I need to eat meat for strength
Being vegan makes you weak
The persistent myth (especially in men) that we need to eat meat to be strong is perhaps tied to the other misconception that we need to eat meat to get protein. It's likely also connected to ideas of meat being 'manly', which, as a man myself, I find particularly sad. How can paying other people to hurt and kill animals (that have been selectively bred to be docile and trusting) so you can purchase their body parts, sanitised and removed from the blood and violence required to produce them, be considered in any way 'strong' or 'manly'? Not to mention that these products contain artery-clogging fats and cholesterol which, over time, will restrict the body's blood flow and massively increase the chances of suffering erectile dysfunction, heart disease and stroke.
In terms of nutrition, a plant-based diet provides everything required to keep (or make) you strong, something we see first-hand in the growing number of athletes beginning to understand that it's the optimal diet for gains in athletic performance (most notably as it reduces inflammation, resulting in faster recovery between training and thus the opportunity to train more often than when eating meat).
Plant-based diets appear to be resonating particularly with those practicing iron man, ultra marathon, bodybuilding and triathlon, proof in itself that claims of needing meat for strength or endurance are based on nothing more than outdated cultural habits.
Vegan athletes proving plants give power include:
In terms of nutrition, a plant-based diet provides everything required to keep (or make) you strong, something we see first-hand in the growing number of athletes beginning to understand that it's the optimal diet for gains in athletic performance (most notably as it reduces inflammation, resulting in faster recovery between training and thus the opportunity to train more often than when eating meat).
Plant-based diets appear to be resonating particularly with those practicing iron man, ultra marathon, bodybuilding and triathlon, proof in itself that claims of needing meat for strength or endurance are based on nothing more than outdated cultural habits.
Vegan athletes proving plants give power include:
World record breaking strongman Patrick Baboumian
MMA fighter Alex Caceres
78-year-old Bodybuilder Jim Morriss
Bodybuilder and author Robert Cheeke
American Footballer David Carter
Bodybuilder and boxer Amanda Riester
Boxer David Haye
World champion free runner Tim Shieff
Former MMA fighter Mac Danzig
Triathlete and author Brendan Brazier
Powerlifter Melody Schoenfeld
MMA fighter James Wilks
Bodybuilder Avi Leyhani
Fitness model Raechelle Chase
Bodybuilder Torre Washington
It's hard to look at the athletes above and claim with any kind of honesty that we need meat, eggs and dairy to provide strength, muscle and energy. So whether it's for simple day-to-day activities or your own intensive workouts and exercise, a plant-based diet provides more energy, increases your recovery time between workouts and, most importantly of all, nobody gets hurt.
You'll find more on this topic in the Exercise & Fitness and Protein sections and the excellent video from
Mic. the Vegan below is also worth a look:
Mic. the Vegan below is also worth a look:
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"People eat meat and think they'll become as strong as an ox,
forgetting that the ox eats grass."
Pino Caruso
forgetting that the ox eats grass."
Pino Caruso
