Vegetarian diets are becoming an increasingly common lifestyle among athletes, so clinicians are turning their attention to this phenomenon. This article evaluates the benefits of a vegetable-based, balanced diet for the physically active gym athlete (Constantin et al., 2019). The central beliefs of the authors in this paper are that during physical activity, the acidity of muscle tissue is increased by the formation of lactic acid, causing acidosis. This is a temporary pathological state of muscle tissue damage, and its consequences can be destructive. Eating an alkaline diet, which includes beans, vegetables, and fruits, is aimed at eliminating muscle tissue acidosis and, therefore, can help eliminate the adverse effects of exercise.
This study offers intriguing conclusions, as it is traditionally believed that athletes should have sufficient meat protein in their diets. However, Constantin et al. (2019) create such a study, which has several strengths. In particular, their work looks to recent studies to demonstrate the prevalence of the idea of plant-based nutrition among athletes. Second, the authors are critical in their study and discuss not only the theoretical benefit of eating plant-based foods but also the apparent limitations, including macronutrient deficiencies. Third, Constantin et al. offer a comprehensive overview of essential nutrients, from proteins and omega-3 to vitamins and zinc, creating a more comprehensive overview of basic nutritional needs. In addition, in terms of experimental design, the article uses a science-based BIA measurement approach to assess the body composition of athletes on a plant-based diet.
In terms of intriguing results, eating only plant-based foods did not affect the respondent’s weight and did not lead to exhaustion or physical fatigue while maintaining workout difficulty. There was no expected protein deficiency, and even the respondent’s mental performance during observation was not affected by giving up meat protein. The results show that a genuinely balanced plant-based diet is beneficial for athletes and is not a barrier to athletic performance. Giving up animal protein under the supervision of a nutritionist is an appropriate strategy, and nutrient deficiencies of animal origin can be wholly replaced with plant foods. In the future, this study could be improved by using an entire sample of athletes but not limited to just one respondent. In addition, the use of additional diagnostics beyond BIA would also improve the quality of the results.
Reference
Constantin, E. T., Crețu, A., Apostu, M., & El, R. (2019). Vegetarian diet in aerobic sports, particularities, necessities and recommendations. Discobolul–Physical Education, Sport and Kinetotherapy Journal, 57(3), 63-70.