Athletes often look at nutritional strategies as a way to improve their performance. A vegetarian diet can be a successful strategy for athletes, but it requires a significant amount of planning.[1]
One of the first concerns is protein intake. Athletes may need higher protein intakes than the general population, but this is easily achieved with a carefully planned diet.[2][3] Vegetarian diets tend to have higher carbohydrate intakes compared to omnivorous diets, and this can actually be of benefit to some athletes, especially in endurance sports.[1] For female athletes, it is important to plan ahead, because an insufficient intake of calories and fats in people who are highly active can interrupt the menstrual cycle.[1][4]
Overall, it seems that a vegetarian diet can support athletic performance, but is not superior to an omnivorous diet. To ensure that the athlete receives a nutritionally complete diet, careful planning of calorie intake, protein intake, and micronutrient intake is important.[5][6]
References
- ^Pilis W, Stec K, Zych M, Pilis AHealth benefits and risk associated with adopting a vegetarian diet.Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig.(2014)
- ^Nieman DCPhysical fitness and vegetarian diets: is there a relation?Am J Clin Nutr.(1999 Sep)
- ^Barr SI, Rideout CANutritional considerations for vegetarian athletes.Nutrition.(2004 Jul-Aug)
- ^Witkoś J, Hartman-Petrycka MThe Female Athlete Triad-the impact of running and type of diet on the regularity of the menstrual cycle assessed for recreational runners.PeerJ.(2022)
- ^Hernández-Lougedo J, Maté-Muñoz JL, García-Fernández P, Úbeda-D'Ocasar E, Hervás-Pérez JP, Pedauyé-Rueda BThe Relationship between Vegetarian Diet and Sports Performance: A Systematic Review.Nutrients.(2023 Nov 6)
- ^Craddock JC, Probst YC, Peoples GEVegetarian and Omnivorous Nutrition - Comparing Physical PerformanceInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.(2016 Jun)