The Vegetarian Body Builder

May 15th, 2009 by groceryshopping

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Common Misconceptions about Vegetarian Bodybuilders

Many of us believe that to succeed in bodybuilding you need t o eat meat. In fact most vegetarian bodybuilders are not the stereotypical thin and gaunt images portrayed in some public arenas. Many meat eating bodybuilders are now turning to natural bodybuilding and creating a diet that will support their muscle building ambitions. One of the reasons there is concern for vegetarian bodybuilders is “Proteins” which we will discuss next. Click here to read more on Vegetarian Bodybuilders.

Are Proteins a Problem?

Many people believe that without eating the meat of an animal, you will not be able to get enough protein and other essential nutrients for a normal healthy diet. However, this is simply not true and when it comes to vegetarian bodybuilding you can easily get the proteins necessary from other food sources such as soy products, beans, various grains, eggs and dairy products which provide plenty of bodybuilding proteins.

Indeed, many vegetarian bodybuilding athletes drink supplemental shakes with whey protein as well as other important vitamins and minerals like zinc, vitamin B12, iron and more. It is true that meat provides these essentials but the daily allowances are simply not enough for vegetarian bodybuilders and this applies to other foods too. Therefore, supplements are an important factor in the diet whether it is a vegetarian one or not.

Can Vegetarians Build Strength and Muscle Mass?

Vegetarians actually have a better chance of increasing their strength and size while on a meat free diet. Vegetarian bodybuilding means exactly that – building muscle mass and strength based on a diet filled with fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Eating meats can actually slow down your metabolism because it takes so much energy to digest it, whereas with a vegetarian diet, your body actually speeds up its digestion. To read more on Vegetarian Bodybuilding click here.

Vegetarian body building means being creative with meals to ensure that you have plenty of vitamins and minerals represented in the food s you eat. Many body builders who abstain from meat have consulted with nutritionists to ensure that their diet as well as supplements provides what is needed to maintain and grow muscle mass.

Are Vegetarian Bodybuilders Healthy?

I hope you have seen that being a vegetarian is actually quite healthy, reducing cholesterol and blood sugar levels that many vegetarian body building athletes (like Carl Lewis) can attest to! It is now known that many meats, even the lean ones, have the presence of “bad” cholesterol or LDL which can raise cholesterol levels and therefore, your blood pressure. By dropping meat from the menu you are also able to eliminate trans fats and saturated fats. In fact, all the foods hat vegetarians eat along with some supplemental items can more than provide the vitamins and minerals needed to succeed at vegetarian body building.

For more information on this and other nutritional issues, click here: Vegetarian Body Builders.