Fremont adopted a vegan diet at the age of 69 after receiving a daunting cancer diagnosis. He turned down what his doctors told him was life-saving surgery in favor of switching to a whole food plant-based diet. Now, Fremont, the oldest known vegan runner, holds the marathon distance world records for single-year age groups of 88 and 90.

“I said no, I was going on a diet!” Fremont told Great Vegan Athletes. “In two and a quarter years the tumor began to bleed, and I was operated upon. The surgeon looked for metastasis in 35 places and found zero. In other words, my macrobiotic diet, [which became] a vegan diet, [which became] a whole-foods plant-based diet, killed the metastases!”

This week, Fremont joined the legendary plant-based athlete, author and podcaster Rich Roll to discuss his prolonged competitive career and unwavering strength and endurance. Fremont claimed that the past few years leading up to his 100th have been “the very best years” of his life. Roll asked the 100-year-old athlete what he credits his longevity to, and Fremont unhesitatingly claimed that his diet plays a major role.

“No question in my mind, absolutely, it is [my] diet that has determined my existence. My continued existence and my beautiful health,” Fremont told Roll on the show.

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Fremont has no plans of stopping, or even slowing down. Fremont’s running partner Harvey Lewis – a 46-year-old ultrarunner and fellow vegan – told Great Vegan Athletes that he suggested a 5K run with Fremont for his 100th birthday. Fremont turned down the idea and instead suggested they run twice the distance.

“I asked him about the Flying Pig Marathon and if he was interested in doing the 5K, as we have done it the past couple of years,” Harvey said. “He said, ‘I don’t feel it’s really a race unless we do 10K’ with a big grin. No arguing with Mike. 10K it is!”

Prolonging Life Expectancy with a Plant-Based Diet

Though a whole food plant-based diet is not a recommended treatment for cancer or a substitute for medical treatment, a growing body of research indicates that following a vegan diet can significantly reduce the risk of ever contracting several types of cancer including breast, prostate, and others. This February, a study published in Plos Medicine Journal claimed that you could prolong your life expectancy by 10 years or even more if you start eating plant-based early enough. The report asserts that a plant-based diet can help lower risk factors for several fatal diseases including heart disease and stroke.

Previous generations have historically avoided plant-based dieting due to traditional meal preferences centered around meat and dairy. However, that is changing as more information comes out yearly highlighting the health benefits of a plant-based diet for people over 65. One survey found that 54 percent of UK consumers over 65 have set out to reduce their meat consumption, motivated by the health benefits of lowering saturated fat intake.

An ever-growing body of research has shown that plant-based diets can significantly minimize the risk of heart disease in later life. And the earlier you make the switch the better: Adopting a plant-centered diet between the ages of 18 and 30 can reduce the risk of heart disease some 30 years later. In Fremont’s case, following a plant-based approach since he was 60, he proves it is never too late to switch to a plant-based diet, especially for athletes.

Athletes Turning to Vegan Diets to Optimize Performance

Fremont, Tom Brady, Novak Djokovic, and Nick Kyrgios (who lost in the Wimbledon finals) join an impressive list of talented athletes who count themselves as part of the plant-based community. Notably, Phoenix Suns player Chris Paul credits his plant-based diet to improved performance on the court and in life. This year, the NBA player made his 12th appearance on the NBA All-Star team

“When I first went plant-based, it was for performance purposes but once I saw how my body changed and how I felt — it was for life,” Paul said to GQ. “Years ago, I probably wouldn’t have even gone outside to run around with my kids and all the other activities because my body would be aching. Now, with the constant lifting and making sure that my body is always ready, it’s been a good lifestyle change for me.”

Two years ago, director Louie Psihoyos released The Game Changers documentary, showing the world how athletes do not need meat or dairy to perform professionally. Since then, high-profile athletes have converted to vegan diets to reduce inflammation, improve endurance, and better their overall health including Paul, Fremont, and many others.

For more inspiring plant-based eaters, visit The Beet’s Success Stories. 

20 Athletes Who Went Vegan to Get Stronger

1. Novak Djokovic: Number one tennis champion in the world

The number one tennis player in the world, Novak Djokovic, went plant-based more than twelve years ago to enhance his athletic performance and win more matches. In recent interviews, he has credited going vegan with helping him rise from third place in the world to first in the world because it helped clear his allergies. Before changing his diet, Djokovic had searched for cures to the breathing issues that cost him matches and focus which caused him to struggled during his most intense matches. The allergies used to make him feel like he couldn’t breathe and would be forced to retire from competitive matches as he did in Australia. “Eating meat was hard on my digestion and that took a lot of essential energy that I need for my focus, for recovery, for the next training session, and for the next match,” he said. Djokovic emphasized he does not eat foods that require a lot of digestion, especially in the morning, when he needs all of his energy for training. Instead, he starts the day with hot water and lemon, then celery juice, and some superfood supplements.

2. Tia Blanco: Professional Surfer and Beyond Meat Ambassador Read More: 20 Who Athletes Swear by a Plant-Based Diet to Boost Performance

Tia Blanco won gold at the International Surfing Association Open in 2015 and credits her success to her vegan diet. Blanco reports that a vegan diet helps her stay strong and she enjoys eating different forms of vegan protein like nuts, seeds, beans, and legumes. The professional surfer was influenced by her mother, who is a vegetarian and grew up in a veggie-forward household, Blanco has never eaten meat in her life, which made the plant-based switch much easier. And speaking of making things easier, Blanco has an Instagram cooking page called @tiasvegankitchen where she shares her favorite simple vegan recipes so all of her fans can eat like their favorite professional vegan athlete. In addition to her home-cooked meals, Blanco recently became an ambassador for vegan company Beyond Meat and now she posts Instagram stories and highlights of her favorite meatless meat recipes.

3. Steph Davis: World Leading Professional Rock Climber

Steph Davis has been vegan for 18 years now and says, “there’s nothing in my life that hasn’t become better as a result, from climbing and athletics to mental and spiritual well being.” Davis has competed on some of the most challenging verticle routes on the planet –like Concepcion (5.13), which is known to be one of the hardest pure climbs anywhere. Davis holds the third overall ascent and is the first female to ever make the ascent of the route. Davis described it as her “most technically demanding climb ever.” Davis explained why she went vegan eight years ago when she partnered with PETA. “What can we do to start making changes in a positive way? And if it just so happens that changing our lifestyle leads to environmental benefits, health benefits, economic benefits, and positive social change, then all the better. One thing I’ve learned is you don’t have to do or be anything you don’t want to be, and you can change anything in your life just by starting to do it. It’s you who chooses who and what you are, by the things you think and the things you do.” She goes on to add, “no one says you have to become a “perfect” vegan overnight. But why not start making small changes and see how it feels? I believe it’s the small choices people make that have the biggest power to change, and nothing is more simple yet also more far-reaching than changing how and what you choose to eat. We’re all here for a short time, in the end, and living a well-intentioned and compassionate life seems like what ultimately matters the most, the only real goal that I aspire to.”

4. Venus Williams: Tennis Great

Tennis champion Venus Williams swears that making the switch to veganism was one of the factors that helped to improve her performance and get over an auto-immune disease. The tennis star went vegan back in 2011 when she was diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome, a debilitating autoimmune disease with a range of symptoms from joint pain to swelling, numbness, burning eyes, digestive problems, and fatigue. She chose to eat plant-based to recover to her formerly healthy self, and it worked so she stuck to it. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion recovers faster on a plant-based diet now, compared to how she felt back when she ate animal protein. When you have an auto-immune disease you often feel extreme fatigue and random body aches and for Venus, a plant-based diet provides energy and helps her reduce inflammation. The Beet reported on Willaim’s diet and what she normally eats in a day to stay healthy, fit, and win more matches. Talking about her favorite dinner meal, Williams adds, “sometimes a girl just needs a donut!”

5. Mike Tyson: The First Heavyweight Boxer to Hold the WBA, WBC, and IBF Titles

Mike Tyson recently said he is “in the best shape ever” thanks to his vegan diet. The boxing legend then announced he’s getting back into the rings after 15 years, to fight against Roy Jones, Jr. in California later this fall. Tyson went vegan ten years ago after dealing with health complications and in the wake of having cleaned up his life: “I was so congested from all the drugs and bad cocaine, I could hardly breathe.” Tyson said, “I had high blood pressure, was almost dying, and had arthritis.” Now, the 53-year-old powerhouse is sober, healthy, and fit. “Turning vegan helped me eliminate all those problems in my life,” and “I’m in the best shape ever.” His new trainer agrees: Watching Iron Mike’s speed during recent training sessions, observed: “He has the same power as a guy who is 21, 22-years old.”

6. Chris Paul: The NBA’s Newest Vegan Who Was Influenced by The Game Changers

Oklahoma City’s point guard Chris Paul decided to ditch meat and dairy and was asked join on as a co-executive producer for the popular documentary, The Game Changers. For breakfast, Paul enjoys oatmeal with plant-based milk and nut butter. For lunch, he fuels up with pasta or brown rice with Beyond Meat sausage, grilled vegetables, and a curry sauce. His chef told USA Today, “The main thing is, we try to keep it as light and clean as possible for his normal routine, with organic ingredients. Anything that can minimize body inflammation. Chris is always worrying about what he can and can’t eat.” So far it appears he’s getting it right. In an exclusive interview with The Beet’s Awesome Vegans columnist Elysabeth Alfano, Paul said eating a plant-based diet helps him keep up with players half his age.

7. Colin Kaepernick: Former (future?) NFL Player and Social Activist

In 2016, Kaepernick made the switch to veganism with his longtime girlfriend to recover from a series of injuries that had him down for the count. The Beet recently reported on how this dietary switch has allowed Kaepernick to stay strong and healthy. Now, he’s in the gym building muscle and looks fitter than ever. But will he be picked up? The professional football player claims that a vegan diet makes him feel “always ready” to perform his best on the field.

8. Cam Newton: New England Patriots’ Newest Quarterback is Vegan

Cam Newton just replaced Tom Brady, who also follows a mostly plant-based diet, as the New England Patriot’s QB, after having made the plant-based switch back in March 2019. The NFL Star first decided to ditch meat and dairy to recover quicker from injuries when he learned that a plant-based diet is proven to help reduce inflammation. “I’ve seen such a remarkable change in the way my body responds to the food that I eat,” Newton told PETA for his recent partnership for a new campaign called, “Built Like a Vegan,” proving that you don’t need to eat meat to be strong. Newton enjoys a meat-free burger on a pretzel bun, heavy on pickles and sauce. He adds: “People often ask, ‘How do you get your protein?’ I just say, ‘I get it in the same way you do, but it’s fresher and cleaner.’ ” Newton shares how to do it: “My advice to a person who wants to become vegan is to eat on schedule. If you can eat on a schedule, you won’t miss [a meal or crave meat] or think anything different, and you’ll be alright.”

9. Elijah Hall: American Sprinter Training for The 2021 Tokyo Olympics

Elijah Hall says about his vegan diet: “Going vegan was the best decision” he has ever made. Hall holds records in the indoor 200 meters and was training for the Tokyo this summer when it got postponed by a year due to the pandemic. Hall said “the effects that it’s having on my body are amazing. Becoming a plant-based athlete has opened many doors to my health and my training.” We predict he’ll only get faster in the next 11 months and break records, come home with golf and be the world champion in 12 months.

10. Morgan Mitchell: Omplyian Sprinter Who Won her First Title at 2014 Australian National Championships

Five-years ago, Morgan Mitchell went vegan and it made her faster, leaner and happier. Last year she was featured in the plant-based athletes documentary The Game Changers and said, “Being vegan has helped me immensely. I don’t feel sluggish like I did when I was eating meat, and my recovery from training really took off. It felt like an overall cleanse for my body, and I started seeing greater results on the track.” Now Michelle is committed for the planet as well. “Ultimately helping the environment and not contributing to animal cruelty was a big thing for me, too. That was my initial reason for going vegan, and the rest of the benefits were just added bonuses.” Mitchell describes what she eats in a day for enhanced performance and more energy to win sprints. “I like to make sure I have three different types of protein in there. I use tofu, beans, and mushrooms, along with spinach, vegan cheese, and hash browns,” she says. “I also love to add Beyond Meat for more flavor, which is a great source of plant protein as well. That usually keeps me full for the better part of the day,” she told Well + Good.

11. Lewis Hamilton: Formula One Driver Who Credits His Vegan Diet For Allowing Him to Be Victorious

“We were taught that eating animal products was good for us but we’ve been lied to for hundreds of years,” said Lewis Hamilton. The Beet reported on Hamiltion’s vegan diet quoting The New York Times that he credits his new plant-based diet with making the difference in his career. Hamilton gave up processed food and animal products for vegetables, fruit, nuts, grains, because of his strong compassion for animals, for the benefit of the environment, and his own health. Hamilton isn’t the only vegan in his family. His dog Rocco is fully vegan and Hamilton says he’s “super happy” on Rocco’s very own IG post. Earlier this year, Hamilton gave up his private jet because he said it’s a big pollutant and aims to live a sustainable lifestyle. Back in February, he started a line of sustainable clothing with Tommy Hilfiger at London Fashion Week.

12. Patrik Baboumian: Arguably The Strongest Man in The World

Featured in The Game Changers for his elite strength and his superhuman ability to lift a car, Patrik Baboumiam is one of the strongest men in the world and also happens to be vegan. Baboumian lifted 358 pounds in the 2009 German log lift nationals. Back in 2014, Baboumiam partnered with PETA in his campaign “Want to be Stronger” describing powering yourself with plants and how you can build muscle without eating meat. One of his 2019 PETA campaigns showed him posing with crossed arms and leaves in his mouths with the text: “The world’s strongest animals are plant-eaters: Gorillas, buffaloes, elephants and me.” Bahoumiam’s diet consists of a dairy-free shake for breakfast with 8 grams of protein and 0 carbohydrates. For lunch, he enjoys vegan sausage, falafel, low-fat oven fires, peppers, and more grilled veggies. He normally eats 250 grams of carbs and 90 grams of protein just for lunch. Dinner includes vegetables cooked potatoes, and tofu. If you want to eat like Boubanian, he reports his food diary on his blog BarBend.

13. Arnold Schwarzenegger: Former Proessional BodyBuilder, Producer, The Game Changers, and former Governor of California

Here’s a guy who has worn many hats: Bodybuilder, Terminator, California Governor, and now vegan and advocate for the plant-based lifestyle. Arnold Schwarzenegger ditched meat and dairy and has proven that you don’t need to eat animal products to be strong, healthy and reverse symptoms of heart disease. Now 73, he had a pulmonary valve replacement 1997 due to a congenital defect and underwent emergency open-heart surgery in 2018 to replace the valve again. He then changed his eating and fitness habits and now extolls the virtues of plant-based eating for the environment as well as health reasons. He is a producer of The Game Changers (a movie with many masters) and an advocate for going vegan for health, the environment and the sake of animals (he posts on IG with his pet donkey and miniature pony, both household dwelling animals). Schwarzenegger said last year: “Right now, seven million people are dying every year. That is alarming and everyone in the government has the responsibility to protect the people…. 28 percent of the greenhouse gasses come from eating meat and from raising cattle, so we can do a much better job.”

14. Scott Jurek: Named One of The Greatest Ultra-Marathoner’s Of All Time Read More: 20 Who Athletes Swear by a Plant-Based Diet to Boost Performance

Jurek is an extreme ultra-marathon runner who has won the Hardrock Hundred, the Badwater Ultramarathon, the Spartathlon, and the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run (you get the idea). Jurek has been vegan for almost two decades, after easing into it by cutting out meat in college, he slowly stopping seafood and finally giving up all animal products once he realized that eating this way made him feel healthier and happier. To run such an extreme amount of miles, you need to fuel your body with plant-based foods that will give you enough energy and carbohydrates to go the distance. The goal is to eat 5,000-6,000 calories of plant-based foods daily. Jurek outlined his plant-based diet in an interview with Bon Appetite. Instead of waking up to a hot cup of coffee to boost energy, he prefers to drink tea and a green smoothie with spirulina or chlorella and a host of other ingredients. He adds bananas, frozen pineapple slices, or mangoes, brown rice and pea protein, (for protein) to rebuild what’s lost in training. This is not just any smoothie.

15. Alex Morgan: USA Soccer Star, Plays for the Orlando Pride of the NWSL

Soccer star, Alex Morgan is one of the beloved members of the USA National Team that won the World Cup and has shown that the female players deserve to get equal pay as their male counterparts by the US Soccer Federation. She is also an animal rights advocate and longtime vegan, having given up meat when she decided that “it didn’t feel fair to have a dog, and yet eat meat all the time,” referring to her adorable pup Blue. Morgan aims to eat 90 grams of plant-based protein daily to stay fit and lean, especially for her workouts and on the field. Morgan admitted that breakfast was difficult because “a lot of the things I love like pancakes and French toast had dairy and eggs.” But now she enjoys oatmeal with nut butter and berries, smoothies, rice, quinoa, veggies, black beans, protein shakes, Mediterranean food, Impossible burgers, Mexican beans, and sauteed veggie burritos, she told USA Today.

16. Paul Rabil: Pro Lacrosse Player: A Vegan Diet Helped Alleviate His Sciatica

Paul Rabil who played for the Boston Cannons and the New York Lizards of Major League Lacrosse, ditched meat and dairy after his 2019 season ended and revealed he’s now “officially” vegan on YouTube. “At first [switching to a plant-based diet] was to help solve some pain and trauma that I was going through. Over the last two years, I’ve had two herniated discs…. and that has led to a ton of shooting pain down my legs, its called sciatica,” Rabil explains the purpose of his diet switch. He adds: “I’ve tried to a lot of things; I’ve had a number of cortisone shots; I’ve done physical therapy for two years. And I reached a place where I was thinking ‘okay maybe I can solve this with nutrition because a lot of our pain stems from inflammation. Within a few weeks, I started noticing a lot of alleviation so I started focusing and doubling down more on veganism”

17. Hannah Teter: 2006 Olympic Snowboard Gold Medalist

Hannah Teter won Olympic gold and silver in the halfpipe and is also a seven-time XGames medalist. She changed her diet after watching the documentary, Earthlings when she discovered how “horrible” factory farming is. After a strict vegetarian diet, Teter liked the way she performed and believes that her diet helped her win gold at the 2006 games. She now considers herself “plant-based” and in an interview with the Huffington Post, Teter said, “I feel stronger than I’ve ever been, mentally, physically, and emotionally. My plant-based diet has opened up more doors to being an athlete. It’s a whole other level that I’m elevating to. I stopped eating animals about a year ago, and it’s a new life. I feel like a new person, a new athlete.”

18. Nick Kyrgios: Professional Tennis Champion Ranked 40 in The World

Djokovic is not the only tour player to go plant-based. Nick Kyrgios shared that he does not eat meat anymore because of his strong compassion for animals. During the time of the Australian wildfires, the Aussie native explained: “I’ve been passionate about animal welfare for some time now. I don’t eat meat or dairy anymore. That’s not for my health, I just don’t believe in eating animals.” “I tried a vegan diet a couple of years ago but with all the travel I do, it was hard to stick to it. Since then I’ve managed to make it work, and I’ve been vegetarian for quite a while. “Seeing the footage of these animals suffering from the fires only reinforces why I’ve chosen this diet. When I see these terrible photos, I can’t comprehend eating meat.”

19. Matt Frazier: Ultra-Marathoner Credits Vegan Diet For Breaking Personal Records

Matt Frazier has run 27 ultra-marathons in his career so far and continues to write about the endurance strength of being a vegan athlete in his personal blog, which he started 11 years ago: No Meat Athlete. The Beet recently interviewed Frazier about his vegan journey and how to be a successful athlete on a plant-based diet. When asked about the first time he ditched meat Frazier replied, “I had already cut 90 minutes off my first marathon time. I was still 10 minutes away from the Boston Marathon qualifying time. I had plateaued, and I was not sure how I was going to find 10 minutes. [Plant-based eating] was what I was missing. That’s what it took. The other big noticeable difference to me [after going vegan] was I stopped getting injured. Injuries had always been a big part of my running journey. When I became vegan, it was around the time I ran three 50-milers and a 100-miler. I didn’t have any injuries. If it’s done right, [plant-based diets] can really help you recover faster.”

20. Michaela Copenhaver: Professional Rower, World Record Holder, 10,000m Indoor

Rowing is grueling. It’s known as the toughest endurance sport in the world. The world record-breaking female rower, Michaela Copenhaver went vegan in 2012 for ethical reasons, she told Great Vegan Athletes. “Initially, I just wanted to eat more vegetables. Those things are super good for you, and they’re delicious. Being vegetarian and vegan made me more conscious of how many servings I was getting a day (or not).” When she switched from vegetarian to vegan it was almost accidental: “I was traveling for a regatta in the fall of 2012. I had been vegetarian for 1.5 years already but relied pretty heavily on dairy and eggs. While I was traveling, I was bouncing from couch to couch and had no way to safely store dairy or eggs—so I decided to try a week without them. I felt great, and it wasn’t nearly as scary as I thought. I’ve been vegan ever since.” Now it’s a value system: “Once I stopped eating and using animals, I felt I could finally address a question that had been bothering me for a long time—what right do we have to exploit other creatures? Now, I understand that we have no right, and my motivations are primarily ethical.”

The post This 100-Year-Old Vegan Athlete is Still Running and Setting World Records appeared first on The Beet.

The basketball star was first introduced to dairy alternatives when he and his wife Lauren Holiday, a professional soccer player, found out their four-year-old daughter, Jrue Tyler Holiday is lactose intolerant. Jrue said his daughter often had ear infections when she ate dairy so together he and his wife set out to find the perfect alternative that not only tasted good but was also full of plant-based protein to fuel a family of athletes.

Jrue and Lauren’s daughter naturally gravitated to the pea protein-based Ripple Foods‘ Kids products when they shopped around at the grocery store, seeking out plant-based options. Soon enough, the refrigerator at their home in Milwaukee was stocked with all kinds of Ripple Foods products, including protein shakes Jrue drinks every day and swears they are the secret to all-star performance on game day. “Vanilla is my favorite flavor,” Jrue told The Beet in an exclusive interview. He described the drink as smooth and delicious, explaining that it doesn’t have a “chalky” texture which is common in most protein drinks. After playing several games fueled by Ripple Foods protein shakes, Jrue wanted to become part of the company’s team, it was a “no brainer” to join forces with a product he loved.

Today, May 19th, Jrue Holiday announced his partnership with Ripple Foods, aligning the brand’s mission, “Dairy-Free Done Right,” with his own experiences. After continuously drinking these protein shakes before and after game day, he’s noticed a difference in his sleep schedule, saying, “I sleep better, which is huge since I have young kids,” said Jrue. He also pointed out that his recovery time is better which helps boost performance and noted he doesn’t have as much mucus build-up anymore, an important part of any pro athlete’s ability to exert energy for long periods of time.

We recently spoke with Jrue Holiday as he’s preparing his body and mind to help lead the Bucks to victory during playoff season. In the interview, find out Jrue’s exercise routine, favorite cheat meal, and if he plans on leaning more towards a fully plant-based diet.

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The Beet: What does your game day exercise routine look like?

Jrue Holiday: Before game day, I wake up and shoot hoops for the most part of the morning, then I walk through the plays to remind myself what the team and I will do in the game, then I lift in the gym and I always bring a vanilla Ripple protein drink with me when I workout because it gives me more energy and I like to know exactly what I put in my body, especially on game day. After that, I go over the plays for the game again and have another Ripple protein drink before it’s time to get on the court.

I love drinking Ripple because it gives me energy and I think this is a great substitute for anyone looking for a plant-based, dairy-free alternative because this isn’t chalky, it tastes just like a regular shake and you wouldn’t be able to tell the dairy-free difference.

The Beet: Why do you prefer a dairy-free diet?

Jrue Holiday: I’m always on a mission to put better things in my body since it’s my 12th year in the NBA. I used to eat honey buns all the time without thinking if they would affect my health or performance. So, I have a four-year-old who’s lactose intolerant and she gets ear infections all the time so I had to find dairy alternatives for my daughter and she loved Ripple Kids products, so this product was really the best choice for me and my family – it was a no brainer. Everyone in my family loves the product and since my wife and I are athletes, it’s critical for us to get protein and Ripple has 20 grams per bottle, which is huge.

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The Beet: Do you noticed a difference in your performance when you eat dairy-free?

Jrue Holiday: When I don’t eat dairy, I notice a difference in my sleep. I sleep easier and that’s been huge especially since I have young kids. Also, sometimes when I drink dairy I get a lot of mucus build up and since I’ve been off dairy it’s been gone. I feel better, lighter, and I have more energy. When I have four games in one week, it’s not always easy to recover completely but when I have dairy-free products like Ripple, I recover much easier and better. Sometimes I feel old in age, but a dairy-free diet keeps me feeling young.

The Beet: Does your family eat plant-based?

Jrue Holiday: Health is a big thing for me and my family. My wife is training for a marathon and we don’t eat completely plant-based but we do watch what we put in our bodies. Even after she workouts, she also drinks Ripple.

Personally, I try my best not to eat cheese and sometimes I eat alternatives for meats, but I’m still looking for alternative products that I like to eat. Right now, I eat a lot of penne pasta with pesto and I like to adventure and try new foods but I’m a simple guy. My guiltiest pleasure is orange chicken from Trader Joe’s but it also has rice and broccoli.

20 Athletes Who Went Vegan to Get Stronger

1. Novak Djokovic: Number one tennis champion in the world

The number one tennis player in the world, Novak Djokovic, went plant-based more than twelve years ago to enhance his athletic performance and win more matches. In recent interviews, he has credited going vegan with helping him rise from third place in the world to first in the world because it helped clear his allergies. Before changing his diet, Djokovic had searched for cures to the breathing issues that cost him matches and focus which caused him to struggled during his most intense matches. The allergies used to make him feel like he couldn’t breathe and would be forced to retire from competitive matches as he did in Australia. “Eating meat was hard on my digestion and that took a lot of essential energy that I need for my focus, for recovery, for the next training session, and for the next match,” he said. Djokovic emphasized he does not eat foods that require a lot of digestion, especially in the morning, when he needs all of his energy for training. Instead, he starts the day with hot water and lemon, then celery juice, and some superfood supplements.

2. Tia Blanco: Professional Surfer and Beyond Meat Ambassador Read More: 20 Who Athletes Swear by a Plant-Based Diet to Boost Performance

Tia Blanco won gold at the International Surfing Association Open in 2015 and credits her success to her vegan diet. Blanco reports that a vegan diet helps her stay strong and she enjoys eating different forms of vegan protein like nuts, seeds, beans, and legumes. The professional surfer was influenced by her mother, who is a vegetarian and grew up in a veggie-forward household, Blanco has never eaten meat in her life, which made the plant-based switch much easier. And speaking of making things easier, Blanco has an Instagram cooking page called @tiasvegankitchen where she shares her favorite simple vegan recipes so all of her fans can eat like their favorite professional vegan athlete. In addition to her home-cooked meals, Blanco recently became an ambassador for vegan company Beyond Meat and now she posts Instagram stories and highlights of her favorite meatless meat recipes.

3. Steph Davis: World Leading Professional Rock Climber

Steph Davis has been vegan for 18 years now and says, “there’s nothing in my life that hasn’t become better as a result, from climbing and athletics to mental and spiritual well being.” Davis has competed on some of the most challenging verticle routes on the planet –like Concepcion (5.13), which is known to be one of the hardest pure climbs anywhere. Davis holds the third overall ascent and is the first female to ever make the ascent of the route. Davis described it as her “most technically demanding climb ever.” Davis explained why she went vegan eight years ago when she partnered with PETA. “What can we do to start making changes in a positive way? And if it just so happens that changing our lifestyle leads to environmental benefits, health benefits, economic benefits, and positive social change, then all the better. One thing I’ve learned is you don’t have to do or be anything you don’t want to be, and you can change anything in your life just by starting to do it. It’s you who chooses who and what you are, by the things you think and the things you do.” She goes on to add, “no one says you have to become a “perfect” vegan overnight. But why not start making small changes and see how it feels? I believe it’s the small choices people make that have the biggest power to change, and nothing is more simple yet also more far-reaching than changing how and what you choose to eat. We’re all here for a short time, in the end, and living a well-intentioned and compassionate life seems like what ultimately matters the most, the only real goal that I aspire to.”

4. Venus Williams: Tennis Great

Tennis champion Venus Williams swears that making the switch to veganism was one of the factors that helped to improve her performance and get over an auto-immune disease. The tennis star went vegan back in 2011 when she was diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome, a debilitating autoimmune disease with a range of symptoms from joint pain to swelling, numbness, burning eyes, digestive problems, and fatigue. She chose to eat plant-based to recover to her formerly healthy self, and it worked so she stuck to it. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion recovers faster on a plant-based diet now, compared to how she felt back when she ate animal protein. When you have an auto-immune disease you often feel extreme fatigue and random body aches and for Venus, a plant-based diet provides energy and helps her reduce inflammation. The Beet reported on Willaim’s diet and what she normally eats in a day to stay healthy, fit, and win more matches. Talking about her favorite dinner meal, Williams adds, “sometimes a girl just needs a donut!”

5. Mike Tyson: The First Heavyweight Boxer to Hold the WBA, WBC, and IBF Titles

Mike Tyson recently said he is “in the best shape ever” thanks to his vegan diet. The boxing legend then announced he’s getting back into the rings after 15 years, to fight against Roy Jones, Jr. in California later this fall. Tyson went vegan ten years ago after dealing with health complications and in the wake of having cleaned up his life: “I was so congested from all the drugs and bad cocaine, I could hardly breathe.” Tyson said, “I had high blood pressure, was almost dying, and had arthritis.” Now, the 53-year-old powerhouse is sober, healthy, and fit. “Turning vegan helped me eliminate all those problems in my life,” and “I’m in the best shape ever.” His new trainer agrees: Watching Iron Mike’s speed during recent training sessions, observed: “He has the same power as a guy who is 21, 22-years old.”

6. Chris Paul: The NBA’s Newest Vegan Who Was Influenced by The Game Changers

Oklahoma City’s point guard Chris Paul decided to ditch meat and dairy and was asked join on as a co-executive producer for the popular documentary, The Game Changers. For breakfast, Paul enjoys oatmeal with plant-based milk and nut butter. For lunch, he fuels up with pasta or brown rice with Beyond Meat sausage, grilled vegetables, and a curry sauce. His chef told USA Today, “The main thing is, we try to keep it as light and clean as possible for his normal routine, with organic ingredients. Anything that can minimize body inflammation. Chris is always worrying about what he can and can’t eat.” So far it appears he’s getting it right. In an exclusive interview with The Beet’s Awesome Vegans columnist Elysabeth Alfano, Paul said eating a plant-based diet helps him keep up with players half his age.

7. Colin Kaepernick: Former (future?) NFL Player and Social Activist

In 2016, Kaepernick made the switch to veganism with his longtime girlfriend to recover from a series of injuries that had him down for the count. The Beet recently reported on how this dietary switch has allowed Kaepernick to stay strong and healthy. Now, he’s in the gym building muscle and looks fitter than ever. But will he be picked up? The professional football player claims that a vegan diet makes him feel “always ready” to perform his best on the field.

8. Cam Newton: New England Patriots’ Newest Quarterback is Vegan

Cam Newton just replaced Tom Brady, who also follows a mostly plant-based diet, as the New England Patriot’s QB, after having made the plant-based switch back in March 2019. The NFL Star first decided to ditch meat and dairy to recover quicker from injuries when he learned that a plant-based diet is proven to help reduce inflammation. “I’ve seen such a remarkable change in the way my body responds to the food that I eat,” Newton told PETA for his recent partnership for a new campaign called, “Built Like a Vegan,” proving that you don’t need to eat meat to be strong. Newton enjoys a meat-free burger on a pretzel bun, heavy on pickles and sauce. He adds: “People often ask, ‘How do you get your protein?’ I just say, ‘I get it in the same way you do, but it’s fresher and cleaner.’ ” Newton shares how to do it: “My advice to a person who wants to become vegan is to eat on schedule. If you can eat on a schedule, you won’t miss [a meal or crave meat] or think anything different, and you’ll be alright.”

9. Elijah Hall: American Sprinter Training for The 2021 Tokyo Olympics

Elijah Hall says about his vegan diet: “Going vegan was the best decision” he has ever made. Hall holds records in the indoor 200 meters and was training for the Tokyo this summer when it got postponed by a year due to the pandemic. Hall said “the effects that it’s having on my body are amazing. Becoming a plant-based athlete has opened many doors to my health and my training.” We predict he’ll only get faster in the next 11 months and break records, come home with golf and be the world champion in 12 months.

10. Morgan Mitchell: Omplyian Sprinter Who Won her First Title at 2014 Australian National Championships

Five-years ago, Morgan Mitchell went vegan and it made her faster, leaner and happier. Last year she was featured in the plant-based athletes documentary The Game Changers and said, “Being vegan has helped me immensely. I don’t feel sluggish like I did when I was eating meat, and my recovery from training really took off. It felt like an overall cleanse for my body, and I started seeing greater results on the track.” Now Michelle is committed for the planet as well. “Ultimately helping the environment and not contributing to animal cruelty was a big thing for me, too. That was my initial reason for going vegan, and the rest of the benefits were just added bonuses.” Mitchell describes what she eats in a day for enhanced performance and more energy to win sprints. “I like to make sure I have three different types of protein in there. I use tofu, beans, and mushrooms, along with spinach, vegan cheese, and hash browns,” she says. “I also love to add Beyond Meat for more flavor, which is a great source of plant protein as well. That usually keeps me full for the better part of the day,” she told Well + Good.

11. Lewis Hamilton: Formula One Driver Who Credits His Vegan Diet For Allowing Him to Be Victorious

“We were taught that eating animal products was good for us but we’ve been lied to for hundreds of years,” said Lewis Hamilton. The Beet reported on Hamiltion’s vegan diet quoting The New York Times that he credits his new plant-based diet with making the difference in his career. Hamilton gave up processed food and animal products for vegetables, fruit, nuts, grains, because of his strong compassion for animals, for the benefit of the environment, and his own health. Hamilton isn’t the only vegan in his family. His dog Rocco is fully vegan and Hamilton says he’s “super happy” on Rocco’s very own IG post. Earlier this year, Hamilton gave up his private jet because he said it’s a big pollutant and aims to live a sustainable lifestyle. Back in February, he started a line of sustainable clothing with Tommy Hilfiger at London Fashion Week.

12. Patrik Baboumian: Arguably The Strongest Man in The World

Featured in The Game Changers for his elite strength and his superhuman ability to lift a car, Patrik Baboumiam is one of the strongest men in the world and also happens to be vegan. Baboumian lifted 358 pounds in the 2009 German log lift nationals. Back in 2014, Baboumiam partnered with PETA in his campaign “Want to be Stronger” describing powering yourself with plants and how you can build muscle without eating meat. One of his 2019 PETA campaigns showed him posing with crossed arms and leaves in his mouths with the text: “The world’s strongest animals are plant-eaters: Gorillas, buffaloes, elephants and me.” Bahoumiam’s diet consists of a dairy-free shake for breakfast with 8 grams of protein and 0 carbohydrates. For lunch, he enjoys vegan sausage, falafel, low-fat oven fires, peppers, and more grilled veggies. He normally eats 250 grams of carbs and 90 grams of protein just for lunch. Dinner includes vegetables cooked potatoes, and tofu. If you want to eat like Boubanian, he reports his food diary on his blog BarBend.

13. Arnold Schwarzenegger: Former Proessional BodyBuilder, Producer, The Game Changers, and former Governor of California

Here’s a guy who has worn many hats: Bodybuilder, Terminator, California Governor, and now vegan and advocate for the plant-based lifestyle. Arnold Schwarzenegger ditched meat and dairy and has proven that you don’t need to eat animal products to be strong, healthy and reverse symptoms of heart disease. Now 73, he had a pulmonary valve replacement 1997 due to a congenital defect and underwent emergency open-heart surgery in 2018 to replace the valve again. He then changed his eating and fitness habits and now extolls the virtues of plant-based eating for the environment as well as health reasons. He is a producer of The Game Changers (a movie with many masters) and an advocate for going vegan for health, the environment and the sake of animals (he posts on IG with his pet donkey and miniature pony, both household dwelling animals). Schwarzenegger said last year: “Right now, seven million people are dying every year. That is alarming and everyone in the government has the responsibility to protect the people…. 28 percent of the greenhouse gasses come from eating meat and from raising cattle, so we can do a much better job.”

14. Scott Jurek: Named One of The Greatest Ultra-Marathoner’s Of All Time Read More: 20 Who Athletes Swear by a Plant-Based Diet to Boost Performance

Jurek is an extreme ultra-marathon runner who has won the Hardrock Hundred, the Badwater Ultramarathon, the Spartathlon, and the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run (you get the idea). Jurek has been vegan for almost two decades, after easing into it by cutting out meat in college, he slowly stopping seafood and finally giving up all animal products once he realized that eating this way made him feel healthier and happier. To run such an extreme amount of miles, you need to fuel your body with plant-based foods that will give you enough energy and carbohydrates to go the distance. The goal is to eat 5,000-6,000 calories of plant-based foods daily. Jurek outlined his plant-based diet in an interview with Bon Appetite. Instead of waking up to a hot cup of coffee to boost energy, he prefers to drink tea and a green smoothie with spirulina or chlorella and a host of other ingredients. He adds bananas, frozen pineapple slices, or mangoes, brown rice and pea protein, (for protein) to rebuild what’s lost in training. This is not just any smoothie.

15. Alex Morgan: USA Soccer Star, Plays for the Orlando Pride of the NWSL

Soccer star, Alex Morgan is one of the beloved members of the USA National Team that won the World Cup and has shown that the female players deserve to get equal pay as their male counterparts by the US Soccer Federation. She is also an animal rights advocate and longtime vegan, having given up meat when she decided that “it didn’t feel fair to have a dog, and yet eat meat all the time,” referring to her adorable pup Blue. Morgan aims to eat 90 grams of plant-based protein daily to stay fit and lean, especially for her workouts and on the field. Morgan admitted that breakfast was difficult because “a lot of the things I love like pancakes and French toast had dairy and eggs.” But now she enjoys oatmeal with nut butter and berries, smoothies, rice, quinoa, veggies, black beans, protein shakes, Mediterranean food, Impossible burgers, Mexican beans, and sauteed veggie burritos, she told USA Today.

16. Paul Rabil: Pro Lacrosse Player: A Vegan Diet Helped Alleviate His Sciatica

Paul Rabil who played for the Boston Cannons and the New York Lizards of Major League Lacrosse, ditched meat and dairy after his 2019 season ended and revealed he’s now “officially” vegan on YouTube. “At first [switching to a plant-based diet] was to help solve some pain and trauma that I was going through. Over the last two years, I’ve had two herniated discs…. and that has led to a ton of shooting pain down my legs, its called sciatica,” Rabil explains the purpose of his diet switch. He adds: “I’ve tried to a lot of things; I’ve had a number of cortisone shots; I’ve done physical therapy for two years. And I reached a place where I was thinking ‘okay maybe I can solve this with nutrition because a lot of our pain stems from inflammation. Within a few weeks, I started noticing a lot of alleviation so I started focusing and doubling down more on veganism”

17. Hannah Teter: 2006 Olympic Snowboard Gold Medalist

Hannah Teter won Olympic gold and silver in the halfpipe and is also a seven-time XGames medalist. She changed her diet after watching the documentary, Earthlings when she discovered how “horrible” factory farming is. After a strict vegetarian diet, Teter liked the way she performed and believes that her diet helped her win gold at the 2006 games. She now considers herself “plant-based” and in an interview with the Huffington Post, Teter said, “I feel stronger than I’ve ever been, mentally, physically, and emotionally. My plant-based diet has opened up more doors to being an athlete. It’s a whole other level that I’m elevating to. I stopped eating animals about a year ago, and it’s a new life. I feel like a new person, a new athlete.”

18. Nick Kyrgios: Professional Tennis Champion Ranked 40 in The World

Djokovic is not the only tour player to go plant-based. Nick Kyrgios shared that he does not eat meat anymore because of his strong compassion for animals. During the time of the Australian wildfires, the Aussie native explained: “I’ve been passionate about animal welfare for some time now. I don’t eat meat or dairy anymore. That’s not for my health, I just don’t believe in eating animals.” “I tried a vegan diet a couple of years ago but with all the travel I do, it was hard to stick to it. Since then I’ve managed to make it work, and I’ve been vegetarian for quite a while. “Seeing the footage of these animals suffering from the fires only reinforces why I’ve chosen this diet. When I see these terrible photos, I can’t comprehend eating meat.”

19. Matt Frazier: Ultra-Marathoner Credits Vegan Diet For Breaking Personal Records

Matt Frazier has run 27 ultra-marathons in his career so far and continues to write about the endurance strength of being a vegan athlete in his personal blog, which he started 11 years ago: No Meat Athlete. The Beet recently interviewed Frazier about his vegan journey and how to be a successful athlete on a plant-based diet. When asked about the first time he ditched meat Frazier replied, “I had already cut 90 minutes off my first marathon time. I was still 10 minutes away from the Boston Marathon qualifying time. I had plateaued, and I was not sure how I was going to find 10 minutes. [Plant-based eating] was what I was missing. That’s what it took. The other big noticeable difference to me [after going vegan] was I stopped getting injured. Injuries had always been a big part of my running journey. When I became vegan, it was around the time I ran three 50-milers and a 100-miler. I didn’t have any injuries. If it’s done right, [plant-based diets] can really help you recover faster.”

20. Michaela Copenhaver: Professional Rower, World Record Holder, 10,000m Indoor

Rowing is grueling. It’s known as the toughest endurance sport in the world. The world record-breaking female rower, Michaela Copenhaver went vegan in 2012 for ethical reasons, she told Great Vegan Athletes. “Initially, I just wanted to eat more vegetables. Those things are super good for you, and they’re delicious. Being vegetarian and vegan made me more conscious of how many servings I was getting a day (or not).” When she switched from vegetarian to vegan it was almost accidental: “I was traveling for a regatta in the fall of 2012. I had been vegetarian for 1.5 years already but relied pretty heavily on dairy and eggs. While I was traveling, I was bouncing from couch to couch and had no way to safely store dairy or eggs—so I decided to try a week without them. I felt great, and it wasn’t nearly as scary as I thought. I’ve been vegan ever since.” Now it’s a value system: “Once I stopped eating and using animals, I felt I could finally address a question that had been bothering me for a long time—what right do we have to exploit other creatures? Now, I understand that we have no right, and my motivations are primarily ethical.”

The post Jrue Holiday Prefers a Dairy-Free Diet for Better Sleep, Recovery, and Performance appeared first on The Beet.

Bock and Love’s usual schedule involves catching flights back and forth from New York, where her agency books fashion shoots, to Cleveland where Love holds court. In between the traveling chaos, Bock is busy prepping for 4 am call times, while  Love sticks with his strict workout regime and drill work that helped him become a five-time NBA all-star. The duo has no choice but to rely on proper nutrition to fuel up, with meals served by Bock with the help of Love, who she calls her “sous chef.”

After a Basketball Game, Kevin Love Eats Vegan

Love and Bock try to eat as many fruits and vegetables as they can every meal, but don’t consider themselves plant-based. Bock may be one step closer to following a plant-based diet than Love since she’s had a dairy allergy her whole life, and avoids dairy at all costs. For someone who relies on dairy alternatives, Bock shares her favorites, such as CocoJune plant-based yogurt.

She and Love enjoy experimenting on vegan nights. They get home around 11 pm from 5-hour games because the “meals are easier to digest and we can get to sleep sooner.” Bock finds new recipes from cookbooks or online but she and her soon-to-be husband can’t get enough of Daring Chicken, a meat alternative that tastes close to the real thing. “I will normally whip together a large salad with chickpea croutons and add slices of the plant-based chicken or flip a switch and head in an Asian direction, with flavorful veggie-filled stir-frys we both devour,” she tells The Beet. Now, as an athlete incinerating more calories than the average person, these vegan meals refuel Love just fine, Bock adds.

Kate Bock Ditches All Things Processed Before a Magazine Cover

Bock also uses vegan meals as her go-to diet before her various shoots, whether for a fitness magazine, an SI shoot, or a commercial ad. Her fitness goals couldn’t be more different than those of her fiancé. Bock focuses on eating clean, organic, foods to get lean, since the secret to a successful cover for her is in not feeling or looking bloated. That means never eating airport food or the snacks served on the plane. When Bock travels to private islands to get the picture-perfect aspirational shot for SI, she’s all about hydration on the flight.  She eats before she leaves home and packs her own food, avoiding anything processed.

Here she shares everything she eats in a day, including almond butter pancakes made with Abby’s Better for breakfast on the days when she is not on set. To get the full lowdown on the diet habits of this power couple, we asked  Bock for the details, so now you can incorporate their helpful tricks into your life whether or not you’re looking to add calories like Love or look lean and toned, strong and healthy like Bock.

The Beet:  How would you describe your diet? Are you plant-leaning?

Kate Bock:  It took me years to figure out how to eat in a way that I was satisfied, and had energy. Now when I eat I feel good, and I am enjoying my meals. Finding that balance can be challenging for everyone––no matter what they do in their career, or as their job. But once you figure out a way to eat, that works for you, that you feel good, it just makes everything else so much easier.

I’ve always incorporated almond butter into my eating, and I eat it in so many different ways every single day, whether it’s as a scoop, just a spoonful of almond butter, as a snack on the go, or in a smoothie, or on pancakes, or finding different ways to incorporate it. I always include nut butter. So when I discovered Abby’s and all of their flavors that really just brought a whole new spectrum of options in the almond butter world.

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The Beet:  How did you find the foods that gave you energy and make you feel your best?

Kate Bock: I grew up eating mostly organic food, and I was very lucky that my mom was someone who really focused on giving us food with the least ingredients. We always had lots of fruits and vegetables, and we did eat pretty clean actually as a kid. I was probably more annoyed at that and wished I had more processed foods, like Cheerios and stuff, but now that I’m an adult, I really appreciate that we were taught to eat healthy. I think that really helps me feel more drawn to those foods and notice the difference that when I veered from what I had grown up on, that I didn’t feel as good or my skin didn’t look as good, or I didn’t have energy. Or when you’re having a crash and you eat cookies or crackers or a soda pop with a lot of sugar that it doesn’t actually make you feel better. So I think it just takes time and it’s trial and error to see how you react to different foods and you really understand what they’re doing for you.

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The Beet: What are some of your favorite foods, aside from almond butter?

Kate Bock: I’m dairy-free. I’ve been allergic to dairy since I was a kid, so I don’t do any dairy. I do eat some chicken and fish, but actually, I eat lots of veggies and as many fresh foods as I can. And j just eat things with the fewest ingredients, and I try to make as many things at home as I can.

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The Beet: Since you’re allergic to dairy, what are your favorite alternatives?

Kate Bock: I drink Oatley. I find it’s the best foaming non-dairy milk that I’ve found. So I like Oatley in my coffee, and I like Cocoa June coconut yogurt. They really nailed it. I think they’re the best. I think I try not to specifically look for fake dairy things, I’d rather just eat different options. I do have Kite Hill cream cheese. I do love that actually. It’s a fake dairy cream cheese, but otherwise, I don’t seek out fake dairy.

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The Beet: Before you have a big shoot, how do you eat the day before?

Kate Bock: I drink a ton of water always––for your hair, skin, nails,  everything. That always helps me feel my best. Also, I try to eat early, and not too late. Then I always try to pack food with me on a job, whether it means I’m flying. I never eat food on an airplane, unless it’s my own, and the fresher, the food you can bring the better. On jobs, you just never really know what you’re going to get when you get there. Sometimes they have great catering and sometimes not so much. So I always try to bring at least some snacks or some options in my bag so that I know I’m going to be covered because if you have a really long day and you’re eating, not good quality food, it can really affect you.

The Beet: Would say that you try to avoid all processed foods?

Kate Bock: Yeah. Mostly.

The Beet: And who does the cooking? You or Kevin.

Kate Bock: Me. He can be a sous chef. He does include himself as a sous chef, but he doesn’t take the lead unless it’s on a grill.

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Hailey: What are some of the meals that you guys like to make regularly?

Kate Bock: We eat chicken basically for lunch every day, and we have big salads. I always have a lot of veggies. We make chickpea croutons, black bean croutons. We always have avocado. So we have a bunch of fun salad toppings in the fridge. So you can just throw a salad together really easily on the go here. I have daring fake chicken––it’s my favorite vegan chicken. I like this lime one. And for dinners, we usually do chicken. We do fish or steak, or we have been doing vegan nights on game nights because we get home pretty late after games and eat dinner at 11 or so. And so just to kind of digest more easily and get to sleep sooner we go vegan.

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The Beet: Tell me more about these vegan nights.

Kate Bock: We’ve tried a bunch of different things.  I love to look up new recipes online. We were doing beet noodles and kelp noodles. I liked the daring chicken a lot and just making a big salad or a bit like a stir fry. I love Asian-influenced meals. So anything Thai, I can just kind of make an alternative to the meat and use nuts or daring chicken or just find a way to just avoid the meat aspect of it.

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The Beet: Let’s talk about Abby’s. You love almond butter so much you invested?

Kate Bock:  We love the product, so it really made sense, for both Kevin and I separately and together. And I think when you invest in a brand like this, it’s really important that we care about the brand, and we learn about the brand, and we are actually consumers of the product. So we can kind of help with ideas for the future for different products that we can help promote it, that we cook with it, that we kind of try it and use it in recipes and can give any sort of tips or tricks to the public or back to Abby as some feedback. So it’s kind of been really fun to get involved in the brand and give our opinions and, and really enjoy it.

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The Beet: When did you invest?

Kate Bock: We started trying Abby’s a year or two ago. And then we’ve been working on the investment for the last year.

The Beet: What made you love Abby’s over other nut butter?

Kate Bock: I just find theirs clean. It has not too many ingredients. They really tried to focus on using nature’s ingredients in the product for the flavors. And she has so many different flavors. So almond butter isn’t just almond butter, almond butter is date pecan or French toast or coffee. It can turn into so many different things. When I cook with it, I think it’s just more fun. It kind of gives you a different option for every day, instead of feeling like you’re eating the same thing all the time.

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The Beet: What’s your favorite flavor?

Kate Bock: Mine is coffee almond. I love that one. I could eat spoonfuls of that. Or I can drizzle it on my Coco June yogurts. I put it in smoothies. I love it. I put it on oatmeal. I can just throw that in a bag and have it as a snack on a plane or on a shoot. I just find it so delicious and always something I’m drawn to.

The post NBA’s Kevin Love & Model Kate Bock Share What They Eat on “Vegan Nights” appeared first on The Beet.

When Cheeke first cut out meat and dairy as a teenager he did it to support his sister, who organized an animal rights week at their high school. He recalls his life being completely different then. His body was skinny, lean, built more like a runner, completely the opposite of his current frame, which is closer to the Hulk: Robert carries 220 pounds on his 6-foot frame, and as a bodybuilder, he intentionally bulked up his muscular physique to put on 70 pounds over the first 8 years, which he says should put to rest any doubts about the ability to build muscle on a vegan diet. He has added another 30 pounds since he retired from competitive bodybuilding to reach his all-time biggest frame. His best secret? Cheeke doesn’t take any supplements, aside from Vitamin B-12, and fills up on clean protein from plants, like beans, oats, lentils, and (added those other sources to show more variety of what I really eat) sweet potatoes.

Cheeke’s decision to change his diet was quickly followed by an eagerness to build muscle, add lean body weight, and compete in bodybuilding competitions. He was able to not just compete as a vegan bodybuilder, but win competitions. Cheeke made a ground-breaking impact in the sport of bodybuilding on a plant-based diet in the nearly ten years of competing.

Heading into his 26th year on a plant-based diet he decided that the next phase of his career is going to be devoted to educating others about how to switch to a meat-free diet and thrive. Like many elite athletes fueled by plants, Cheeke is on a mission to help spread the word that plants have all the protein you need. The retired competitive bodybuilder points out that he’s spent a quarter-century of his life ‘debunking the myth’ that you need animal protein to be strong. Cheeke is a true believer in adding more plants to your plate to build strong muscle and wants to inspire others with the compelling stories of plant-based athletes and how a veggie-filled diet helped set world records.

“I weigh 220 pounds, I’m 6 feet tall, and I was born to run. I’m naturally built like a runner, and for me to walk around with all this weight isn’t easy, but one of my goals is to show that you can build muscle on a vegan diet. It’s one of the things that motivates me to keep building strong muscle.”

He wrote the book on how to build muscle on a plant-based diet

Cheeke completed a new book, The Plant-Based Athlete: A Game-Changing Approach to Peak Performance, published by Harper Collins and available in stores everywhere on June 15th. The book focuses on how to train and build muscle on a vegan diet, with the help of other athletes who have shared their stories. It includes tips on meal prep, the basics of plant-based nutrition, and includes stories of dozens of other plant-based athletes, as well as tips from many plant-based experts. “It’s a how-to book, and that’s the great part about it,” he explains. Anyone can do what he did, or get stronger on a vegan diet.

“I asked 60 athletes to tell me their stories of how they became the best at what they do on a vegan diet. The book is also a how-to guide: How to create meal plans, or how to to build muscle, or how to create a new plan for endurance. They tell you how to recover better so you can perform better. Athletes reading this book will learn what their calorie needs are so they can maintain a healthy weight while training. “It turns out that 99% of people don’t know how many calories they consume and expend,” Cheeke says, which is why so many people either lose or gain weight unintentionally.

Cheeke’s co-author is another vegan athlete: Matt Fraizer, who transformed from a casual long-distance runner to an elite athlete by changing his diet. He will be the first to tell you that when he first started running, he sucked. He was brand new to long-distance running and had an audacious goal to run the Boston Marathon, and while he managed to complete a full marathon, it took him more than four and a half hours to complete it, which meant he missed the qualifying cut-off time by an hour and a half. He decided to start a plant-based diet after hearing about aspects of recovery, and by the time he was fully plant-based he qualified for the Boston marathon, squeaking under the wire by one second. But he had shaved off an hour and a half from his first marathon time and reached the goal he set out to achieve.

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Together the vegan runner and vegan bodybuilder have written the book

When we asked Cheeke how he and Frazier met, he said that Frazier attended one of his lectures in Washington D.C. when he was on tour more than a decade ago. “Matt told me that I was one of his original plant-based athlete” inspirations and motivations that helped him change his diet and find his path,” Cheeke said. “I’m truly honored and grateful,” he added.

Frazier approached Cheeke at the conference and ever since then they’ve stayed in touch, now motivating each other to do better. They shared stories and bonded over recipes and training tips. Each of them knows more vegan athletes and they decided to reach into their extensive circles to interview elite plant-based athletes to share their stories, tips, and”) to contribute recipes, and what they got was so much more. The book has recipes and tips from Olympic athletes and World Champions alike, so you can learn what an Olympic figure skater or a world champion cyclist eats on a vegan diet.

“We have a typical day in the life of 25 World-class athletes,” Cheeke says. Sample workouts, their entire routine, from when they wake up through when they go to sleep. The world is a lot different if you’re an Olympic athlete. You fit in multiple workouts, visualization, and if you’re a triathlete, you might spend 100 miles on your bike, or hours in the pool.

“What we hope people take away from each person’s story is the inspiration of how you can be plant-based and train at peak performance. I was especially inspired by Rich Roll, John Joseph, and Rip Esselstyn, who are all in their late 50s and still training and fit. Rip set a world record two years ago, But he seems to say: I’m not slowing down because I’m nearing 60.

And John Joeseph, who is 58, still competes in Ironman triathlons, and is out there training for hours every day, he excelled late in life. These stories serve as a strong example for me and hopefully others, and the expression all three of them use over and over is to keep showing up. You don’t achieve things overnight, it’s actions taken every day that accumulates then you produce the results. We have the blueprint.

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5 Easy Tips on How to Build Muscle From a Vegan Bodybuilder

TIP 1: First know what your calorie needs are. The only way to build muscle is when you have a caloric surplus, that’s just how science works. You may be surprised to know that 99 percent of people don’t know how many calories they consume versus how many calories they expend.

You can’t add mass and muscle when you’re in a calorie deficit. I advise people to use the Harris-Benedict equation or calculator that reveals approximately how many calories they expend every day based on their gender, height, weight, and activity level. Bottom line: Simply eat more calories of good, quality sources and combine that with your regular training in order to build muscle. That’s where it starts.

TIP 2: Secondly, to build muscle, do progressive overload training, meaning that you need to lift weights and do more reps on a regular basis. For example and let’s start small: If you’re pressing 20-pound dumbells, then a week later try pressing 25 pounds, then a week later try 30 pounds and add 5 pounds each week. After a month, you will press a significant amount of weight compared to where you started, and ultimately you will not only build muscle but gain strength.

TIP 3: Eat quality calories with nutrient-dense foods like sweet potatoes, lentils, beans, rice, oats, green vegetables, and other cruciferous vegetables. These foods will suit you better in the long run because they will help energize your workouts and reduce inflammation for better recovery. Overall, getting better nutrition will help your cells and your muscle tissue repair better.

TIP 4: Have some sort of goal in mind. You need an objective. If you’re just spinning your wheels, going through the motions, or if you’re just checking off boxes, then you’re not going to achieve as much as if you set a specific goal. For example, set a goal based on the amount of weight you want to lift, body mass you want to achieve, or reach x milestone by x date. Have a compelling reason why you want to be stronger, build muscle, feel healthier, otherwise, on the days when you’re tired or feel like eating junk food, then you’ll be more inclined to do that and your progress will collapse, and that’s when you start building bad habits.

TIP 5: Have an accountability partner whether that’s a training partner or having a social media buddy where you share your workouts with each other. You can also use an online journal where you keep track of your training like My Fitness Pal where you can log your data. For me, I like to add muscle-building pictures to my online groups and that’s my form of accountability.

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The Beet: How can we convince meat-eaters or anyone for that matter, that plant-based foods have all the protein we need?

Robert Cheeke: There are two ways. The first one is already proven by science. The second one is to lead by example. First, science explains that we can get all the amino acids we need from plants, some in higher amounts and some in smaller amounts, depending on what you eat. At the end of the day, it comes down to your calorie intake. Ask yourself: How many calories a day are you consuming and from what sources do you consume your calories?

Fundamentally and scientifically, you will get all the protein you need because amino acids are the building blocks of protein. The other way to convince people is to show them. For example, I’ve put on one-hundred pounds since I’ve been vegan. I went from 120 pounds to 220, and yes that took a while, but I put on 70 pounds in the first eight years which is about 10 pounds a year. The proof is in the experience and results and that’s not just me. There are countless athletes and champions in bodybuilding, powerlifting, and strength sports like football, mixed martial arts, not just endurance sports like running, skiing, snowboarding, but in “real power” sports. People want to see examples and they want to know that people have done it and how effectively have they done it. The bottom line, show people that it’s possible.

The Beet: In our last interview, you mentioned that you don’t take any supplements. Is that still true and do you think other people should be open to supplements?

Robert Cheeke: Yes, correct. I haven’t taken supplements aside from Vitamin B-12 for the last 10 years, but just recently, actually, three days ago, I started taking Matt Frazier’s Complement supplement because he wrote about it in our book, and it includes Vitamin B-12, Vitamin D, Vitamin K2, DHA + EPA Omega-3 EFAs, and hard to get minerals like zinc, so I’m giving it a try. I don’t take any sports supplements at all, nor have I in a decade and I’m the biggest and strongest I’ve ever been. We don’t need to load up on protein powders but you can if you want if you feel like you need extra protein for whatever reason it is, but you can also get all the protein you need from food. I advise eating more legumes, leafy greens, grains, nuts, and seeds, or nut butters. Eat the things that don’t sound like they are protein-rich foods like sweet potatoes or apples because those kinds of foods all add up and you will get enough protein without thinking about it. I do think everyone could benefit from vitamin B12 and likely from vitamin D– I tend to get outside in the sun a lot. I also recommend people eat more foods with essential fatty acids like flaxseeds.

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Everything a Vegan Bodybuilder Eats in a Day

Breakfast: In the morning I really focus on hydration. I stay up pretty late at night so I get a late start. I like to drink flavored water like Bela Wellness from my Vegan Strong Box. Then, I normally have a banana in the morning as well as an orange, apple, or any other citrus fruit. I don’t like to eat heavy foods in the morning. Sometimes, I’ll have oatmeal with fruit and nuts if I need to eat more calories for that specific day. I do like to drink fruit smoothies sometimes.

Snacks: I keep it simple. I like to eat fruit throughout the day or I’ll have a Lara bar that has 4 or 5 ingredients that are mostly nuts or fruits. Right before I workout, I eat a banana, I digest it easier than any other fruit and it’s filling.

Lunch and Dinner: I like meals like burrito bowls, plant-based sushi, and my wife has been making a lot of those meals, I eat a lot of international cuisines. Thai food, Mexican food, Ethiopian food. Noodle dishes, plant-based burgers–I try to keep it pretty clean. My post-workout is typically dinner because I work out at night.

Robert Cheeke’s Workout Routine is Easier Than You Think

The Beet: What’s your workout routine like? How often do you exercise?

Robert Cheeke: I start my day by walking my dogs for about 30 to 60 minutes. Sometimes I walk uphill or through trails but it’s a good use of cardio. I train 5 to 6 days a week and I lift weights for 60 to 90 minutes depending on the muscle group then every other day I end my workout with 20 to 40 minutes on the stair master and I climb about 100 flights of stairs at a time, I do this for extra cardio.

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The Beet: Let’s talk about your upcoming book: What was the inspiration behind it?

Robert Cheeke: The true inspiration behind the book is to tell the compelling stories of the world’s greatest plant-based athletes. I wanted to shed light on some of the athletes you have probably never heard of before but are so good at what they do. For example, Laura Kline is a multi-sport athlete and the best at what she does. Another example is Darcy Gaither who is a world champion kayaker. She kayaked the entire length of the Amazon River fueled by plants and most recently she ran 40 miles in the Colorado Mountains to celebrate her birthday. I also wanted to highlight some of the more famous vegan athletes most people have heard about like Scott Jurek or Rich Roll who shared their stories on how they achieved the results they have by eating a plant-based diet.

I actually started the book in 2013, I pitched it to publishers and had a literary agent and the concept, and made good progress and the book was almost picked up by a publisher, but it ended up not working out. So, during that time I went back to the basics and I self-published some books. But, as the plant-based athlete awareness grew thanks to all the hard work we’ve done and with the help of The Game Changers, I thought to myself, I think it’s time to try this book again. Writing has always been a passion of mine and something I work really hard at, I’ve been working at it since the third grade. It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to produce a book about this topic so I gave it another shot. I reached out to vegan ultra-marathoner Matt Frazier and we met up in person to talk about the idea. I said to him, “man I’d really love to do this book and be able to write about the best plant-based athletes in the world and really dive into their lifestyles, diets, training, and mindset, I want to know how they think, I want to share their stories on how they became who they are today. I also want to create a how-to method for anyone so if the reader is inspired by these athletes they can apply the methods to their own life, even if they’re not plant-based now–that’s what we aspire to do.”

Frazier agreed to the concept and we spent the last two years working on the project. We landed a major publisher, Harper Collins, that took a lot of hard work that I’m super proud of. We also launched a hardcover book available on Amazon now and in major retailers like Target and Walmart on June 15th.

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The Beet: What’s the most powerful lesson we can all learn from these athletes?

Robert Cheeke: The message is, you have to show up. Day after day, that’s with your training, diet, and goals, you don’t become an athlete overnight and the same goes with getting in shape. What I love most about some of these athletes is that they weren’t even trying to become athletes, they worked hard at overcoming something like drug addiction and found success as an athlete. They showed up every single day and became a champion. One of the themes throughout the entire book is that you have to believe in yourself because others aren’t going to do it for you. You have to believe in yourself and find reasons to show up every day. It comes down to the people who have a mission who outshine the rest of the world. A lot of it comes from mental attitude and mental strength. You need the perseverance to have the desire to achieve high-fitness results.

The Beet: Have you changed something in your life after talking to these athletes?

Robert Cheeke: Great question, I’ve been much more disciplined with my training. I found that I can get a little bit complacent, especially after working on a book for so long. After talking to various athletes, both men and women, I feel more disciplined. I eat more salads even though that sounds cliche but there’s a reason why people do it. I’ve also added the extra cardiovascular exercise of doing the stair master every other day. Those small adjustments that don’t require a ton of effort all add up.

The Beet: Do you have a mantra?

Robert Cheeke: My mantra is inspired by H. Jackson Brown Jr. who said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than the things that you did do.” That’s why I want to help people chase their dreams and achieve their goals. And, that’s why I’ve devoted a quarter-century of my life to veganism because I don’t want to regret not doing the things I love that make a difference in the world around me.

The Top 20 Veggies with the Most Protein

1. Soy Beans

Soybeans are a legume but they are such a great source of protein that we had to lead the veggie list with it. There is more protein in just one ounce of soybeans than a cup of sliced avocado! 1 cup equals Protein – 28.6g Calories – 298 Carbs – 17.1g Fiber – 10.3g Calcium – 175mg

2. Peas

If the pod, that peas are grown in, is split down the middle, that is an indicator they are ripe. Seeds inside the pod vary and can be green, white or yellow. 1 cup equals Protein – 8.6g Calories – 134 Carbs – 25g Fiber – 8.8g Calcium – 43.2 mg

3. Corn

Fresh corn is a great source of energy for those who like to stay active. Protein isn’t all that corn has to offer. Corn provides the body with potassium and B vitamins. 1 cup equals Protein – 5.4g Calories – 177 Carbs – 123g Fiber – 4.6g Calcium – 4.9mg

4. Artichoke Hearts

Artichokes are part of the sunflower family. The fiber in artichoke hearts is great for supporting digestion. 1 cup equals Protein – 4.8g Calories – 89 Carbs – 20g Fiber – 14.4g Calcium – 35.2mg

5. Asparagus

If not properly stored, Asparagus tends to go bad quickly, To elongate freshness, put damp paper towels around the stems, or place the entire asparagus bunch in a cup of water (like flowers) to maintain freshness longer. 1 cup equals Protein – 4.4g Calories – 39.6 Carbs – 7.4g Fiber – 3.6g Calcium – 41.4mg

6. Brussel Sprouts

Brussel sprouts have more Vitamin C than an orange. If your Brussel sprouts have a rancid odor that is an indicator you overcooked them. The smell occurs because the sprouts are composed of a great amount of sulforaphane. 1 cup equals Protein – 4g Calories – 56.2 Carbs – 40g Fiber – 4g Calcium – 56.2mg

7. Broccoli

If you are trying to lose weight broccoli is a great addition to your diet because it consists of 90 water and is also high in fiber. 1 cup (chopped) equals Protein – 3.8g Calories – 54.6Carbs – 11.2g Fiber – 5.2g Calcium – 62.4mg

8. Mustard Greens

Mustard greens provide the body with tons of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K and fiber. Adding steamed mustard greens into your diet has been known to lower cholesterol and reduce inflammation. 1 cup equals Protein – 3.2 g Calories – 21 Carbs – 2.9g Fiber – 2.8g Calcium – 104mg

9. Avocado

Avocado is commonly mistaken as a vegetable but it is technically a fruit. This fruit had to be included in our veggie list because it isn’t just tasty but super nutritious. Avocados are packed with protein but they are a great source of potassium and fiber. Avocados are a great addition to any salad, sandwich and even smoothie! 1 cup equals Protein – 3.0 g Calories – 240 Carbs – 12.8 g Fiber – 10.1g Calcium – 18 mg

Onions are an unappreciated food hero since they provide 20 percent of your daily Vitamin C and deliver an abundance of antioxidants that can reduce inflammation. 1 cup (chopped) equals Protein – 2.9g Calories – 92.4 Carbs – 21.3g Fiber – 2.9g Calcium – 46.2mg

11. Beets

The entire beetroot is edible including the leaves which contain loads of vitamin A, calcium, iron and potassium. Beetroot is high in sugar but is considered one of the most nutritious veggies used in salads and soups. 1 cup equals Protein – 2.8 g Calories – 74.8 Carbs – 17g Fiber – 3.4g Calcium – 27.2mg

12. Oyster Mushrooms

Oyster mushrooms are commonly seen in Chinese dishes. They grow best in a controlled environment indoors. Oyster mushrooms have so many nutrients to offer besides protein such as iron, calcium, zinc and folic acid. 1 cup (raw and sliced) equals Protein – 2.8g Calories – 37 Carbs – 5.6g Fiber – 2.0g Calcium – 2.6mg

13. Bok Choy

Bok Choy is a member of the mustard family. One of the oldest cultivated vegetables in the world, Bok Choy means “white vegetable” and is a great source of vitamins A, C, B6, K, and E, magnesium, potassium, iron, manganese, and calcium. 1 cup equals Protein – 2.7 g Calories – 20.4 Carbs – 3.1g Fiber – 1.7g Calcium – 158mg

14. Green Beans

Green beans are a great source of vitamins B, C and K, and minerals such as magnesium, iron and manganese. Green beans should be cooked before eating, to destroy lectins. China is the biggest grower of green beans in the world, exporting over 15 million tons a year. 1 cup equals Protein – 1.8 g Calories – 31 Carbs – 7 g Fiber – 2.7 g Calcium – 37 mg

15. Cauliflower

The most nutritious way to consume cauliflower is steamed. Don’t get intimidated by orange, purple or green cauliflower. All three types have the same benefits as white cauliflower. 1 cup equals Protein – 2.2g Calories – 28.6 Carbs – 5.4g Fiber – 2.8g Calcium – 19.8mg

16. Turnip

You can eat the entire plant, root and leaves. The turnip root is high in vitamin C and the greens are high in vitamins A, C, E, B6 and K, believed to counter inflammation. Add turnip roots to soup, or mash them. Add them to salads. 1 cup equals Protein – 1.6g Calories – 28.8 Carbs – 6.3g Fiber – 5.0g Calcium – 197mg

17. Alfalfa Sprouts

Alfalfa sprouts might be little but they sure are powerful. Plus they’re quick and easy to grow. They are loaded with Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Iron and more. But because they have been known to carry bacteria, make sure to fully cook alfalfa sprouts if you have a fragile immune system or are pregnant. 1 cup equals Protein – 1.3 g Calories – 8 Carbs – 0.7 g Fiber – 0.6 g Calcium – 10.6 mg

18. Tomatoes

Keep your tomatoes fresher for longer by storing them stem down. When exposed to sunlight the Vitamin C in a tomato will diminish. 1 cup equals Protein – 1.3g Calories – 26.8 Carbs – 5.8g Fiber – 1.8g Calcium – 14.9mg

19. Zucchini

Zucchini has an abundance of potassium, even more than a banana! The reason zucchini isn’t high in calories is that it is made up of 95% water. 1 cup equals Protein – 1.2g Calories – 28.8 Carbs – 7.1g Fiber – 2.5g Calcium – 23.4 mg

20. Spinach

Spinach is filled with Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, fiber and protein. The best part about spinach is you can sauté it, blend it or eat it raw! Spinach is best grown in rainy and cool weather. 1 cup equals Protein – 0.9g Calories – 6.4 Carbs – 1.0 g Fiber – 0.6g Calcium – 27.7 mg

The post How to Build Muscle and Boost Performance, By a Vegan Bodybuilder appeared first on The Beet.

In his 20s, Pilot knew that he couldn’t continue on his miserable path, working around the clock, eating garbage, and feeling both anxious and depressed. It was making him feel so inhuman that something had to give. He came home one day and told his then-girlfriend of two years that he needed to quit his job, that he had enough saved that he wanted to travel and he wanted her to come with him. The next day they decided they would set out on an adventure, back-packing around the world and supporting themselves on their savings. They traveled around Asia, visiting Nepal, Thailand, and China, and made their way to Africa, and eventually South America, enjoying some of the best meatless meals and meeting interesting people from all around the globe.

On this journey to be healthier, both mentally and physically he found out that the food he had been eating at his engineering job was contributing to his physical and mental distress. He watched the documentary Earthlings, which convinced him to try a vegetarian diet. He felt so much better but it was only the first step on his journey to a fully plant-based diet. Six months later, in Nepal, they attended the Gadhimai festival, which takes place every five years, which involves the sacrificial ceremony where animals are slaughtered to please Gadhimai, the goddess of power. That event prompted him to eliminate dairy from his diet and he became vegan.

Switching to a vegan diet was the best thing that’s ever happened to him. He felt lighter, had more energy, and best of all, less depressed because he felt like a better person morally since he wasn’t eating any animal products. He continued his vegan diet for the rest of their travels which took them to over 80 different counties, finally returning to Germany after living in hostiles around the world for five years.

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When they returned from their travels, Pilot had no plans to return back to engineering, but nor did he see his relationship coming to an end. Just as they arrived back home to Germany, they split up after seven years. Pilot was devasted. He went to the gym and began to take all of his anger and frustration out by working out and he would spend 12 hours a day lifting weights and getting his body in shape. He began to feel good about himself. For months, his daily routine was the same: Wake up, head to the gym, come home, eat a vegan dinner, go to bed. He was perfectly fine with his schedule, but he needed some type of spark in his life. He decided to move to Thailand, his favorite travel destination that he had been longing to return to.

He packed up his life and began a fresh start in Bangkok, Thailand, where he fell in love with the beautiful landscape, spent time in nature, loved the people, and finally loved his own life all over again. In his new city, Pilot continued to workout and saw incredible results with the combination of heavy lifting and a plant-based diet. The only thing that was missing was a job. He wanted to do something he loved, so he started his own personal training company called Steve Pilot Fitness, which he grew over the years to help others meet their fitness goals and learn how to eat more plant-based.

Pilot has been on the cover of several magazines including Muscle and Fitness, and most people are shocked to learn that he has built his muscular physique without eating any animal protein. His client list is growing, and he teaches virtually and in person. One favorite class is a hand-stand class every Wednesday, to better his own hold time and introduce the strength concept to others.

He became known as the handstand trainer

He found that standing on his head helped his anxiety, calmed him down, “numbed his mental torment” and built upper body strength. Now he is known as the trainer who teaches others how to use handstands to help them feel better mentally and physically as well. You can watch his classes on YouTube. He does up to five hours of handstands a day. But you can start with a minute or two and build up your wrist strength with his easy tips.

We spoke to Pilot, now 40 and ten years into his vegan journey, about his incredible transformation, and he shared exactly what he eats in a day.  He hopes his struggles inspire others to make small changes that add up to a happier life. He tells people how he overcame heartbreak, depression, and anxiety, and teaches them how to get in the best shape of their life, without any animal products.

The Beet: Why did you go vegan originally?

Steve Pilot: I was feeling depressed, stressed, and anxious for most of my life, and when I quit my job I wanted a healthier existence, so I researched all types of diets and came across the vegetarian diet and watched the documentary Earthlings.  It was almost immediate when I decided to eliminate meat from my diet after everything I learned. Then, when I traveled to Nepal and went to the Gadhimai festival I had to eliminate every animal product from my diet including dairy so I went from vegetarian to vegan in less than six months. It’s been about 10 years since I went vegan.

The Beet: What did you notice or how did you feel after you went vegan?

Steve Pilot: I felt amazing. I had more energy, my spirits were lifted, and I felt like a better person now that I wasn’t killing animals or hurting them. Now, I feel my best. My entire physique has changed and if the diet actually helps me get stronger in the gym, I don’t feel sluggish. My clients who switch their diets, all notice a difference in the skin as well as improved physical performance. I’ve had some women talk about how their acne cleared up once they went vegan and they feel so much better.

The Beet: What’s the best thing about a vegan diet?

Steve Pilot: It has opened so many doors for me. It actually inspired me to go learn about the culture and the foods people eat around the world and that’s when I traveled to almost 80 different countries. Eating vegan has also impacted my career because I feel so good about helping others eat healthier and also workout in a smarter way, without inflammation.

The Beet: What do you eat every day, on a vegan diet, as a bodybuilder?

Steve Pilot: I practice intermittent fasting, so my first meal is at lunchtime, unless I workout really early and I’m starving I’ll eat a banana.

My lunch is always tofu, chickpeas, brown rice, broccoli, and pumpkin.

Then, I’ll have a fruit smoothie at 4 pm and a coffee.

Dinner is always a homecooked meal. If I’m on the go, it’s a big bowl of oats with different toppings and since I’m a single guy I don’t like to cook big meals.

I actually have a favorite cookbook called Vegan for Beginners where you can find protein-packed vegan meals for singles.

The Beet: What are the secrets to better performance and building stronger muscles?

Steve Pilot: Well, I train on an empty stomach which works really well for me because when I’m lifting or doing handstands, I want to be in a balancing position and I can’t tuck my stomach in all the way [if I recently ate]. I also don’t eat as much as most people think. I keep it very simple and my body adjusts to my eating schedule. Intermittent fasting helps a lot with digestion so I never feel bloated or heavy.

Doing handstands every day has helped me get through a lot and people think it looks so easy but if you kick your legs up against a wall, it’ll be hard to hold it for a minute straight, and I’m not using a wall. Handstands are really good for you because you’re bringing the blood from your feet to your head and it helps with circulation. I think it also makes me a happier person. There are seven billion people in the world and only 100 people can do what I do with handstands. I hold them for several minutes for at least five hours a day.

The Beet: Do you have a mantra or words you live by?

Steve Pilot: Yes, a few. Improve your movement capacity daily, become the best version of yourself, and get fit, stay healthy, and eat plants.

Your Guide to The Best Plant-Based Protein Powders: We Tasted 9 Bestsellers

1. Vega Protein & Greens

The base of Vega is pea protein, brown rice protein, and sacha inchi (a seed eaten like a nut) protein. One serving of Vega has only 80 calories and 15g of protein. Vega’s protein powder is a great choice for anyone who struggles to get enough greens in their diet. The proteins are combined with alfalfa powder, spinach powder, broccoli powder, and organic kale powder giving you 2 servings of veggies in one scoop. The taste of this protein was described as “artificial” whereas others thought it tasted like birthday cake. We recommend adding this into a smoothie, but luckily all you have to add is fruit since Vega has the greens covered. This low-cal powder won’t break the bank at $1.20 a scoop.

2. TB12 Vanilla Plant-Based Protein

Tom Brady’s TB12 pea protein powder consists of simple ingredients with no additives. For anyone who is allergic to soy or nuts, TB12’s pea protein-based powder is a great option. It’s hard to say no to this powder with 24 grams of protein. Don’t hide this powder in a smoothie, mix it with water and you will immediately see a thick consistency resembling a vanilla milkshake. Not only does it look like a milkshake, but it tastes like it too. TB12 recommends drinking this powder up to 20 minutes after a workout for the best recovery. You have to order this powder on the TB12 website since it isn’t available in stores or on Amazon. Less than $2 per serving!

3. PlantFusion Complete Protein

PlantFusion is a blend of peas, artichokes, algae, and superfoods. The deep yellow-gold coloring of PlantFusion’s protein powder set this brand apart from the rest. Some testers found the flavor wasn’t overwhelming, making it a great addition to a smoothie, whereas others felt the powder was sweet. For those of you who aren’t a fan of Stevia, buy the natural, no-stevia blend. This protein powder is low in fat, and carbs, making it a great choice for anyone wanting to lose weight while still getting enough protein (21g a serving). PlantFusion’s powder has a sweetness not everyone enjoyed since Stevia is an ingredient. $1.20 a scoop, makes this a deal!

4.Vivo Perform

Vivo Perform is the most superfood-packed protein powder of this bunch. Athletes will appreciate this protein powder made of pea protein, hemp protein, plant-based BCAA (branched-chain amino acids), reishi mushrooms, acai berries, lucuma fruit powder, maca powder, and turmeric extract. Vivo Perform is $59 on Amazon so go straight to their website for a cheaper price at $51 for the pouch pictured below. With 25g of protein and complete amino acid profile helps athletes to build, perform, recover, and absorb. If you want a quick protein drink after a workout, use a shaker bottle when mixing or this powder will stick to the sides of the cup. In the mood for a protein-filled breakfast? Add to your oatmeal or smoothie bowl with this recipe.

5. Elevate Plant-Based Performance Protein

Elevate is a pea and hemp protein-based powder that also is made with sweet potato powder. For anyone looking to convert from whey protein powders, Elevate is the plant-based protein for you. This powder is meant to be used in beverages such as smoothies. The thin consistency doesn’t mix well with water and becomes chalky. If you aren’t in the mood for a protein smoothie, add a scoop to your pancake batter. For a complete recipe check out Elevate’s Chocolate Chip Banana Protein Pancakes. This powder is another affordable choice at $1.60 a scoop.

6. Momentous Absolute Zero

Momentous protein powder is a combination of pea and rice protein concentrate. Testers liked the initial scent of mint and thought it was refreshing. This powder is perfect for anyone who likes sweeter drinks. Momentous powders are NSF International Certified for Sport, which means the product label is 100% accurate and there are no banned substances present in this powder. This is one of the pricier protein powders at $60 a tub but is worth it for athletes looking for a clean and effective post-workout powder. We recommend either mixing with water or adding to a smoothie for a more nutrient-dense drink. The priciest powder of the bunch at $3 per serving.

7. Garden of Life

Garden of Life is made of pea, buckwheat, amaranth sprout, and brown rice. We didn’t love the green color of the powder or the way it smelled but once we mixed it with water, it tasted surprisingly good. Garden of Life is the easiest to mix with water, plan-based milk or in a smoothie. The vanilla flavor isn’t overpowering so you can add this to any combination of smoothies and not be overwhelmed by the taste of vanilla. And it’s only $1.20 per scoop!

8. Tone It Up Plant-Based Protein Vanilla

Tone It Up protein powder is a blend of sunflower seeds and pea protein. The minute we opened the container, everyone loved the smell of this powder. Tone It Up is known to be a great addition to baked goods. The next time you make your protein muffins, add Tone It Up to the mix. We don’t suggest adding this powder with just water but instead a smoothie with fruits and veggies.

9. Nuzest Clean Lean Protein

The name of this powder says it all. Nuzest is the cleanest protein powder since it is made out of only 3 simple ingredients: Pea protein isolate, natural vanilla flavor, and thaumatin (a low-calorie sweetener). For $45, you are supposed to get 20 servings out of one container, but at a glance that didn’t seem accurate. This high protein, low carb powder is perfect to blend with plant-based milk and ice. The consistency is smooth and adds thickness to any protein shake.

The post He Beat Depression, Became a Trainer. His Vegan Diet & Secret Move to Destress appeared first on The Beet.

The 2019 cross country journey began two years after Balenger left his job running a pizza shop in Austin (he was not plant-based at the time). He moved to Denver with his fiancee, where he hoped to find a new passion and job. In 2018, a year after he had settled in Colorado, to his surprise, he still “felt lost” but had a desire to pick-up the hobbies that had made him feel his happiest in the past. One of those was running, something he had always enjoyed. He first started by signing up for a few marathons and ultras, to get back on his A-game. For a race in 2018, he flew to Copper Cannon, Mexico to run a marathon, where he met Patrick Sweeney, who inspired him to change his life. In their brief conversation at the race, Sweeney, who is also vegan, mentioned that he had just finished a run across the country in a “chill” manner, Balenger recalls. Sweeney was the first to complete the run on a vegan diet. In that single moment, it dawned on Balenger that he had the ability to do the same thing.

After the marathon, Balenger flew back home and became obsessed with the idea of running from California to New York City, and he wasted no time in starting his training. “I became obsessed with the idea so quickly, and I think that type of intensity is required to pull off something like this.” The next morning, he told his fiancee, “I’m going to run across the country.” He told her this on March 18, 2019, “I marked my words,” Balenger says and exactly one year and a day later he started his run from Huntington Beach. He ended in Central Park on May 29th, 2020, surrounded by well-wishers who wanted to celebrate his accomplishment.

Along the way, he would cross 14 different states and experience all kinds of weather conditions. To complete a run so extreme, Balenger notes that his daily routine was devoted to training, improving his stride, dieting, and searching for sponsorships. He decided to go plant-based eight months before the run, after reading Scott Jurek’s book, Eat & Run, a best-seller that highlights the importance of a plant-based diet and athletic performance. Balenger quickly ditched all meat and dairy to reduce inflammation in his body and improve recovery times. He became a firm believer that a vegan diet was the smartest way to train. A few days after eating only vegetables, grains, and legumes, Balenger couldn’t believe how energized he felt, and said, “the reason I was so motivated to wake up every morning and train was that I didn’t feel any soreness or pain anymore, the way I felt when I was eating meat.”

Starting off from Huntington Beach, He Ran All the Way to New York City

On March 19, 2019, Balenger double knotted his sneakers, and started his journey in Huntington Beach California, with a crew driving a camper by his side for his home on the road. Balenger started his route by running north towards Los Angeles, then turned east and ran across Arizona, which he remembers simply as being “boiling” hot, and then headed East through New Mexico, where he faced his biggest hurdle as he began to suffer debilitating shin splints and tendinitis in both legs. He assessed the excruciating pain and feelings of doubt, to the point where he nearly dropped out and considered flying back home. Instead of sleeping in the camper that night, he booked a hotel room and his fiancee flew in to meet him for support and motivation, which was desperately needed. In the morning, he actually felt worse: freezing, sore, and painfully hopeless. But instead of giving up, his fiancee, Shelley, talked him into continuing. “You can’t just drop everything you’ve trained for,” she said. She helped push him out the door to get back on the road, to complete the journey he put his entire heart and soul into.

Back on his feet, as Balenger ran east, the daylight lasted longer into the evening. But it was a brutal spring and the weather never seemed to cooperate. He ran through snow, rain, sleet, and as he headed to Oklahoma and crossed the Appalachians, hail greeted him. But so did people. Fans who followed his progress came out to wave and greet him all along the route. Many of them jumped up and jogged next to him for moral support for a few miles. Balneger was having spiritual, life-changing thoughts. As he ran through rural areas with miles of farmland, he felt a personal connection with cows and wildlife. At that moment, he was so grateful for his entirely vegan diet since it checked off all three boxes, It was better for his health and his training; it was safer for the environment and the beautiful landscape, and it afforded the farmed animals a small amount of protection, at least from his consumer dollars.

When Balenger approached Central Park, at last, he ran down Park Drive and as he finished his last few miles, the emotions all came rushing in. What he had just accomplished hit him hard, like a physical wall. He felt down, not happy but sad it was over. He had never thought that accomplishing his goal would leave him feeling depressed but he did. When you work so hard for something for such a long period of time, when it’s over you feel like you’ve lost your identity. What now? What next? Where is the sense of purpose? There were also moments of feeling great, and a new sense of confidence, excitement, and joy that what he had just done will be part of him forever. No one can take that away from him. He will always be the first person to run across the country fueled by a purely vegan diet.

The Beet spoke to Balenger on Zoom, where he shared his entire story, from start to finish. He elaborated on what he eats and how he gets enough protein and calories on a vegan diet, plus he shares what he ate during the run, and the health benefits he felt. Balenger credits his vegan diet with helping him cross the finish line and not give up. He believes that if he had not changed his diet, before the run, he never would have finished, and probably would have given up in that hotel room.

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The Beet: You ran across America, what was the motivation or inspiration for doing it?

Robbie Balenger: I came out of a career in the restaurant industry, I felt lost with what I wanted to do next. So, I moved to Denver with my fiance and started running more. I raced in a couple of ultras and marathons and really started refining my food choices. Once I learned about a plant-based diet, and athletes who really believed in the power of plant-based food, I tried it myself and I had a complete gut-check.

My race results and running performance improved significantly when I changed my diet. I then felt like I had more of an altruistic approach to my life. From there, I got really passionate about how food choices affected our well-being and decided what to do next with my life. So, I ran Copper Cannon in Mexico and met Patrick Sweeney who told me he ran across the country in 2018, and I was very impressed because he was such a chill guy, and made it sound attainable. That helped me figure out that I wanted to do the same thing, and I got really obsessed with the idea quickly, which I think is required to pull off something like this. At the time, I was no one in the running world, I was just a guy who worked at a restaurant, so finding sponsorships and getting people to join my journey was my focus.

The Beet: Amazing. Tell us more about the run. When, where, and how did you start?

Robbie Balenger: So on March 15, 2018, I said out loud that I wanted to run across the country. At the time, I’ve never heard of anyone else running this far except for Patrick and the fictitious Forest Gump. So one day when I came home from a normal run, I told my fiance that I wanted to run across the United States. She looked confused and said, “what are you talking about?” So, I trained for a year and one day and talked to maybe 2 or 3 people who have run across the country. Then, onMarch 16, 2019, I set out in Huntington Beach for the run and eventually made it to Central Park in New York City 75 days later. Every day, I averaged 43 miles and crossed through 14 states.

The Beet: How did you plan your route?

Robbie Balenger: When you do a run like this, you have to plan your route around specific criteria. You have to run on roads with no traffic, and they have to have large shoulders. Now, you can’t touch interstates because pedestrians are not allowed on them. There was actually a moment where the road I was supposed to be running on got floated and I jumped on the interstate and a cop pulled me over and picked me up. It’s best to plan out a route using Strava heat maps.

I went in a North-East direction but some roads didn’t allow that. So I started in Huntington Beach then slipped through California, ran through Arizona, then headed north to New Mexico and Oklahoma, then up toward New York, and finally finished in Central Park.

The Beet: Where did you sleep?

Robbie Balenger: So, I had a crew with me the entire time. They had a camper attached to the van they drove and that’s where I slept. My team took good care of me and made sure I was fed and hydrated. I consumed 8,000 calories a day and relied on my 1,000 calorie smoothie to help round-out my calories. It was made with coconut milk, vegetables, peanut butter, and soylent meal replacer. I ran 5-mile increments and stopped to take a water break or refuel. For dinner, I would eat a hearty meal like vegetables and grains, and wake up in the morning and do it all again. The timing of my run varied because as you’re heading east in March, the days were getting longer so I didn’t need to get up early to maximize daylight. Depending on the grade, each day it would take me around 11.5 to 16 hours to run.

The Beet: How were the weather conditions? It was Spring, right?

Robbie Balenger: I saw it all. Leaving Huntington Beach was beautiful and the weather in LA was spectacular, I caught a beautiful sunrise that looked like a neon sky. Then, I hit Mojave desert and it was boiling hot. When I crossed the highest point of my run in Taos New Mexico, it was snowing. It snowed through Oklahoma then it got really humid around the Appalachian, so I can’t think of a type of weather that I didn’t see every day.

The Beet: On a personal note, I have to run with music, what did you listen to?

Robbie Balenger: At times, I would run with music and I thought I would get into podcast and audiobooks but I didn’t really so I either listened to music or ran with someone else. I had people that would run with me at times for a couple of hours. In California, people would come out and run with me, then it got really rural and I didn’t see anyone for a while. As we got closer to the East Coast, people started coming out, like we had a real Forest Gump moment as there were like 5 people running behind me.

The Beet: What was your recovery experience like? This is no walk in the park.

Robbie Balenger: Recovery was not something I anticipated like my assumption was that if you run for 11 1/2 to 16 hours a day, then I would just pass out go to sleep. But, that wasn’t the case. In the first seven days, I think I slept about 10 hours and I was dealing with a lot of pain in my glutes and quads. Eventually, we were able to figure out a routine of ways to overcome that. I took Tylenol, CBD, and melatonin. This helped me wind down in the evening and fall asleep. I was really tired the first month but things got easier after that.

I got injured on day 7or 8 and I developed shin splints in my left shin, which lasted five days. I got really scared that I would have to end my run, but I made up my mind that I was going to finish, I didn’t have any desire to quit. On day 19, I got tendinitis in my right leg which also really scared me and I wasn’t sure if I could continue. I ended up getting over that and on the 25th day, it was super cold, and decided to get a hotel room. It was one of the three times I got a hotel room to rest.

I remember the next day when I woke up in the hotel room, it was 20 degrees out and my fiancee was there at the time. There was no part of me that wanted to leave the hotel room and it took my fiancee to push me out the door to get back on the road. I think that was my lowest point of motivation. That was in New Mexico in a town called Cimarron, just east of Taos.

The Beet: Ok, let’s go back a bit. How did you train, and prep your body to run this far?

Robbie Balenger:  I broke everything up into three parts essentially. At first, I ran 10 miles every day and took the 15th day to rest. I did that for about four months then I continued to increase my mileage from 70 miles a week to about 100 or 120. Then, in the third part, I ran a 100k route and did a 50-mile race. Two weeks later, I did another race and continued the pattern for about four months. I needed to prove that this kind of mileage was a normal distance for me and I would need to do between 45 to 50 miles a day. Someone told me this years ago, the most beneficial thing that you can do as a runner is to stay consistent.

The Beet: When you made it to New York City. How did you feel?

Robbie Balenger: I definitely have more confidence in myself. Also, I feel legitimized as a runner, that’s a really interesting experience. To be perceived as a guy who ran across the country when before I just another person who signs up for a marathon or an ultra and gets really excited about it. Now, it’s like having that as my identity is something I really appreciate.

There was a reckoning that happened because when you do something for such a sustained period of time when you finish, you feel like you don’t really know what to do with anyone, or who you are. My only focus for so long was training to run a long-distance and running across each state. There was definitely some emotion, like depression and anxiety that hit me right after I finished the run, and it lasted for 6 to 8 months.

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The Beet: Let’s talk about your diet. When did you start eating vegan?

Robbie Balenger: So it was an interesting transition. In less than a year before I started my run across the US, I switched my diet completely. I would say I was 100% vegan either 6 to 8 months before the run. I knew about athletes who ate plant-based diets and really believed in better performance because of it. Scott Jurek, who’s an ultra runner, was one of the vegan athletes I really admired.

I remember when I was at a race, my sponsor at the time was Nadamoo! Dairy-Free Ice Cream and I met a guy who was super stoked about the vegan brand and he asked me to go out for a little shake before the race and I went. I told him that I’m vegan but if there were any social situations where there wasn’t an option for me, then I would just eat the food that was there. But, that wasn’t the case for this guy, he was super vegan, ad vegan tattoed across his neck. Then, I realized, it was ok to be fully vegan, it made me more confident in my convictions and at that moment I knew where it is I wanted to be, and this is how I was going to operate.

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Another thing that helped me make the transition was when I went down to the US Virgin Islands to help with post-hurricane Maria and Erma. I learned about the environmental catastrophe that took place, and the reality of global warming. That helped me refine my food choices because as an individual I want to be part of helping curb climate change and one of the easiest ways to do that is adopting a vegan diet. I found my solidarity in these choices.

The animal rights side also hit me, but much later. While I was on the run across the US, I definitely ran with more cows than people because, in the middle of America, there are lots of land and farm animals. I realized how in tune they were with me and how much of developed dynamic beings they are, and that definitely resonated with me.

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The Beet: How do you think your vegan diet affects your athletic performance?

Robbie Balenger:  A vegan diet was actually my biggest advantage, from a performance standpoint. Meat causes inflammation, inflammation causes soreness, and if you can eliminate that from the equation then you’re gonna be able to perform better and recover quicker. The reason I could jump out of bed every morning and hit the road was that I didn’t have those pains I used to feel before I was vegan. I don’t really experience soreness anymore which is part of my ability to run across the country. Also, meat takes longer to digest, and your body uses more energy in the process. I need all the energy I can get and can’t waste it on slower digestion.

The Beet: Do you have a mantra or words you live by?

Robbie Balenger:  Yes, I do. My mom always told me, you can do anything you set your mind to, and that really stuck with me.

The Beet: What are you working on now?

Robbie Balenger:  Outside of running I now focus much of my time on working with Lettuce Grow. At Lettuce Grow we make it easy and fun for anyone to bring healthy, sustainable, and abundant harvests into their home — with no anxiety or green thumb required! We increase the predictability, reliability, and fun of the grow-your-own experience. This is achieved through our self-watering, self-fertilizing Farmstand which is easy to maintain — just plug in your plants and the app will help you water, grow and harvest!

The post Robbie Balenger Ran Across America on a Vegan Diet: “It Changed My Life” appeared first on The Beet.

Looks like he is still at it. Over the weekend, Beckham cooked up a vegan casserole with plant-based ingredients, including greens, green beans, broccolini, wholegrain mustard, and followed it with a batch of delicious-looking homemade dumplings. A big thanks to PlantBasedNews for capturing the moment in the below footage from Beckham’s Instagram.

Meanwhile, spice girl turned fashion designer Victoria Beckham has eaten a mostly plant-based diet with the exception of her daily supplements. However, when they both revealed their meat-free switch, Victoria noted that she is about to try a line of vegan products. “So I really like this brand,” as she shows off the label on her IG story which states Puori protein and vitamin supplements. “I have been taking supplements for quite some time, she adds, “so I am going to try the new vegan products, and these are targeting people who have a plant-based diet, which I actually do have, so I am really excited to try it.”

Any step toward a veggie-forward or plant-leaning diet is a win-win for the planet, your health, and the animals. We’re rooting for the Beckhams to keep going and their fans to leap into the game.

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Sandra Oh and 20 Others It Might Surprise You to Learn Are Plant-Based

1. Paul McCartney

Sir James Paul McCartney is no stranger to a meat-free life as he’s been vegetarian for 45 years. He initially went vegetarian in 1975 with his first wife Linda McCartney and began his advocacy for animal rights.

2. Sia

If you find yourself constantly singing along to the song The Greatest, then you’re already a Sia fan. Sia tweeted that she is “fully vegan now” back in 2014 and stays true to her word

3. Sandra Oh

Way back at the start of Grey’s Anatomy, Sandra Oh took the cast out for a plant-based lunch at Truly Vegan in Hollywood. In her effort to inspire contemporaries to eat vegan, the TV star is known to invite her friends for vegan meals that are delicious. She adopted the vegan lifestyle years ago and continues to quietly live a cruelty-free life.

4. Gisele Bündchen

Giselle revealed that when she was at the peak of her modeling career, her diet consisted of “cigarettes, wine, and mocha Frappuccinos,” according to an interview in People Magazine. Now 39 and the mother of two children, Gisele eats a “mostly” plant-based diet to nourish her body and stay fueled.

5. Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin has made a bigger commitment to plant-based eating since he was first told by doctors that he was pre-diabetic and needed to change his diet. That was decades ago. But, over the last few years, he’s been vocal about the benefits not only to his health but also the impact plant-based eating has on the environment.

6. Miley Cyrus

Miley adopted a gluten-free diet back in 2012 for health reasons and two years later, committed to a vegan diet she still lives by today.

7. Pamela Anderson

We all remember Pamela Anderson as the curvaceous blonde in the hit series Baywatch as she played Casey Jean in the red one-piece swimsuit that brought her world-class fame. She is a life-long active animal rights advocate and teamed up with PETA to join the Animal Protection Organization.

8. Kristen Stewart

“We shouldn’t eat as much meat guys,” Kristen Stewart told GQ in an interview in January. The Twilight star has made a full 180 from vampire to vegan. When she appeared on the game show “Hot Ones” she chose to skip the wings and instead compete by eating increasing spicier sauce on vegan cauliflower wings.

9. Jared Leto

This award-winning actor eats a high-protein diet consisting of only plants. Leto, who has been plant-based for 20 years, says it keeps him “shredded” in an interview. Now, 48, Leto looks half his age.

10. Jaden Smith

Jaden Smith switched up his diet from vegan to vegetarian, meaning that he doesn’t eat meat but does eat dairy from time to time. In a recent article by Plant Based News, Smith admits he skipped meals and was not getting the proper nutrition when he was vegan, but this hasn’t stopped him from espousing the plant-based life.

11. Meghan Markle

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex has never admitted to being fully vegan, but sources say, she eats a plant-based diet most days during the week. She is teaching Prince Harry vegan cooking and in a Plant-Based News article, Markle explained how she hopes to raise baby Archie on a mostly vegan diet.

12. Serena Williams

As a professional athlete, fueling the body is a key factor to Willaim’s successes. In a Bon Appetite article, she explained that she adopted a plant-based diet back in 2012, she was eating a lot “healthier” for her sister, Venus, who eats a strict vegan diet for health reasons.

13. John Mackey

The popular grocery store, Whole Foods Market sells vegan products and nonvegan products which arises black lash from ethical vegans as CEO John Mackey follows a strict vegan diet. The successful businessman grew up in Houston Texas and told Business Insider that he would traditionally eat processed foods for dinner while watching TV with his family. Now, Mackey steers clear from the processed isle and eats a clean vegan diet and feels amazing at the age of 65.

14. Jason Mraz

Jason Mraz, singer of the popular song, I’m Yours, committed to a vegan diet to support his friend diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Mraz says he eats mostly raw food and told magazine sources his favorite vegan dish is “Chocomole, a mixture of avocados, dates, cacao, agave nectar, and coconut oil.”

15. Leona Lewis

Long time vegan, Leona Lewis grew up in a vegan household and continues to eat a plant-based diet. Lewis first adopted the diet at 12 when she learned about the health risks of eating animal products but told Women’s Health Magazine she occasionally eats an omelet. She also mentioned her 2:30 lunch is normally a kale salad topped with dried cranberries and she loves a veggie stir-fry for dinner.

16. Hannah Teter

Hannah Teter changed her diet after watching the documentary, Earthlings when she discovered how “horrible” factory farming is. After a strict vegetarian diet, Teter liked the way she performed as an athlete and believes that her diet helped her win gold at the 2006 games.

17. Maggie Q,

You may recognize Maggie Q as the star of the Nikita series, but in the plant-based world, she’s well-known for her heroic activism. Maggie Q has followed a strict vegan diet for 19 years, making her a true veteran of the lifestyle. She made the plant-based diet transition because she felt sluggish and had low energy, she has said. The famous actress keeps in shape by eating veggies and plant-based protein and working out with a passion.

18. Madelaine Petsch,

Winner of the first Masterchef vegan cook-off with Gordon Ramsay, Madelaine Petsch was raised vegetarian and went completely vegan at age 14. She claims that she started this diet before it was “trendy” and shot a campaign for PETA last year wearing a dress made of bok choy. Petsch says her vegan diet allows her to feel “healthier” and not “lethargic.”

19. Millie Bobbi Brown

After doing a little sleuthing on her social media platforms we think Millie Bobbi Brown qualifies as plant-based. Whether or not she is actually skipping all meat and dairy, one thing is for sure: She eats mostly salads, vegetables and grains and lives a predominantly plant-based lifestyle full of healthy foods.

20. Chloe and Halle Bailey

The grammy-nominated sisters went vegan for a week with their mom but liked it so much they decided to stick with it. For one thing, it helps keep their “voices in shape” by eating a vegan diet and they emphasize the fact that dairy helps to limit extra mucus build-up, according to a PETA interview.

21. Hilary Duff

Best known for her role as Lizzie Mcguire in the long-running series, Hilary Duff is a recent vegan advocate and entrepreneur. She recently launched the vegan and cruelty-free eyeshadow palette, “Day Dreamer” and changed her diet to plant-based last fall.

The post David Beckham Shows Off Vegan Cooking and Sticks to His Meat-Free Diet appeared first on The Beet.

During the interview, Jackson said of his diet, “Nothing really crazy. It’s just that I think it’s better to have this lifestyle football-wise. That’s all,” He added. “To each his own, for the most part. I don’t think it’s unusual or anything. I’m just eating [other] food instead of eating meat.”

Jackson, 320-pounds, remains around the same weight he was when he ate meat and dairy products. Now, the strong athlete eats beans, legumes, vegetables, and plant-based protein and says, “I’m still 320 pounds, nothing has changed,’’ he adds, “I just lost some body fat, just looking forward to the season.’’

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Jackson’s Football Coaches Approve of His Healthy Vegan Diet

In the interview, Jackson said he also discussed his diet switch with his coaches, and the strength and conditioning staff, who’s been helping his stay physically healthy, strong, and challenged.

“From our perspective, we’re just trying to help him and coach him to make sure it works in the realm of the sport of football,” said Raimond Braithwaite, the interim strength and conditioning coordinator. He added,  “It was something that was important to Alaric, so …[although] it is a challenge, it is doable.’’

Iowa’s offensive line coach Tim Polasek also supports his diet change, saying, “He seems quick. His movements are more sudden. And, I see a change in him in the morning when we practice. He seems to have a little more energy, so maybe there is something to it.”

“Alaric is doing a great job as we get ready to start the 2020 season. He’s a tough, physical guy and that hasn’t changed. I wouldn’t want it to and neither would he.’’

Jackson was named a second-team All-Big Ten performer by coaches and media. A football media source says, “He’s got good feet in pass protection and does a good job mirroring most types of rushers. He has the length and strength to keep power rushers away and enough foot quickness to match speed rushes.”

Here Are 20 Other Athetles Who Swear by Their Vegan Diets For Better Performance

1. Novak Djokovic: Number one tennis champion in the world

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The number one tennis player in the world, Novak Djokovic, went plant-based more than twelve years ago to enhance his athletic performance and win more matches. In recent interviews, he has credited going vegan with helping him rise from third place in the world to first in the world because it helped clear his allergies. Before changing his diet, Djokovic had searched for cures to the breathing issues that cost him matches and focus which caused him to struggled during his most intense matches. The allergies used to make him feel like he couldn’t breathe and would be forced to retire from competitive matches as he did in  Australia.

“Eating meat was hard on my digestion and that took a lot of essential energy that I need for my focus, for recovery, for the next training session, and for the next match,” he said. Djokovic emphasized he does not eat foods that require a lot of digestion, especially in the morning, when he needs all of his energy for training. Instead, he starts the day with hot water and lemon, then celery juice, and some superfood supplements.

2. Tia Blanco: Professional Surfer and Beyond Meat Ambassador

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Tia Blanco won gold at the International Surfing Association Open in 2015 and credits her success to her vegan diet. Blanco reports that a vegan diet helps her stay strong and she enjoys eating different forms of vegan protein like nuts, seeds, beans, and legumes.

The professional surfer was influenced by her mother, who is a vegetarian and grew up in a veggie-forward household, Blanco has never eaten meat in her life, which made the plant-based switch much easier. And speaking of making things easier, Blanco has an Instagram cooking page called @tiasvegankitchen where she shares her favorite simple vegan recipes so all of her fans can eat like their favorite professional vegan athlete. In addition to her home-cooked meals, Blanco recently became an ambassador for vegan company Beyond Meat and now she posts Instagram stories and highlights of her favorite meatless meat recipes.

3. Steph Davis: World Leading Professional Rock Climber

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Steph Davis has been vegan for 18 years now and says, “there’s nothing in my life that hasn’t become better as a result, from climbing and athletics to mental and spiritual well being.” Davis has competed on some of the most challenging verticle routes on the planet –like Concepcion (5.13), which is known to be one of the hardest pure climbs anywhere. Davis holds the third overall ascent and is the first female to ever make the ascent of the route. Davis described it as her “most technically demanding climb ever.”

Davis explained why she went vegan eight years ago when she partnered with PETA. “What can we do to start making changes in a positive way? And if it just so happens that changing our lifestyle leads to environmental benefits, health benefits, economic benefits, and positive social change, then all the better. One thing I’ve learned is you don’t have to do or be anything you don’t want to be, and you can change anything in your life just by starting to do it. It’s you who chooses who and what you are, by the things you think and the things you do.”

She goes on to add, “no one says you have to become a “perfect” vegan overnight. But why not start making small changes and see how it feels? I believe it’s the small choices people make that have the biggest power to change, and nothing is more simple yet also more far-reaching than changing how and what you choose to eat. We’re all here for a short time, in the end, and living a well-intentioned and compassionate life seems like what ultimately matters the most, the only real goal that I aspire to.”

4. Venus Williams:  Tennis Great

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Tennis champion Venus Williams swears that making the switch to veganism was one of the factors that helped to improve her performance and get over an auto-immune disease. The tennis star went vegan back in 2011 when she was diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome, a debilitating autoimmune disease with a range of symptoms from joint pain to swelling, numbness, burning eyes, digestive problems, and fatigue. She chose to eat plant-based to recover to her formerly healthy self, and it worked so she stuck to it.

The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion recovers faster on a plant-based diet now, compared to how she felt back when she ate animal protein. When you have an auto-immune disease you often feel extreme fatigue and random body aches and for Venus, a plant-based diet provides energy and helps her reduce inflammation.

The Beet reported on Willaim’s diet and what she normally eats in a day to stay healthy, fit, and win more matches. Talking about her favorite dinner meal, Williams adds, “sometimes a girl just needs a donut!”

5. Mike Tyson: The First Heavyweight Boxer to Hold the WBA, WBC, and IBF Titles.

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Mike Tyson recently said he is “in the best shape ever” thanks to his vegan diet. The boxing legend then announced he’s getting back into the rings after 15 years, to fight against Roy Jones, Jr. in California later this fall.

Tyson went vegan ten years ago after dealing with health complications and in the wake of having cleaned up his life: “I was so congested from all the drugs and bad cocaine, I could hardly breathe.” Tyson said, “I had high blood pressure, was almost dying, and had arthritis.”

Now, the 53-year-old powerhouse is sober, healthy, and fit. “Turning vegan helped me eliminate all those problems in my life,” and “I’m in the best shape ever.” His new trainer agrees:  Watching Iron Mike’s speed during recent training sessions, observed: “He has the same power as a guy who is 21, 22-years old.”

6. Chris Paul: The NBA’s Newest Vegan Who Was Influenced by The Game Changers

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Oklahoma City’s point guard Chris Paul decided to ditch meat and dairy and was asked join on as a co-executive producer for the popular documentary, The Game Changers.

For breakfast, Paul enjoys oatmeal with plant-based milk and nut butter. For lunch, he fuels up with pasta or brown rice with Beyond Meat sausage, grilled vegetables, and a curry sauce. His chef told USA Today, “The main thing is, we try to keep it as light and clean as possible for his normal routine, with organic ingredients. Anything that can minimize body inflammation. Chris is always worrying about what he can and can’t eat.” So far it appears he’s getting it right.

In an exclusive interview with The Beet’s Awesome Vegans columnist Elysabeth Alfano, Paul said eating a plant-based diet helps him keep up with players half his age.

7. Colin Kaepernick: Former (future?) NFL Player and Social Activist

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In 2016, Kaepernick made the switch to veganism with his longtime girlfriend to recover from a series of injuries that had him down for the count. The Beet recently reported on how this dietary switch has allowed Kaepernick to stay strong and healthy. Now, he’s in the gym building muscle and looks fitter than ever. But will he be picked up? The professional football player claims that a vegan diet makes him feel “always ready” to perform his best on the field.

8. Cam Newton: New England Patriots’ Newest Quarterback is Vegan

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Cam Newton just replaced Tom Brady, who also follows a mostly plant-based diet, as the New England Patriot’s QB, after having made the plant-based switch back in March 2019. The NFL Star first decided to ditch meat and dairy to recover quicker from injuries when he learned that a plant-based diet is proven to help reduce inflammation. “I’ve seen such a remarkable change in the way my body responds to the food that I eat,” Newton told PETA for his recent partnership for a new campaign called, “Built Like a Vegan,” proving that you don’t need to eat meat to be strong. Newton enjoys a meat-free burger on a pretzel bun, heavy on pickles and sauce. He adds: “People often ask, ‘How do you get your protein?’ I just say, ‘I get it in the same way you do, but it’s fresher and cleaner.’ “

Newton shares how to do it: “My advice to a person who wants to become vegan is to eat on schedule. If you can eat on a schedule, you won’t miss [a meal or crave meat] or think anything different, and you’ll be alright.”

9. Elijah Hall: American Sprinter Training for The 2021 Tokyo Olympics

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Elijah Hall says about his vegan diet: “Going vegan was the best decision” he has ever made. Hall holds records in the indoor 200 meters and was training for the Tokyo this summer when it got postponed by a year due to the pandemic. Hall said “the effects that it’s having on my body are amazing. Becoming a plant-based athlete has opened many doors to my health and my training.” We predict he’ll only get faster in the next 11 months and break records, come home with golf and be the world champion in 12 months.

10. Morgan Mitchell: Omplyian Sprinter Who Won her First Title at 2014 Australian National Championships

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Five-years ago, Morgan Mitchell went vegan and it made her faster, leaner and happier. Last year she was featured in the plant-based athletes documentary The Game Changers and said, “Being vegan has helped me immensely. I don’t feel sluggish like I did when I was eating meat, and my recovery from training really took off. It felt like an overall cleanse for my body, and I started seeing greater results on the track.”

Now Michelle is committed for the planet as well. “Ultimately helping the environment and not contributing to animal cruelty was a big thing for me, too. That was my initial reason for going vegan, and the rest of the benefits were just added bonuses.”

Mitchell describes what she eats in a day for enhanced performance and more energy to win sprints. “I like to make sure I have three different types of protein in there. I use tofu, beans, and mushrooms, along with spinach, vegan cheese, and hash browns,” she says. “I also love to add Beyond Meat for more flavor, which is a great source of plant protein as well. That usually keeps me full for the better part of the day,” she told Well + Good.

11. Lewis Hamilton: Formula One Driver Who Credits His Vegan Diet For Allowing Him to Be Victorious

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“We were taught that eating animal products was good for us but we’ve been lied to for hundreds of years,” said Lewis Hamilton. The Beet reported on Hamiltion’s vegan diet quoting The New York Times that he credits his new plant-based diet with making the difference in his career. Hamilton gave up processed food and animal products for vegetables, fruit, nuts, grains, because of his strong compassion for animals, for the benefit of the environment, and his own health. Hamilton isn’t the only vegan in his family. His dog Rocco is fully vegan and Hamilton says he’s “super happy” on Rocco’s very own IG post.

Earlier this year, Hamilton gave up his private jet because he said it’s a big pollutant and aims to live a sustainable lifestyle. Back in February, he started a line of sustainable clothing with Tommy Hilfiger at London Fashion Week.

12. Patrik Baboumian: Arguably The Strongest Man in The World

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Featured in The Game Changers for his elite strength and his superhuman ability to lift a car, Patrik Baboumiam is one of the strongest men in the world and also happens to be vegan. Baboumian lifted 358 pounds in the 2009 German log lift nationals.

Back in 2014, Baboumiam partnered with PETA in his campaign “Want to be Stronger” describing powering yourself with plants and how you can build muscle without eating meat.

One of his 2019 PETA campaigns showed him posing with crossed arms and leaves in his mouths with the text: “The world’s strongest animals are plant-eaters: Gorillas, buffaloes, elephants and me.”

Bahoumiam’s diet consists of a dairy-free shake for breakfast with 8 grams of protein and 0 carbohydrates. For lunch, he enjoys vegan sausage, falafel, low-fat oven fires, peppers, and more grilled veggies. He normally eats 250 grams of carbs and 90 grams of protein just for lunch. Dinner includes vegetables cooked potatoes, and tofu. If you want to eat like Boubanian, he reports his food diary on his blog BarBend.

13. Arnold Schwarzenegger: Former Proessional BodyBuilder, Producer, The Game Changers, and former Governor of California

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Here’s a guy who has worn many hats: Bodybuilder, Terminator, California Governor, and now vegan and advocate for the plant-based lifestyle. Arnold Schwarzenegger ditched meat and dairy and has proven that you don’t need to eat animal products to be strong, healthy and reverse symptoms of heart disease. Now 73, he had a pulmonary valve replacement 1997 due to a congenital defect and underwent emergency open-heart surgery in 2018 to replace the valve again. He then changed his eating and fitness habits and now extolls the virtues of plant-based eating for the environment as well as health reasons.

He is a producer of The Game Changers (a movie with many masters) and an advocate for going vegan for health, the environment and the sake of animals (he posts on IG with his pet donkey and miniature pony, both household dwelling animals).

Schwarzenegger said last year: “Right now, seven million people are dying every year. That is alarming and everyone in the government has the responsibility to protect the people…. 28 percent of the greenhouse gasses come from eating meat and from raising cattle, so we can do a much better job.”

14. Scott Jurek: Named One of The Greatest Ultra-Marathoner’s Of All Time

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Jurek is an extreme ultra-marathon runner who has won the Hardrock Hundred, the Badwater Ultramarathon, the Spartathlon, and the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run (you get the idea). Jurek has been vegan for almost two decades, after easing into it by cutting out meat in college, he slowly stopping seafood and finally giving up all animal products once he realized that eating this way made him feel healthier and happier.

To run such an extreme amount of miles, you need to fuel your body with plant-based foods that will give you enough energy and carbohydrates to go the distance. The goal is to eat 5,000-6,000 calories of plant-based foods daily.

Jurek outlined his plant-based diet in an interview with Bon Appetite. Instead of waking up to a hot cup of coffee to boost energy, he prefers to drink tea and a green smoothie with spirulina or chlorella and a host of other ingredients. He adds bananas, frozen pineapple slices, or mangoes, brown rice and pea protein, (for protein) to rebuild what’s lost in training. This is not just any smoothie.

15. Alex Morgan: USA Soocer Star, Plays for the Orlando Pride of the NWSL

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Soccer star, Alex Morgan is one of the beloved members of the USA National Team that won the World Cup and has shown that the female players deserve to get equal pay as their male counterparts by the US Soccer Federation. She is also an animal rights advocate and longtime vegan, having given up meat when she decided that “it didn’t feel fair to have a dog, and yet eat meat all the time,” referring to her adorable pup Blue.

Morgan aims to eat 90 grams of plant-based protein daily to stay fit and lean, especially for her workouts and on the field. Morgan admitted that breakfast was difficult because “a lot of the things I love like pancakes and French toast had dairy and eggs.” But now she enjoys oatmeal with nut butter and berries, smoothies, rice, quinoa, veggies, black beans, protein shakes, Mediterranean food, Impossible burgers, Mexican beans, and sauteed veggie burritos, she told USA Today.

16. Paul Rabil: Pro Lacrosse Player: A Vegan Diet Helped Alleviate His Sciatica

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Paul Rabil who played for the Boston Cannons and the New York Lizards of Major League Lacrosse, ditched meat and dairy after his 2019 season ended and revealed he’s now “officially” vegan on YouTube. “At first [switching to a plant-based diet] was to help solve some pain and trauma that I was going through. Over the last two years, I’ve had two herniated discs…. and that has led to a ton of shooting pain down my legs, its called sciatica,” Rabil explains the purpose of his diet switch.

He adds: “I’ve tried to a lot of things; I’ve had a number of cortisone shots; I’ve done physical therapy for two years. And I reached a place where I was thinking ‘okay maybe I can solve this with nutrition because a lot of our pain stems from inflammation. Within a few weeks, I started noticing a lot of alleviation so I started focusing and doubling down more on veganism”

17.  Hannah Teter: 2006 Olympic Snowboard Gold Medalist

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Hannah Teter won Olympic gold and silver in the halfpipe and is also a seven-time XGames medalist. She changed her diet after watching the documentary, Earthlings when she discovered how “horrible” factory farming is. After a strict vegetarian diet, Teter liked the way she performed and believes that her diet helped her win gold at the 2006 games.

She now considers herself “plant-based” and in an interview with the Huffington Post, Teter said, “I feel stronger than I’ve ever been, mentally, physically, and emotionally. My plant-based diet has opened up more doors to being an athlete. It’s a whole other level that I’m elevating to. I stopped eating animals about a year ago, and it’s a new life. I feel like a new person, a new athlete.”

18. Nick Kyrgios: Professional Tennis Champion Ranked 40 in The World

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Djokovic is not the only tour player to go plant-based. Nick Kyrgios shared that he does not eat meat anymore because of his strong compassion for animals.

During the time of the Australian wildfires, the Aussie native explained: “I’ve been passionate about animal welfare for some time now. I don’t eat meat or dairy anymore. That’s not for my health, I just don’t believe in eating animals.”

“I tried a vegan diet a couple of years ago but with all the travel I do, it was hard to stick to it. Since then I’ve managed to make it work, and I’ve been vegetarian for quite a while.

“Seeing the footage of these animals suffering from the fires only reinforces why I’ve chosen this diet. When I see these terrible photos, I can’t comprehend eating meat.”

19. Matt Frazier: Ultra-Marathoner Credits Vegan Diet For Breaking Personal Records

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Matt Frazier has run 27 ultra-marathons in his career so far and continues to write about the endurance strength of being a vegan athlete in his personal blog, which he started 11 years ago: No Meat Athlete.

The Beet recently interviewed Frazier about his vegan journey and how to be a successful athlete on a plant-based diet. When asked about the first time he ditched meat Frazier replied, “I had already cut 90 minutes off my first marathon time. I was still 10 minutes away from the Boston Marathon qualifying time. I had plateaued, and I was not sure how I was going to find 10 minutes. [Plant-based eating] was what I was missing. That’s what it took. The other big noticeable difference to me [after going vegan] was I stopped getting injured. Injuries had always been a big part of my running journey. When I became vegan, it was around the time I ran three 50-milers and a 100-miler. I didn’t have any injuries. If it’s done right, [plant-based diets] can really help you recover faster.”

20. Michaela Copenhaver:  Professional Rower, World Record Holder, 10,000m Indoor

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Rowing is grueling. It’s known as the toughest endurance sport in the world. The world record-breaking female rower, Michaela Copenhaver went vegan in 2012 for ethical reasons, she told Great Vegan Athletes. “Initially, I just wanted to eat more vegetables. Those things are super good for you, and they’re delicious. Being vegetarian and vegan made me more conscious of how many servings I was getting a day (or not).”

When she switched from vegetarian to vegan it was almost accidental:  “I was traveling for a regatta in the fall of 2012. I had been vegetarian for 1.5 years already but relied pretty heavily on dairy and eggs. While I was traveling, I was bouncing from couch to couch and had no way to safely store dairy or eggs—so I decided to try a week without them. I felt great, and it wasn’t nearly as scary as I thought. I’ve been vegan ever since.”

Now it’s a value system: “Once I stopped eating and using animals, I felt I could finally address a question that had been bothering me for a long time—what right do we have to exploit other creatures? Now, I understand that we have no right, and my motivations are primarily ethical.”

The post Iowa Offensive Lineman Says a Vegan Diet is a “Better Lifestyle Football-Wise” appeared first on The Beet.

Elijah Hall is a Record-Breaking Sprinter Training for the Next Olympics

Hall holds records in the indoor 200 meters and was training for the Tokyo Olympics that were scheduled to take place this month, but was postponed a year due to the pandemic. Last year, Hall said he took the entire summer off to train, and he posted a video of himself at the track perfecting his push-off from the starting block “Took the summer off to get it right… Let’s get to it ” his caption reads.

Adding to that kind of compulsion for perfection means looking at every possible angle to get more competitive. In a race where the difference between winning and second can be measured in hundreds of a second, every edge can slice off a sliver of a second. So this year, he’s made the decision to change his diet to improve his speed and performance. “I wanted to approach my season differently than I ever have before, I have read about great athletes who have turned plant-based and have longer careers,” Hall told VegNews.

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More Athletes Are Going Vegan For Better Health, Energy, and Performance

Now that he and other athletes have an extra year to prepare for the games, changing the jet fuel they put into their bodies is a big part of their performance. More athletes are choosing to ditch meat and dairy to reduce inflammation and make their recovery times quicker, injury less likely and their muscles lean and strong to go for the gold. The documentary The Game Changers proved top athletes don’t need to eat animal protein to be strong and win at endurance events.

Australian sprinter and Olympion, Morgan Mitchell, who was featured in the documentary, eats plant-based and said it gives her more energy. “I love it because you can always eat when you are a vegan. … And I’ll make something up for dinner: a vegan pizza with vegan cheese or noodles. When you learn to love it, it comes easy,” she told VegKit.

In addition, the number one tennis player in the world, Novak Djokovic, who was also featured in the documentary, credits his plant-based diet for clearing up his allergies and helping him stay focused and positive on the court, especially during intense matches. Other professional athletes like Venus Williams, Cam Newton, Lewis Hamilton, Mike Tyson, Tia Blanco, Chris Paul, and more credit a vegan diet for better health, energy, and performance.

The post Sprinter Elijah Hall Says Going Vegan “Was The Best Decision” He Ever Made appeared first on The Beet.

The Beet had a “we told ya so” moment today when we learned this updated news since we had already covered Tyson’s training sessions and newly muscular physique in May. His announcement that “I am in the best shape ever” on a vegan diet seemed to be verbally throwing down the gauntlet at any new challenger who might want to put those words to the test.

Tyson’s new vigor appeared to foreshadow that was training for a comeback. He posted Instagram photos and videos hitting with his new coach, MMA trainer Rafael Cordeiro who said: “[Tyson] has the same power as a guy who is 21, 22-years old.” Cordeiro was stunned with Tyson’s knockout power and told TalkSport: “I wasn’t sure what to “expect from a guy who hasn’t hit mitts for – I think – almost ten years.”

The fight between Tyson and Jones will take place on September 12th in an eight-round exhibition called the “Frontline Battle,” which will be available to watch on pay-per-view on the social media platform Triller. The event will include live performances by popular artists including Lil Wayne, Future, The Weekend, Pitbull, Marshmello, Beyond Meat spokesperson Snoop Dogg, and more artists to be announced later, according to TMZ‘s report.

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Mike Tyson is a vegan, and credits his diet for being in the “best shape ever.”

Tyson, who’s 54 years old, credits his vegan diet for helping him get “in the best shape ever,” after dealing with drug addiction and illness.

Back in 2009 when Tyson had just retired from professional boxing, he admitted that he drank alcohol, and used drugs on a daily basis. He was also then still a meat-eater. “I was so congested from all the drugs and bad cocaine, I could hardly breathe.” Tyson added, “I had high blood pressure, was almost dying, and had arthritis,” according to an interview he gave to Totally Vegan Buzz.

In 2010, Tyson transformed his diet and ditched the meat in favor of a plant-based lifestyle, which he has continued ever since. Iron Mike has also been clean and sober for the past decade, which he did for the sake of his health and his family. He noted in a video that he turned his life around for his kids and his wife. Tyson explains, “Turning vegan helped me eliminate all those problems in my life. I’m in the best shape ever.”

“Becoming a vegan gave me another opportunity to live a healthy life. High blood pressure, almost dying, arthritis–and once I became a vegan all that stuff diminished, he added.

Tyson is prepared to fight and has been hinting that this was his next move.

During quarantine, Tyson was talking about wanting to make a comeback and get back into fighting. A few months ago, Tyson hopped on T.I’s Instagram live and hinted at the idea. “I’ve been working out, I’ve been trying to get in the ring, I think I’m going to box some exhibitions and get in shape.”

Tyson also said, “I want to go to the gym and get in shape to be able to box three or four-round exhibitions for some charities and stuff.” It’s clear that others should be nervous about Tyson’s return, like professional boxer Ryan Garcia who commented on one of Tyson’s posts, saying, “I got scared when you said I’m back ?.”

Since then, Tyson has received offers from various media companies who wanted to make this a reality, according to TMZ. One company that made a sweet offer was Triller, which has won the right to host Tyson’s first comeback. The amount Triller paid to secure the deal was not disclosed, but we predict that America will tune in to see if Iron Mike still has it. In addition to airing the bout itself, “Triller locked up the rights to a 10-part docuseries featuring Mike and Roy preparing for their fight … with 2 episodes dropping every week until Fight Night, streaming on the platform,” TMZ reports.

Now that Tyson is back, fighting on plant-powered protein, and at the top of his game, we can’t wait to tune in on September 12th.

The post Vegan Champ Mike Tyson Gets Back In the Ring After 15 Years appeared first on The Beet.