Can I Be an Athlete on a Vegetarian Diet?

It’s a question many of us have asked, and with all of the seemingly conflicting information out there, we caught up with MFA staffer Kristen Diederich to get her perspective.
So… Can you be an athlete on a vegetarian diet?

I love to work out and it’s important to me that I’m giving my body the fuel it needs to run, stretch, and lift. I’ve found that plant-based foods give me more energy and help me recover faster after workouts. With more nutrients and less inflammation, it’s a win-win.
Muscles get most of the fitness credit, but a strong skeleton is a must-have for any athlete. Plants provide more absorbable calcium than animal products, which acidify your blood. To counteract this dangerous condition, your body is forced to extract calcium from your bones, weakening them. Not good.
Although I try to eat as many whole foods as possible, I also love Vega shakes and snack bars, designed for vegetarian athletes. If I can do it, and these guys can do it, you can too!

Have a question you want answered? Send me a message at [email protected].