After undergoing heart surgery back in February, former President Bill Clinton has adopted a healthier lifestyle. In a recent interview with CNN Bill Clinton talked about his plant-based, vegan diet and recent weight loss. “I live of off beans, legumes, vegetables and fruits. It has completely changed my metabolism. I’ve lost 24 lbs and I weigh about what I did in high school,” says Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton says his diet does not include any meat or dairy. Clinton drinks a glass of almond milk mixed with fruit and a protein powder supplement every morning. What made him go vegan? Clinton has read many books on the topic, including books by T. Colin Campbell, Caldwell Esselstyn and Dr. Dean Ornish. /// A Short Historical Perspective on Vegetarian Diets In the past, many viewed vegetarianism as strange and faddish but appropriately planned vegetarian diets are now recognized by many, including the American Dietetic Association, as being nutritionally adequate, and providing healthful benefits in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases . Choosing a nonvegetarian lifestyle has a significant health and medical cost. The total direct medical costs in the United States attributable to meat consumption were estimated to be $60-80 billion a year, based upon the higher prevalence of hypertension, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, gallstones, obesity and food-borne illness among omnivores compared with vegetarians . A large body of scientific literature suggests that the …