Are Sports And Vegetarianism Compatible?

An unsolvable, it would seem, dilemma appears before those who consider themselves a vegetarian , and at the same time see the purpose and meaning of their life in sports . What if you are an ardent opponent of meat, but you can't imagine your life without training.

Is it possible to increase muscle mass by giving up meat, fish and derived products? And if sport is a hobby or a profession, is it really possible to give up a full protein menu and become a vegetarian ? Let's try to find answers to these questions.

Vegetarians have always existed, even in ancient times. And now this movement is very popular. Among those who count themselves among the ranks of vegetarians , there is an unofficial classification of "brothers according to taste preferences":

• Vegetarians who refuse red meat, but happily eat chicken, turkey, meat of other birds, and fish. "Pseudo-vegetarians" usually do not have any problems with physical activity and muscle building.

• Ovo- vegetarians , lacto - vegetarians , lacto-ovo- vegetarians - do not allow themselves the meat of any animals, birds and fish, but do not exclude eggs, dairy products, or both from the diet. There are many athletes among lacto-ovo vegetarians . The protein contained in milk and eggs is qualitatively different from the protein found in meat, but it is also able to take part in the construction of cells.

• Opponents of meat and other products of animal origin claim that vegetarianism is in the very nature of man. They most often cite the example of the distant ancestors of humans — monkeys, who ate exclusively tree leaves, fruits, and herbs. Moreover, in their opinion, meat does not charge a person with energy (as is commonly believed), but on the contrary leads to a passive pastime. So, for example, predators, after catching game and eating its meat, sleep for a long time after such a dinner.

Read more about vegetarianism and veganism in the articles - http://harchi.info/articles/vegetarianstvo-diyeta-chy-religiya and http://harchi.info/articles/veganstvo-systema-harchuvannya-chy-styl-zhyttya.

Definitely yes. It's just that those athletes who decided to give up meat have a more difficult time. After all, their diet is deficient in protein. Depending on the type of sport that a person enjoys, protein is needed in the amount of 1.5-3 g per 1 kg of body weight. It's easiest to get protein from meat — it's easier and faster to digest.

Athletes - vegetarians supplement the lack of protein at the expense of other products: soybeans, tofu cheese, legumes, grains, nuts. Opponents of vegetarianism claim that the protein that is not found in meat is not the same at all: it does not contain all amino acids. But the supporters of a non-meat diet believe that by successfully combining various vegetables, fruits and other gifts of nature in a portion, you can get the body's necessary set of elements.

In addition to protein, an important element contained in meat products is iron, a source of energy for the body. Rejecting it, according to meat eaters, vegetarians deprive themselves of the energy needed for sports . However, iron can be obtained from products included in the shopping list of any vegetarian : citrus fruits, apples, rose hips, cabbage (including seaweed), walnuts, raisins, legumes, etc.

Thus, plant-based products contain all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals necessary for the body. Why is it that all the talk about the absolute incompatibility of vegetarianism and sports is a myth.

Many professional athletes , who have achieved success in their field and become famous, declare their vegetarian beliefs. Moreover, even those athletes who are engaged in strength sports that require colossal physical exertion, strength and endurance. For example, the famous boxer Mike Tyson is a vegetarian . Here is a list of famous vegetarian athletes : Bruce Lee - the king of oriental martial arts, Carl Lewis - a track and field athlete, Prince Fielder - a baseball player, Chris Campbell - wrestling, David Zabriskie - cycling, Bill Pearl - bodybuilding. And this is far from the end.

If you want to be both a vegetarian and an athlete , you should know about all the pitfalls. There are several of them:

• Vitamin B12, which is necessary for increased physical activity, is obtained mainly from meat and animal products. While pseudo- and lacto-ovo- vegetarians can afford an animal source of the vitamin, vegans need to take care to get this vitamin from soy and seaweed. Or turn to whey protein or brewer's yeast for help.

• Carbohydrates, which are so abundant in plant foods, can hinder athletes who are building muscle mass. They cannot be consumed a lot if the athlete follows a diet.

• Thanks to insulin, nutrients are transformed in the muscles, ensuring their growth and strength. Insulin is important for building muscle. If a person fundamentally does not eat meat, he does not receive important amino acids, and the level of insulin decreases. And plant proteins do not contain all amino acids.

However, for a person who dares to combine vegetarianism and sports , there are no insurmountable problems - if you plan your diet wisely, all the necessary elements can be obtained from plant sources.