Why Vegan Bodybuilding Is On The Rise

Plant-Based Protein

One of the biggest questions related to a vegan diet and athletism is how do you get enough of this essential macronutrient? It might be easier than you think, as long as you keep your transition to plant-based foods slow and keep a close eye on your energy-yielding nutrition.

With celebrity athletes switching to vegan diets, the plant-based movement is slowly catching people’s interest. There is a whole array of vegan powerlifters reaching amazing milestones – like Irish strongman Patrik Baboumian, who turned vegan in 2011 and has a personal record of a whopping 360kg Deadlift.

Get Your Aminos Right

The trick to getting your daily goal of protein through a plant-based diet is delving into the subject of amino-acids. Except for soy (in all of its forms), vegan protein sources need to be combined so that we get the 9 essential amino acids that are otherwise found in animal protein – but don’t worry, it’s easy as rice and beans. Once you get it down, nothing is stopping you from getting your bulk on all the while staying healthy and heart disease-free!

What’s The Deal With Soy?

As we mentioned, soy is a complete protein – wouldn’t it make sense to eat it all the time, then? Soy contains something called phytoestrogen, which is a plant-based compound that is similar structurally to the hormone estradiol, and it’s not yet widely understood how it impacts the human body. One thing is for sure – it has been a dietary staple in Asian countries, that have one of the words lowest rate of cardiovascular disease. Try to stay clear of processed soy products, choose edamame beans or the fermented superfood, tempeh, instead!

Supplements For Peak Efficiency

Even a well-balanced diet can benefit from carefully chosen dietary supplements. When eating plant-based, Vitamin B12 levels are something you have to pay attention to, as this vitamin cannot be found in plants naturally. You can also add B12-boosted foods to the menu, such as nutritional yeast or plant milk.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids are also on the list of recommended supplements for vegans. There is a fair amount of plant-based food that contains ALA, which is then converted by our body to essential EPA and DHA fatty acids, but you have to consume them in sufficient quantities. Such options include chia seeds, walnuts, and flax seeds, just to name a few.

Overall, it can’t hurt to try and go for a few meat-free days a week – consider trying it out sometime for the gym, as well!