The Vegetarian Body Builder
Misconceptions about Vegetarian Bodybuilders
Many of us believe that to succeed as a bodybuilder you need to eat meat. However, this is not the case and most vegetarian bodybuilders are not the typical skinny, gaunt figures portrayed by the media. Many meat eating bodybuilders are now turning to natural bodybuilding and creating a diet that will support their muscle building ambitions. One of the perceived problems is: how do you build muscle if you are lacking in proteins? well lets look at this next.
Are Proteins a Problem?
Many people believe that without eating the meat of an animal, you will not be able to get enough protein and other essential nutrients for a normal healthy diet. This has proved simply not true and when it comes to vegetarian bodybuilders you can easily get the proteins necessary from other food sources such as soy products, beans, various grains, eggs and dairy products which provide plenty of muscle building proteins.
Indeed, many vegetarian athletes drink supplemental drinks with whey protein as well as other important vitamins and minerals like vitamin B12, zinc, and iron. It is true that meat provides these essentials but the daily allowances are simply not enough for vegetarian bodybuilders and this applies to other foods too. Supplements are important to get enough of the essentials that are lacking in any diet, whether it is a vegetarian one or not.
Can Vegetarian Bodybuilders Build Muscle?
Most vegetarians actually have a better chance of growing muscle and building strength on a meat free diet. Vegetarian body building means exactly that – building muscle mass and strength based on a diet filled with fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Eating meats can actually slow down your metabolism because it takes so much energy to digest it, whereas with a vegetarian diet, your body actually speeds up its digestion.
Vegetarian body building means being creative with meals to ensure that you have plenty of vitamins and minerals represented in the foods you eat. Many body builders who abstain from meat have consulted with nutritionists to ensure that their diet as well as supplements provides what is needed to maintain and grow muscle mass.
Are Vegetarian Bodybuilders Healthy?
I hope you have seen that being a vegetarian is actually quite healthy, reducing cholesterol and blood sugar levels that many vegetarian body building athletes (like Carl Lewis) can attest to! It is now known that many meats, even the lean ones, have the presence of “bad” cholesterol or LDL which can raise cholesterol levels and therefore, your blood pressure. By dropping meat from the menu you are also able to eliminate trans fats and saturated fats. In fact, all the foods that vegetarians eat along with some supplemental items can more than provide the vitamins and minerals needed to succeed at vegetarian body building.
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