Should I Switch to a Plant-Based Diet?
It’s hard to open a magazine, click on a food blog or even turn on the TV these days and not hear something pertaining to the importance of a plant-based diet. To be clear, a plant-based diet focuses on eating minimally processed fruit, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. If you’re a meat lover, don’t freak out! This doesn’t mean your diet has to be vegetarian or vegan. It just means the majority of your diet is based on vegetables and plant protein.
Experts agree that avoiding meat and dairy products has been shown to help reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. But what does this mean for athletes? (Raise your hand if your workout also includes a heavy diet of lean chicken or eggs!) Eating more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, beans and nuts, increases an athlete’s intake of fiber, antioxidants and carbs, which does improve blood flow, can help reduce inflammation, control weight, and actually enhance training, performance, and recovery time.
If you’re considering making changes to your diet to incorporate more plant-based protein, but aren’t sure how this will affect your current workout and impact results, let Wilmington’s top personal trainer and nutritionist Matt Johnson help you create a dietary and workout plan that works best for you.
