What would a proper vegitatrian diet be like for an endurance athlete?!
What would a proper vegitatrian diet be like for an endurance athlete?
I include fish eggs and diary and stay away from meat and poultry...I want to make sure Im getting enough nutrients for my body with all the sports I do....
Answers:
As an endurance athlete, protein will not be your main concern. Energy should be what you need to focus on. Complex carbs like the grains (millet, amaranth, quinoa) will give you alot of lasting carbs for energy as you digest them slowly (those examples are also high in protein content). Beans, legumes, and rice will give you lasting energy too as they are also complex carbs and take a while to digest (digest as in 2 to 3 hours - not like 2 to 3 days for meat that actually ferments in your large intestine).
I would try taking a break from dairy and see how your performance increases or decreases (many athletes notice that they can increase their performance without cheese and milk in their diet as even a slight allergic reaction to dairy makes joints stiff and achy with fluids/inflammation).
I would also suggest more leafy green vegetables, or even the best is sprouts, to clean the blood of metabolic wastes from using your muscles so much. Green superfoods are great also if you want to just down something and go on to the next sport!
Your diet need to be balanced ; which can be easily achieved with good combination of veggies, dairy products, fish and eggs. Many sportsperson are strictly vegetarian and don't have egg or fish and yet can maintain an active sports routine.
Hi there! There are actually quiite a few people involved in specifically vegetarian or even vegan athletics. However, if you're eating fish, please do not refer to your diet as vegetarian--it is makes it a little hard for those of us who actually are vegetarians and want to make sure that people don't serve us fish in the belief that it's an appropriate option.
The first site that I've listed is in development but currently features a long list of links that might help you! The second one lists specific nutrient needs of both vegetarians and vegans.
You are most likely getting enough of everything you need but I would start to take a multivitamin just in case. You could also talk to your doctor but on't let any old fashoin beliefs that meat is the best thing for you put you down. You could also talk to other athletes like you and see what they think. Good Luck!