Health + Fitness

Plant-Based Diet Best Fuel for Athletic Performance - PCRM Recommends

Credit: Ella Olsson

Five-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton is one of many athletes who have adopted a vegan plant-based diet.



When Romain Grosjean questioned why an athelete would want to go vegan, the team of doctors at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) jumped in to explain the benefits.

"A healthy vegan diet eliminates the saturated fat (the solid fat in cheese and meat that slows blood flow and interferes with tissue oxygenation). Without all that bad fat, a vegan diet reduces blood viscosity (thickness) and increases the blood flow your brain and muscles need.

"Plants are also loaded with antioxidants, which speed up recovery after a workout. Plants also bring you the complex carbohydrate your body needs to build the energy-giving glycogen you need for a race (meat and cheese have none)."

So, load up on lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans, but skip the meat, dairy, and eggs to fuel your next athletic challenge. "Do be sure to supplement with vitamin B12," PCRM notes.

For more information about the power of vegan plant-based diets for athletes, check out The Game Changers available on Netflix worldwide starting tomorrow.

Related: F1 champion Lewis Hamilton on The Game Changers and animal rights.

