Our culture right now is obsessed with protein.
It’s in almost every diet plan, or in every lose weight quick schemes, so it may be hard at times to think that some of the world’s best athletes are on strict, plant-based diets.
Recent studies have shown that we can get all the protein we need from plant-based foods. Athletes need a lot of calories and nutrients to sustain their incredibly active and healthy lifestyles, and believe it or not, they can get all of that and more from a plant-based diet.
Below, we take a look at 5 plant-based athletes going strong, and who show no signs of stopping anytime soon.
- Kendrick Farris
Kendrick Farris was team USA’s sole weight lifter in the 2016 Olympics, not only is he a competitor, but he also broke the USA’s lifting record by lifting over 800 pounds, all while on a vegan, plant-based diet. Yep, you read that right, there exists a human being who can lift over 800 pounds all while being on a plant-based diet.
Farris went vegan in 2014, citing the birth of his second child as one of the biggest factors in making his decision. He said in an interview back with Men’s Fitness that the birth of his second child made him want to better himself and set an example for his child. Farris fuels his body by eating a lot of beans, but he doesn’t really pay attention to how much he eats, as he eats when he’s hungry, but since he’s eating healthy, he retains his athlete’s physique while also staying completely healthy.
- Venus Williams
Venus Williams and her sister, Serena Williams are probably two of the biggest names in women’s sports in general, and they are also placed among the best tennis players of all time. Unfortunately, in 2011, Venus was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease known as Sjogren’s Syndrome that caused dry mouth, dry eyes, and pain in the muscle and joints. After being diagnosed with the disease, Venus temporarily withdrew from tennis and switched to a raw vegan diet.
After some time, Venus came back to the game stronger than ever. While adjusting to eating only plant-based food is no easy task, Venus made it easier for her by only eating food that she liked.
- Jehina Malik
Jehina Malik is a female bodybuilder and fitness trainer who is the living, breathing example that bodybuilders don’t need meat and animal products to sculpt their bodies and build muscle. Malik has numerous bodybuilding awards , all while retaining her vegan lifestyle, proving all doubters wrong in the process.
- Tia Blanco
Tia Blanco is one of the best surfer’s in the world. This was proven when she won the gold medal in International Surfing Association’s Open Women’s World Surfing Championship back in 2015. The year later, she won the same medal, defending her championship in the process, while also being ranked as one of the top 50 female surfers in the world. Oh, and she did this all on a vegan diet. Tia Blanco is a solid example of an athlete who can sustain her lifestyle on a plant-based diet.
- Steph Davis
Rock climbing requires a lot of strength, in the body and the mind, and food is usually what fuels the body to accomplish such great achievements such as climbing a mountain. Steph Davis has done this so many times throughout her career as a professional rock climber, wing suit flyer, and B.A.S.E. jumper. Steph can do all of that on a professional level, and what fuels her? Well, her plant-based diet does.
Despite all the physically demanding tasks she accomplishes on daily basis, her body is fueled only by plant-based foods. And it hasn’t slowed her down, in fact it actually sped her up. After going vegan, Davis has said that she climbed Torre Eger in a day. and also, El Cap. Proving to everyone that you can still be very strong while being vegan.
All these athletes are just some of the examples of people being able to power themselves and fuel themselves with a vegan lifestyle. There are so many health benefits to going plant-based, and athletes like the ones mentioned above, and people all over the world simply prove that point.