VEGETARIAN BODYBUILDING
CHRIS WILLITTS VegetarianBodybuilding . com
BEST VEGETARIAN BODYBUILDING DIET
BACKED BY SCIENCE
Despite the overwhelming success of so many vegetarian athletes and bodybuilders making headlines lately , there are still lots of people who question the merits and feasibility of the vegetarian fitness lifestyle .
The American Dietetic Association asserts that vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of life , including athletes . And a look back through history tells us that the best athletes in ancient times swore by vegetarian diets .
Yet many questions and concerns continue to prevent athletes from adjusting their meals and phasing out meat to live healthier lifestyles and enhance their performance . Rooted in science and proven effective by some of the top athletes and bodybuilders on the planet , here is a defense of the vegetarian fitness lifestyle and how you can start living it too .
10 Natural Muscle Magazine New Year 2017
VEGETARIANISM AND FITNESS
The benefits of vegetarianism go far beyond general wellness and disease prevention . In fact , a meat-free diet can give athletes a competitive edge that helps them perform and compete better than their meat-eating counterparts .
For endurance athletes , performance is largely driven by fueling the body with carbohydrates , which can easily and healthily be obtained through plant-based sources .
As long as a vegetarian diet isn ’ t unnecessarily restrictive , it can provide athletes with all the nutrients needed to perform and compete .
Furthermore , “ Physical Fitness and Vegetarian Diets : Is There a Relation ?” published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that “ athletes who consume diets rich in fruit , vegetables , and whole grains receive high amounts of antioxidant nutrients that help reduce the oxidative stress associated with heavy exertion .”
Female athletes in particular may be hesitant to cut dairy products out of their diets because calcium is essential to maintain bone health and prevent osteoporosis . Fortunately , there are lots of plants that are packed with calcium , including broccoli , bok choy , collards , kale , and Chinese cabbage .
Regardless of gender , the benefits of a vegetarian diet are so overwhelming that this lifestyle is worthy of consideration by all athletes .
The fat , protein , and carbohydrate balance associated with vegetarian diets can help endurance athletes maximize body glycogen stores and ultimately boost performance during periods of heavy training .
A 2016 study published in Nutrients concluded that vegetarian endurance athletes ’ cardiorespiratory fitness is greater than that measured in omnivorous .
This exemplifies that not only does a vegetarian diet not compromise performance outcomes , but it can actually enhance the level of aerobic capacity in athletes and help them compete for longer periods of time .