MNN - Mother Nature Network

Michelle Pfeiffer has gone vegan — and she'd like to thank CNN and a certain former president for the push. 

 

“I was finishing up working on, I think it was ‘Dark Shadows.’ And I was watching CNN, and ‘The Last Heart Attack’ came on,” she told Dr. Sanjay Gupta. The actress, who describes herself as a “foodie,” said Clinton's success with the diet also made her a believer. “OK, Bill Clinton loves food, so there must be something to [veganism] that’s making him stick to it. And also, he’s smart, so he’s not going to do something unless he really thinks there’s some science behind it,” she said.

 

Pfeiffer, 54, went on to read the book "Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease" (which advocates for a plant-based and oil-free diet) and determined that going vegan was the best option for her. 

 

"I just felt like ... there was science behind it," she said. "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."

 

Pfeiffer is the latest in a long line of celebrities embracing veganism for better health and looks. Other recent converts include Lance Armstrong, Carrie Underwood, Jason Mraz and even NFL player Deuce Lutui. 

 

“If you were to go to my house and open up the fridge, you’d see all-vegan, all-natural products," Lutui recently said. "I’m glad I’ve educated myself about what’s going in my mouth. I’ve educated myself, and that’s what’s causing my fitness and how I’ve really taken care of myself physically."

 

You can see some of Pfeiffer's chat with Gupta below. The full interview airs this evening on "Piers Morgan Tonight" at 9 p.m. ET.