When plant-based athletic eating meets scrutiny
Even if you didn’t watch “The Game Changers” documentary, in 2021 vegans with athletics goals finally have a lot of options in their corner.
Lately, online discourse around going plant based vs. going vegan while training has centered on the old protein debate, and how much a person concerned with certain physical goals like lifting weights or endurance should adjust their diet to allow animal products.
Having played with a variety of adjustments while my own goals have changed, I do believe one can be 100% vegan all the time and never worry about the ability to achieve those goals.
With that said, everyone’s body is different and not everyone can be 100% vegan. Some people find they cannot fully quit eggs because of the protein and minerals offered. Others struggle when they remove fish, sources of minerals, omega-3, oils and protein, and other seafood products.
To better know yourself, doing a full blood panel with your doctor and seeking nutritional advice when they are aware of your goals is always best to do first. Then, do research about the types of foods you will want to consume the most for your own goals. Eating for endurance training will be different from eating for weight lifting, sprinting, bicycling and other types of sports. There’s plant-based ways to satisfy each athletics goal, but doing the research will be key to make sure you’re taking care of yourself along with avoiding animal products.
When talking to others training who can’t imagine giving up animal products, there are a couple of key discussions you’re bound to have about other protein sources, and there are plant-based alternatives for each of them. Here’s a few arguments for keeping a few staples vegan.