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3:00 pm - 02/18/2013

Michelle Pfeiffer Credits Vegan Diet for Ageless Looks



At 54, actress Michelle Pfeiffer is still rocking the same flawless face and figure that initially made her famous more than three decades ago.

So what’s her secret? Easy. She sticks to a vegan diet.

Last June, Pfeiffer took the plunge into the vegan lifestyle after watching a program on CNN called “The Last Heart Attack.” The show went in-depth to search for answers for heart attack prevention, and included interviews with former president Bill Clinton, whose health dramatically improved when he went vegan.

Pfeiffer, a self-professed foodie, decided to give the diet a shot. She knew Clinton loved food, and had still managed to stick with the diet, so she figured there must be something to it.

Now that the actress has been vegan for several months, she’s experienced a host of health benefits firsthand, and can relate to exactly what kept Clinton on track.


“I remember watching that program thinking, ‘Clinton is a smart man and there’s true science behind this theory,’” she says. “So I cut out meats and dairy. After two months, my cholesterol shot down 83 points. That’s enough proof to me that it works.”

It turns out that the dietary change was a pretty dramatic switch for Pfeiffer, whose previous lifestyle was less than healthy.

“I was terrible,” she says. “I existed on cigarettes, Coca-Cola and coffee, and I got away with that for a while. And I never used to exercise. I think you begin to look and feel lousy the older you become, so now I eat really well. I don’t smoke and I’m learning meditation.”

Another source that Pfeiffer found inspiring was Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn‘s book “Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: The Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven, Nutrition-Based Cure.” She said that the evidence given in the book helped her stay on track.

“I just felt like…there was science behind it. And, you know, it was sort of irrefutable. … 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. You see people dying with terminal illnesses. And if in any way …. this is true, then you kind of have to listen to it.”

Listen to it she did. In addition to improving her health, the actress has maintained her stunning appearance. Pfeiffer credits her healthy lifestyle for her seemingly ageless looks. When she first made the change, she noted, “Vanity is right under there, but I have to say that it’s a close second with wanting to live long.”

Now she hopes that by holding back the clock, she can still land interesting roles in Hollywood. ”An actress’s window of opportunity is smaller than an actor’s,” she says. “You can be the sexiest man alive at 60, but it’s not like that if you’re a woman. It’s just one of those things. Deal with it.”

If her beauty, attitude and still-flourishing career are any indication, she’s dealing just fine.

SOURCE

I tried going vegan once and I got sick from it. I dunno how people do it but if going vegan works for them, I say more power to you tbh.
arielcharming 18th-Feb-2013 09:48 pm (UTC)
Vegan food is awesome, but it can still be bad for you. Vegan does not mean real. Plant based diet is the way to go. & you can do much with so little. In terms of taste & texture's. I'm terrible about lazy fast food. I really hope when I move into my new place I can be better about preparing my own food.

My friends describe me as vegetarian with vegan tendencies. It's been about 3, 4 months? I love it, I do feel better & I think I look better. But I still gotta kick this fast food/soda/no exercise shit.
msloserrific 18th-Feb-2013 09:51 pm (UTC)
"Vegan food is awesome, but it can still be bad for you. Vegan does not mean real. Plant based diet is the way to go. & you can do much with so little."

Very important distinction, imo. Vegan/Vegetarian doesn't necessarily mean "good for you".
arielcharming 18th-Feb-2013 09:53 pm (UTC)
lol this just reminds me how when I was talking to my friend the other day and she was all "what? it's organic!" as if that automatically makes it good. bless her heart.
muzicnem 18th-Feb-2013 09:51 pm (UTC)
Vegan food is awesome, but it can still be bad for you. Vegan does not mean real. Plant based diet is the way to go.

Very true.

rhapsodeeinblue 18th-Feb-2013 10:00 pm (UTC)
Yep. Like there's vegan comfort food and everything.
hannahgrace456 18th-Feb-2013 10:02 pm (UTC)
ITA
platinum_yum 18th-Feb-2013 10:07 pm (UTC)
I knew a girl who was a "raw vegan" but didn't eat salad and would pretty much just eat candy, while judging me for eating meat.
shanny_w 19th-Feb-2013 07:48 am (UTC)
the fuck? that's horrible. i always see raw vegans stressing you need to get your greens in.
oyechulo 20th-Feb-2013 02:42 pm (UTC)
what kind of candy did she eat? i feel like it would be really hard to find raw vegan sweets (that weren't dried fruit etc)
superchocobear 19th-Feb-2013 06:48 am (UTC)
'Vegan food is awesome, but it can still be bad for you.'

Yes I learned this first-hand when I began a love affair with soy ice cream lol. Anyway I'm still vegetarian easing myself into vegan and I think I'm much healthier. I get tired a lot so I don't think I'm getting enough iron, but my immune system is A+. I recently got the flu but it was the shortest I'd ever had- only like 3 days.

Just gotta get me some more iron.
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