Endurance Athlete? Going Vegan Can Up Your Game

Posted by Calvin on December 06, 2024

Did you know some of the GOATs of endurance sports have been vegan? 🚴 If you’re into running, biking, skiing, hiking, or climbing long distances, going vegan is one of the best things you can do to boost your endurance—here’s everything you need to know!

Why Go Vegan

The #1 reason to go vegan is that it’s the #1 way to help animals. Around the world, cows are sexually assaulted for their milk, chickens are forced to live in cramped cages with five to 11 others for their eggs, and pigs are violently slaughtered for their flesh. 😨 Choosing nondairy milk and vegan meat reduces the demand for this cruelty. Helping animals is the best reason to go vegan, but there are countless other benefits—like boosting your endurance game.

How Going Vegan Helps With Endurance

Vegan foods rich in nitrates, like leafy greens and beetroot, can help improve blood flow and oxygen delivery to your muscles.¹ Eating vegan can also improve blood pressure and blood glucose control.² Plus, since vegan foods are generally higher in fiber and lower in fat than animal-derived foods, eating them can help lower your body fat percentage.³ All these benefits can help you exercise longer without getting drained. 💪

Tips for Success

You can thrive as a vegan athlete by ensuring you eat a nutrient-rich diet. Find out how much protein you need based on your activity level, and fill up on delish high-protein vegan foods like tofu, tempeh, and seitan. 😋 Make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D from sources like seeds, almonds, nondairy milk, and vegan supplements. You’ll wanna eat at least two cups of fruit and three cups of veggies each day and have nutritious food before and after workouts.

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Going vegan doesn’t just help you with endurance—it can also help you get stronger and bigger. Use our vegan power guide to make huge gains without harming animals.

References:

1. Rd, R. a. M. (2024, June 12). The 10 best foods to boost nitric oxide Levels. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/nitric-oxide-foods

2. Tomé-Carneiro, J., & Visioli, F. (2023). Plant-Based diets Reduce blood Pressure: A Systematic Review of Recent evidence. Current Hypertension Reports, 25(7), 127–150. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-023-01243-7

3. The Game Changers Movie. (2019, November 19). Getting and staying lean | the game Changers. The Game Changers. https://gamechangersmovie.com/benefits/maximizing-performance/getting-and-staying-lean/