Without animal protein to peak performance, it goes?
Numerous prominent athletes now eat a vegan diet. of course, this raises the question of whether such a diet can be reconciled with competitive sports. The examples here speak for themselves.
Lewis hamilton, seven-time formula 1 world champion, has gone without animal products since 2017 and proves that athletes can still be extremely powerful. In conversation with optionstheedge.Com the briton once declared: "meat as the only source of protein is absolute garbage. I can work out just as much and do just as many reps, if not more."
in 2019, he gained as much as five kilograms – and that was on a fully vegan diet. the benefits, according to hamilton, are immense: he has clearer skin, a more stable energy level and a more focused mindset. "i can’t put into words how much better i feel," last season’s world championship runner-up made clear.
Hamilton: environmental protection through vegan nutrition
But hamilton isn’t just driven by health considerations. The mercedes driver is primarily concerned with protecting the environment. "the vegan diet is the only way to really save our planet," the 36-year-old wrote on instagram in 2019.
In the interview with BBC he continued his thoughts. "what mankind is doing to the world. The amount of greenhouse gases produced by the mass of cows is just incredible. They say it’s more than all the cars and flights combined, which is crazy. I don’t really want to support that and live a healthier life."
And further, "every person I’ve met who eats a vegan diet has said it’s the best decision they’ve ever made."
Djokovic eats a plant-based diet
tennis star novak djokovic also eats a plant-based diet. "i think that’s why i regenerate so well. I don’t have any allergies anymore and I like that," said the world’s top-ranked.
in his book "serve to win" he writes that he relies on beans, nuts, seeds, chickpeas, lentils and healthy oils. For djokovic, it’s more than a diet, "it’s a lifestyle. It’s something I’m really proud of."
Similar to hamilton, he also pursues ethical goals with his diet: "the slaughtering of animals and farming and everything else, of course that has a big impact on climate change," the 20-time grand slam winner said.
Williams vegan due to autoimmune disease
The reasons for a change in diet can be manifold. Venus williams gives up meat, dairy products and co due to an autoimmune disease, for example. – and has been doing so for ten years. "i wanted to maintain my ability to perform on the court. After I started, I fell in love with the concept of fueling my body as best I could through raw vegan food," the Olympic tennis champion told the health magazine.
Versus insider.Com the US-American explained that she could take a lot of medication against the autoimmune disease sjogren’s syndrome, but did not want to do so. "therefore, it is a godsend that i can control as much as possible through my diet."
Williams is a staunch advocate of a plant-based diet and is also a prominent supporter of "veganuary," a nonprofit organization that motivates people worldwide to go vegan in january and beyond. The New Year’s Challenge is intended to make an important contribution to climate protection.
studies show: no disadvantage from vegan diet
It has also been empirically proven that a purely vegan diet has no disadvantage for high-performance athletes, as a study by the university of leipzig has shown.
however, the plant-based diet must be balanced and does not come completely without supplements. The body only obtains sufficient vitamin B12 from animal foods, and this needs to be improved with supplements.
According to a study by the university of quebec in montreal, canada, vegan athletes can even have a slightly better endurance than their meat-eating competitors. Young women who ate a vegan diet had significantly better oxygen levels compared to omnivores.
Balanced diet is crucial
According to professor dr. David C. Nieman says "all types of diets are compatible with performance."at appalachian state university in north carolina, u.s.a., the u.s. researcher studied the recovery phase of athletes after 90 minutes of strenuous exercise who consumed either pea or whey protein.
The key is to have a balanced diet: ""If all you eat is crackers, vegan cheese and other processed foods, that’s not a good choice. for a vegan diet to be healthy and work for elite athletes, it needs to have a solid foundation of vegetables and fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds," he told healthline.
And: "a plant-based diet is at the heart of all healthy eating habits." no matter what diet you end up choosing specifically.