Going vegan isn’t just trendy anymore, it’s a practical diet choice for those seeking a longer, healthier life. Deemed ‘The Kind Diet‘ by actress Alicia Silverstone, vegans enjoy a diet free of animal meat and byproducts, including eggs, milk, butter and even honey.
Thanks to some big names joining the ranks as recent converts, including Bill Clinton, Madonna, Travis Barker and Carrie Underwood, the argument for vegan is becoming all the more convincing. And now another Hollywood leading lady has made the switch – 54-year-old actress Michelle Pfeiffer.
Pfeiffer, best known for her early roles in Grease 2 and Scarface, announced her decision to go vegan during a recent interview on CNN with Sanjay Gupta. When asked what prompted her switch to an animal-free diet, Pfeiffer said it was initially inspired by Bill Clinton’s move to go vegan after his second heart attack and quadruple bypass surgery.
Pfeiffer said she was watching the news when Clinton’s documentary “The Last Heart Attack” came on. And knowing that he’s a foodie and also very intelligent, she took note of his conclusion that a vegan diet was best for his long-term health. “I’m thinking ‘OK, Bill Clinton loves food and he’s smart, so there must be something to it that’s making him stick to it.'”
After the interview Pfeiffer said she bought the book Clinton recommended called “Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease,” read it, and was convinced.
“I felt like there was science behind it. It was irrefutable,” said Pfeiffer. “I couldn’t not listen to it. My father died from cancer and the older you get there’s a lot of disease around you. And you see people struggling with chronic disease and dying from terminal illnesses. And science is always changing. But if in any way this is true, then you kind of have to listen to it.”
Dr. Gupta pointed out that going vegan isn’t easy for everyone, but Pfeiffer said it wasn’t that difficult for her because she has free reign on her favorite category of food: carbs.
“I love the vegan diet because I love carbs,” she said. “I’ve never really loved animal protein in terms of animal meat. I ate it because I thought it was good for me. I thought I needed the protein and vegetables to stay lean; it was about vanity, really.”
But for more than just vanity purposes, Pfeiffer said she chose to go vegan because as she’s gotten older, vanity has taken a close second to wanting to live a longer, healthier life.
The actress has had a successful switch to the vegan diet so far, and said she’s even trying to convince her husband, David Kelley, to do the same. But whether he’s convinced or not, it seems this switch is a permanent one for Pfeiffer.
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photo via contactmusic