--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It’s not the plant-based foods that will…" description: "\"It’s not the plant-based foods that will make you ill, it’s the meat and the liquid meat (i.e.: dairy) that can lead to sickness and death. Consider th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/rip-esselstyn-40000_animal_it-s-not-the-plant-based-foods-that-will_1240763.jpg" --- # It’s not the plant-based foods that will make you ill… ![“It’s not the plant-based foods that will make you ill, it’s the meat and the liquid meat (i.e.: dairy) that can lead to sickness and death. Consider this: If your food had a face or a mother (or comes from something that did), then it also has varying amounts of artery-clogging, plaque-plugging…” quote by Rip Esselstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/rip-esselstyn-40000_animal_it-s-not-the-plant-based-foods-that-will_1240763.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/rip-esselstyn-40000_animal_it-s-not-the-plant-based-foods-that-will_1240763.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/rip-esselstyn-40000_animal_it-s-not-the-plant-based-foods-that-will_1240763.jpg) > “It’s not the plant-based foods that will make you ill, it’s the meat and the liquid meat (i.e.: dairy) that can lead to sickness and death. Consider this: If your food had a face or a mother (or comes from something that did), then it also has varying amounts of artery-clogging, plaque-plugging, and cholesterol-hiking animal protein, animal cholesterol, and animal fat. These substances are the building blocks of the chronic diseases that plague Western society.” [Rip Esselstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rip-esselstyn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The claim is that animal‑derived foods, especially dairy and meat, contain harmful fats and cholesterol that drive chronic disease, whereas plant‑based foods are safer. **In simple terms:** Animal foods may cause disease; plant foods are healthier. Key Takeaway Limit animal products and prioritize whole plant foods. Themes health nutrition diet disease prevention Mood concerned hopeful Type informative persuasive When to use this quote - meal planning - grocery shopping - restaurant choices - family meals Key Concepts cholesterol inflammation food ethics Questions to Reflect On - Do you know the nutritional profile of your favorite foods? - What small dietary change could you make? A Different Perspective Evidence on dairy’s health impact is mixed and context‑dependent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Building blocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building-blocks/) [Cholesterol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cholesterol/) [Clogging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clogging/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Hiking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hiking/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Plague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plague/) [Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant/) [Protein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protein/) [Sickness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sickness/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) ## Related quotes > [I'm doing great heart-wise. I get a complete stress test once a year, and those have gone well. I have stents in two arteries,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-salazar/i-m-doing-great-heart-wise-i-get-a-complete-stress-test-once-a-year/) [Alberto Salazar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-salazar/) > [For some men, the inflammation of their arteries is a result of really low good cholesterol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-topol/for-some-men-the-inflammation-of-their-arteries-is-a-result-of-really/) [Eric Topol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-topol/) > [His view of the world is one that keeps his blood pressure low, sweeping the cholesterol from his relaxed, freeway-sized arteries. Everyone knows he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/his-view-of-the-world-is-one-that-keeps-his-blood-pressure-low/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I don't consider myself a food person. I'm no Bobby Flay. I'm no Emeril or Paula Deen, and I'm certainly not Rachael Ray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-roker/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-food-person-i-m-no-bobby-flay-i-m-no-emeril/) [Al Roker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-roker/) > [I also think it's very important to consider how the food will feel to the person eating it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-schneider/i-also-think-it-s-very-important-to-consider-how-the-food-will-feel/) [Sally Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-schneider/) > [It appeals to the higher nature of the self to put aside food which once lived - I do not consider myself food, why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/it-appeals-to-the-higher-nature-of-the-self-to-put-aside-food-which/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Food for us comes from our relatives, whether they have wings or fins or roots. That is how we consider food. Food has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-laduke/food-for-us-comes-from-our-relatives-whether-they-have-wings-or-fins/) [Winona LaDuke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-laduke/) > [“Meat loaf. Of all the things to eat, why would somebody want to eat meat loaf? Give me a nice piece of yellowfin tuna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-simses/meat-loaf-of-all-the-things-to-eat-why-would-somebody-want-to-eat/) [Mary Simses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-simses/) > [We need to boost our intake of healthy plant foods and reduce our dependence on animal-based foods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-greger/we-need-to-boost-our-intake-of-healthy-plant-foods-and-reduce-our/) [Michael Greger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-greger/) > [“CHART 11.2: NUTRIENT COMPOSITION OF PLANT AND ANIMAL-BASED FOODS (PER 500 CALORIES OF ENERGY) Nutrient Plant-Based Foods\* Animal-Based Foods\*\* Cholesterol (mg) — 137 Fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-colin-campbell/chart-11-2-nutrient-composition-of-plant-and-animal-based-foods-per/) [T. Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-colin-campbell/) > [There are tons of vitamins and minerals you'll get in plant-based foods that are not soluble if you don't eat fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damaris-phillips/there-are-tons-of-vitamins-and-minerals-you-ll-get-in-plant-based/) [Damaris Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damaris-phillips/) > [We believe in the Three Rs - reducing the consumption of meat and other animal-based foods; refining the diet by eating products only from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-pacelle/we-believe-in-the-three-rs-reducing-the-consumption-of-meat-and-other/) [Wayne Pacelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-pacelle/) > [There is absolutely no nutrient, no protein, no vitamin, no mineral that can't be obtained from plant-based foods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-klaper/there-is-absolutely-no-nutrient-no-protein-no-vitamin-no-mineral-that/) [Michael Klaper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-klaper/) > [I rarely eat red meat and only occasionally eat fish. Plant based foods are my main source of nutrition along with nuts, fruits, brown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-player/i-rarely-eat-red-meat-and-only-occasionally-eat-fish-plant-based/) [Gary Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-player/) > [“But if I tell them about dozens and dozens of studies showing that the countries with low rates of heart disease consume low amounts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-colin-campbell/but-if-i-tell-them-about-dozens-and-dozens-of-studies-showing-that/) [T. Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-colin-campbell/) ## More by Rip Esselstyn > [“Whether through grains, beans, or even fruit, there’s plenty of protein in a plant-strong diet. We only need 5-8% of our calories from protein,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rip-esselstyn/whether-through-grains-beans-or-even-fruit-there-s-plenty-of-protein/) [Rip Esselstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rip-esselstyn/) > [“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” It’s a catchy maxim. It’s simple. On first glance it makes sense. The phrase was coined by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rip-esselstyn/eat-food-not-too-much-mostly-plants-it-s-a-catchy-maxim-it-s-simple/) [Rip Esselstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rip-esselstyn/) > [“J. Morris Hicks, who wrote Healthy Eating, Healthy World, has this to say about our obsession with protein: Because of the mistaken, yet almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rip-esselstyn/j-morris-hicks-who-wrote-healthy-eating-healthy-world-has-this-to-say/) [Rip Esselstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rip-esselstyn/) > [“There is no such thing as protein deficiency in the United States. How many people do you know who were hospitalized last year for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rip-esselstyn/there-is-no-such-thing-as-protein-deficiency-in-the-united-states-how/) [Rip Esselstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rip-esselstyn/) > [“If the milligrams of sodium are more than the calories per serving, leave it on the shelf. In other words, the ratio of sodium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rip-esselstyn/if-the-milligrams-of-sodium-are-more-than-the-calories-per-serving/) [Rip Esselstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rip-esselstyn/) > [“Pop quiz: Which has more protein per calorie, beef or broccoli? Yup. Broccoli. This green bodybuilding machine has 15.5 percent more protein per calorie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rip-esselstyn/pop-quiz-which-has-more-protein-per-calorie-beef-or-broccoli-yup/) [Rip Esselstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rip-esselstyn/) > [“A study published in the Nutrition Journal ranked hibiscus tea number one in total antioxidant content of all 280 beverages examined. In addition to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rip-esselstyn/a-study-published-in-the-nutrition-journal-ranked-hibiscus-tea-number/) [Rip Esselstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rip-esselstyn/) > [Don't eat bear balls. Eat healthy, delectable, plant-based foods so that you will never fall over on your cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rip-esselstyn/don-t-eat-bear-balls-eat-healthy-delectable-plant-based-foods-so-that/) [Rip Esselstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rip-esselstyn/) > [“Meat, fish, dairy, poultry, and eggs almost universally have high levels of sulfur-containing amino acids, which are metabolized by the body into sulfuric acid.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rip-esselstyn/meat-fish-dairy-poultry-and-eggs-almost-universally-have-high-levels/) [Rip Esselstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rip-esselstyn/) > [“And not only do plants offer plenty of calcium, they offer better calcium: the calcium in plants is absorbed twice as well as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rip-esselstyn/and-not-only-do-plants-offer-plenty-of-calcium-they-offer-better/) [Rip Esselstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rip-esselstyn/) [Explore all 11 Rip Esselstyn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rip-esselstyn/) ## More Animal quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) Mak\_786 > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It’s not the plant-based foods that will make you ill, it’s the meat and the liquid meat (i.e.: dairy) that can lead to sickness and death. Consider this: If your food had a face or a mother (or comes from something that did), then it also has varying amounts of artery-clogging, plaque-plugging, and cholesterol-hiking animal protein, animal cholesterol, and animal fat. 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