The choice for personal and planetary health and fitnessby Bradley Saul
My transition to a plant-based diet required several years of independent study of nutrition and health. But after reading Food Revolution by John Robbins, I thought to myself, "why have I been eating anything but a vegan diet for this long?" As I learned more about a plant-based diet and lifestyle, the reasons for continuing to eat and live this way mounted. And as I experienced better health and faster recovery times, I was motivated to learn more and share this information with others. Now when someone asks me why I am vegan I couldn't even begin to list all my answers, but I think there are two primary reasons athletes will be interested in a plant-based diet: optimal nutrition and environmental stewardship.
Even mainstream nutrition organizations support a plant-based diet:"It is the position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases."
Most of the time when you read or hear about vegetarian or vegan sports nutrition, the focus is on what you will lack by giving up animal products. "If you want to eat a vegetarian diet, be careful, for you might not get enough [fill in the blank - protein, calcium, iron, etc]," says the typical nutritionist and doctor. Or worse, they tell you it's not possible. While our understanding of sports nutrition has increased dramatically in the past several decades, what is lacking is our rationale for promoting foods (such as meat and dairy) that are strongly associated with chronic diseases and foods which have marginal nutritional value (such as supplements, refined energy bars, and sports drinks).
I've learned that fruits and vegetables are the healthiest foods we can possibly eat. In terms of a total package of carbohydrates, protein, essential fats, fiber, and vitamins and minerals, fruits and vegetables have superior nutritional value compared to any other food group or processed food. Yet, education about whole plant food nutrition lags far behind relative to the marketing of meat, dairy and processed foods. The question is: who's to gain by consuming more fruits and vegetables? The answer is you.
The multi-billion dollar food industry makes its wealth at the expense of people's health and the environment. The major ecological issues facing our planet today -- global warming, deforestation, soil depletion, and limited water resources -- are directly linked with animal production and conventional agriculture. As athletes, we must take this into consideration, for without clean air, unpolluted soil, and pure water, we do not have an environment worth exercising in.
We have the choice to contribute to the healing of our planet and the building of healthy bodies. It all begins with how we choose to feed ourselves. Will you choose to fuel yourself with foods that accelerate disease and hasten ecological damage? Or will you join us in powering our bodies with high energy, nutritionally dense foods that promote environmental restoration and speed the building of health?
