diet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant-based-diet/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Veins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veins/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [Whole foods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-foods/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [When I was 88 years old, I gave up meat entirely and switched to a plant foods diet following a slight stroke. During the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/when-i-was-88-years-old-i-gave-up-meat-entirely-and-switched-to-a/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) > [A plant-based diet is more likely to produce good health and to reduce sharply the risk of heart problems, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, gallstones, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-colin-campbell/a-plant-based-diet-is-more-likely-to-produce-good-health-and-to/) [T. Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-colin-campbell/) > [A plant-based diet has actually simplified my life in so many ways. For breakfast, I try to get my first serving of fruits and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-forbes/a-plant-based-diet-has-actually-simplified-my-life-in-so-many-ways/) [Michelle Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-forbes/) > [If we want to consider the sanctity of life in deciding what to eat, the choice is clear. Eating a plant based diet causes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gannon/if-we-want-to-consider-the-sanctity-of-life-in-deciding-what-to-eat/) [Sharon Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gannon/) > [For my own health, I thought it was better to eat a plant based diet. I'm going to be 60 soon and I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/for-my-own-health-i-thought-it-was-better-to-eat-a-plant-based-diet-i/) [Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/) > [The future is about a plant-based diet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-oliver/the-future-is-about-a-plant-based-diet/) [Jamie Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-oliver/) > [Let’s start with the most prominent ecological crisis of our time: global warming. When you look seriously at the numbers, you find that switching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-colin-campbell/let-s-start-with-the-most-prominent-ecological-crisis-of-our-time/) [T. Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-colin-campbell/) > [An abundance of peer-reviewed science is showing that a whole foods, plant-based diet prevents most heart attacks, strokes, and even many kinds of cancer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-freston/an-abundance-of-peer-reviewed-science-is-showing-that-a-whole-foods/) [Kathy Freston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-freston/) > [I'm not perfect, but what's wonderful about eating a plant-based diet is, I don't have to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-moran/i-m-not-perfect-but-what-s-wonderful-about-eating-a-plant-based-diet/) [Victoria Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-moran/) > [If you have never tried a plant-based diet, start. If you've never juiced vegetables, start. If you've never taken vitamin C to saturation, start.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-saul/if-you-have-never-tried-a-plant-based-diet-start-if-you-ve-never/) [Andrew Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-saul/) > [50-100 years from now we are all going to be eating a plant based diet. Whether that happens through a catastrophe or a peaceful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bittman/50-100-years-from-now-we-are-all-going-to-be-eating-a-plant-based/) [Mark Bittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bittman/) > [I know of nothing else in medicine that can come close to what a plant-based diet can do. In theory, if everyone were to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-colin-campbell/i-know-of-nothing-else-in-medicine-that-can-come-close-to-what-a/) [T. Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-colin-campbell/) > [The single most impactful thing you can do today is adopt a more plant-based diet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-psihoyos/the-single-most-impactful-thing-you-can-do-today-is-adopt-a-more/) [Louie Psihoyos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-psihoyos/) > [Eat a plant-based diet - which act like prebiotic and probiotics in the gut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/eat-a-plant-based-diet-which-act-like-prebiotic-and-probiotics-in-the/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I tried to take my diet to a more extreme place, but it wasn't for me. It was taking too much time and energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-fraser/i-tried-to-take-my-diet-to-a-more-extreme-place-but-it-wasn-t-for-me/) [Mat Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-fraser/) ## More by Caldwell Esselstyn > [As a physician, I am embarrassed by my profession's lack of interest in healthier lifestyles. We need to change the way we approach chronic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caldwell-esselstyn/as-a-physician-i-am-embarrassed-by-my-profession-s-lack-of-interest/) [Caldwell Esselstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caldwell-esselstyn/) > [Collectively the media; the meat, oil, and dairy industries; most prominent chefs and cookbook authors; and our own government are not presenting accurate advice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caldwell-esselstyn/collectively-the-media-the-meat-oil-and-dairy-industries-most/) [Caldwell Esselstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caldwell-esselstyn/) > [Genetics loads the gun, lifestyle pulls the trigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caldwell-esselstyn/genetics-loads-the-gun-lifestyle-pulls-the-trigger/) [Caldwell Esselstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caldwell-esselstyn/) > [Heart disease is a food-borne illness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caldwell-esselstyn/heart-disease-is-a-food-borne-illness/) [Caldwell Esselstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caldwell-esselstyn/) > [Heart disease is a foodborne illness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caldwell-esselstyn/heart-disease-is-a-foodborne-illness/) [Caldwell Esselstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caldwell-esselstyn/) > [Having the USDA design your food pyramid is like having Al Capone do your taxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caldwell-esselstyn/having-the-usda-design-your-food-pyramid-is-like-having-al-capone-do/) [Caldwell Esselstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caldwell-esselstyn/) > [I'll remind you one more time, I've treated a lot of vegans for heart disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caldwell-esselstyn/i-ll-remind-you-one-more-time-i-ve-treated-a-lot-of-vegans-for-heart/) [Caldwell Esselstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caldwell-esselstyn/) [Explore all 8 Caldwell Esselstyn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caldwell-esselstyn/) ## More Arteries quotes > [The recurrent laryngeal nerve - which runs from the head to the voice box - goes all the way down into the chest, loops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-recurrent-laryngeal-nerve-which-runs-from-the-head-to-the-voice/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The Montana sunset lay between the mountains like a giant bruise from which darkened arteries spread across a poisoned sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-montana-sunset-lay-between-the-mountains-like-a-giant-bruise-from/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [We old roosters must be cautious. Don't try to outwit your arteries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-perelman/we-old-roosters-must-be-cautious-don-t-try-to-outwit-your-arteries/) [S. J. Perelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-perelman/) > [For example, in Vitamin K, the clotting proteins get it first... and only after they're satisfied do you prevent calcification of the arteries, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-ames/for-example-in-vitamin-k-the-clotting-proteins-get-it-first-and-only/) [Bruce Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-ames/) > [“If your arteries are good, eat more ice cream. If they are bad, drink more red wine. Proceed thusly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-byrd/if-your-arteries-are-good-eat-more-ice-cream-if-they-are-bad-drink/) [Sandra Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-byrd/) > [I use a laptop more as a tool, as sort of the central artery. Everything goes through the digital audio card of my computer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-fullerton-whitman/i-use-a-laptop-more-as-a-tool-as-sort-of-the-central-artery/) [Keith Fullerton Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-fullerton-whitman/) > [My left descending septal branch artery decided to close without consultation with any of my other organs. It happened on Saint Patrick's Day, 1978.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/my-left-descending-septal-branch-artery-decided-to-close-without/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [It's like I'm married to the silencer, Until I file for divorce and release my ex-calibers. Do art with your arteries, place that for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharoahe-monch/it-s-like-i-m-married-to-the-silencer-until-i-file-for-divorce-and/) [Pharoahe Monch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharoahe-monch/) > [If some people think, "Why am I eating a dead bird soaked in poop?" I think if some people get disgusted by that, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-barnard/if-some-people-think-why-am-i-eating-a-dead-bird-soaked-in-poop-i/) [Neal Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-barnard/) > [The bike went up in the air and landed on my back. It broke my neck, smashed my collarbone and splinters of bone severed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/the-bike-went-up-in-the-air-and-landed-on-my-back-it-broke-my-neck/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [Why, universal plodding poisons up The nimble spirits in the arteries, As motion and long-during action tires The sinewy vigor of the traveller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/why-universal-plodding-poisons-up-the-nimble-spirits-in-the-arteries/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I'm searching for a shred of humanity in that shriveled tangle of arteries you call a heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/i-m-searching-for-a-shred-of-humanity-in-that-shriveled-tangle-of/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [Words are the only arteries of thought our poor human body possesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/words-are-the-only-arteries-of-thought-our-poor-human-body-possesses/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [...seen from above, landscapes are made up of mountains and watercourses. Just as a transparent model of the human body consists of a framework…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-messner/seen-from-above-landscapes-are-made-up-of-mountains-and-watercourses/) [Reinhold Messner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-messner/) > [Aging nations have arteries clogged with obsolete laws, slowing blood flow and preventing oxygen from reaching all parts of the body politic. Physicians call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/aging-nations-have-arteries-clogged-with-obsolete-laws-slowing-blood/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) [Browse all 98 Arteries quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arteries/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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. 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