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Plant-based diets support athletic performance just as well as diets containing meat, a new scientific review has found. Based on the current evidence, vegetarian and vegan diets show no disadvantage for strength, anaerobic or aerobic exercise.
Heidi Lynch of Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego and Christopher Wharton of Arizona State University reviewed the research on plant-based diets and health, the environment, protein quality and exercise performance. Their review is published in Nutrients. It also notes that plant-based diets reduce the risk of many chronic diseases and need fewer natural resources to produce. Few studies have looked at elite athletes, so the authors call for more research at the top level.
The authors conclude:
As such, plant-based diets appear to be viable options for adequately supporting athletic performance while concurrently contributing to overall physical and environmental health.
For anyone training hard, beans, lentils, tofu, tempeh, seitan and whole grains can cover protein needs while doing your long-term health a favor.
Athletes have been proving it for years, setting world records and winning medal hauls on plants, and research has shown plant protein is great for building muscle. The Game Changers is bringing the message to millions.
No meat, no problem!