If Bill Clinton Can Become a Vegan, I Can Eat a Few More Veggies
It was 1992, and he was still Governor Bill Clinton, a presidential candidate. My government teacher, a devout Democrat, was giddy about this charismatic rising star. He would start every class by sharing the latest news regarding his new hero. During the presidential campaign, Clinton often went jogging and usually ended his morning run by picking up McDonald’s for breakfast. His popularity grew, and in one memorable incident when he was campaigning in one town, the local residents got wind of his arrival. The logical place to catch a glimpse of him was the McDonald’s near the hotel he was staying. Soon, a vast crowd, including the media hoping to document the event, was formed at the popular fast food restaurant hoping to meet the governor. Sure enough, when he was out for his morning jog, Bill Clinton and his entourage of Secret service came jogging toward Mcdonald's. Just as he approached the restaurant, Clinton saw the crowd, waved, and kept right on jogging making no stops to pick up breakfast. Talk about a letdown!
My teacher was laughing when he told the story, but he was quickly interrupted by one of my classmates:
“Mr. Thompson, every time I see news of Bill Clinton, he’s usually eating fast food. I even saw a news story about how he wasn’t the healthiest eater. If he becomes president, aren’t you worried he might have a heart attack in office?”
Mr. Thompson responded: “That’s crossed my mind too. But with Al Gore as his running mate, I feel more comfortable with him pushing the nuclear missile launch button rather than Dan Quayle, who would push it just to see what would happen.”
It’s a funny high school memory and one of the few topics I remember from my government class. Fortunately, the future president remained healthy and served two terms without major health incidents. At the conclusion of his presidency, his wife Hillary became a US Senator, and the Clintons moved to New York. There, Bill would open up a personal office in Harlem which was near Sylvia’s, a popular soul-food restaurant known for its fried chicken.
Clearly, he was a regular patron because when the restaurant owner Sylvia Woods passed away, he spoke at her funeral service. We can’t pinpoint his love for fried chicken solely on his later health issues, but it is an example of some of the types of foods Clinton enjoyed on a regular basis.
In 2004, Clinton had quadruple-bypass surgery, but the scare he had in 2010 ultimately led to his decision to change his eating habits. That February morning, the former president woke up looking pale and tired. His cardiologist rushed him to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery to insert a pair of stents. Clinton himself admitted that poor eating habits he picked up as a child contributed to his heart trouble. After his recovery, he received an e-mail from a renowned diet and heart disease expert, his friend Dr. Dean Ornish who scolded him on the types of food he chose to eat.
Clinton then reread the book Dr. Dean Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease, which urges a strict, low-fat, plant-based diet. The vegan diet (much more restrictive than a vegetarian diet) is based on foods made from plants such as vegetables, grains, nuts, and fruits. In addition, vegans do not eat foods that come from animals, including dairy products and eggs. Following this regimen comes with enormous health benefits. Besides weight loss, a vegan diet lowers the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. After completing the book, the former president decided it was time for a change:
“I just decided I was the high-risk person, and I didn’t want to fool with this anymore. And I wanted to live to be a grandfather,” says Clinton. “So I decided to pick the diet that I thought would maximize my chances of long-term survival.”
Clinton incorporated the vegan diet into his life and committed to walking two or three miles daily. He went on to achieve his goal of losing thirty pounds for his daughter Chelsea’s wedding a few months later, in July of that year.
I had heard Clinton had become a vegan, but after reading in detail about how he made major changes in his eating habits, I couldn’t help but be impressed. The man makes vegetables sound so appetizing.
It's an impressive feat for him, but I know it’s not for me, and I don’t plan on becoming a vegan. As most people say, “Do what works for you.” A few months ago, I started my own plan with portion control, adding more grains, fruits, and vegetables to my diet and getting more exercise by learning to swim. I’ve lost about twenty pounds, and my blood pressure has decreased. I hope that by making small changes while I am still young, I can lower the risk of getting diseases that threaten just about everyone as they age.
As a little motivator on this current health journey, I simply remind myself that if someone like Bill Clinton, who was known for his poor eating habits, can become a vegan, I can at least try to add a few more vegetables to my plate.
Is there a famous person you read about who lives a healthy lifestyle that inspired or motivated you? Please share by commenting below. I would love to hear about it!