PLANT-BASED PROS
Men's Fitness|Febraury 2020
Once the misunderstood and often mocked approach of so-called eco warriors, veganism is now mainstream. But while it’s undoubtedly the best choice for the planet, are the increasing number of athletes opting for a plant-based approach doing so at risk to their performance? Will Unwin reports
PLANT-BASED PROS
While there are various reasons to remove, or at least cut down on, meat and other animal products, an increasing number of athletes are doing so for performance purposes alone. However, individual needs vary from sport to sport.

A cyclist, for example, needs an average of 6,071 calories per day on a ride, while a footballer burns around a third of that during a 90-minute match. Regardless of diet, getting the requisite energy and nutrients can be a tricky business, so cutting off numerous foods limits options, meaning careful planning and research is key.

Foregoing meat and dairy can be a tough decision for anyone, but for an athlete with performances on the line, it's a potentially career-changing move. Professional cyclist Adam Hansen, who has taken part in 29 Grand Tours, was dairy-free for the majority of his life, but he’s only recently made the step to cut out fish as well.

“I actually had a blood test done and my goal was to improve every marker,” he explains. “I went through everything, and while I had good results I just wanted to improve even more. I worked with a doctor to cut out certain food groups. I had damaging chemicals like mercury in my system, which I found out was from seafood. So as I began cutting things out I took a back step and thought, holy moly...I’m a vegan! Then, of course, looking into it more you find out the ethical side of it and it's very hard to turn a blind eye.”

Meanwhile, footballer Joan Román, who previously played for Manchester City and Barcelona, was influenced by a teammate to move on from meat. “We researched, we read articles, we watched documentaries,” he says. “I started off by taking out milk and dairy, because it was already affecting my

digestion a little bit and from there I started to feel much better, so then I started trying to not eat red meat.

Esta historia es de la edición Febraury 2020 de Men's Fitness.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición Febraury 2020 de Men's Fitness.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE MEN'S FITNESSVer todo
DRESS TO IMPRESS
Men's Fitness UK

DRESS TO IMPRESS

In the latest campaign from Charles Tyrwhitt, rugby player Marcus Smith and cricketer Joe Root are taking the lead and stepping up their offduty game with some sharp summer outfits. From tailored linen to comfy chinos and lightweight blazers, summer just got stylish

time-read
2 minutos  |
August 2024
Sleep is crucial for both metabolic health and athletic performance
Men's Fitness UK

Sleep is crucial for both metabolic health and athletic performance

How well, and how long, did you sleep last night? It’s an important question, because in its Sleep Manifesto 2024, The Sleep Charity notes that a whopping 43% of adults sleep less than the NHS-recommended seven to nine hours.

time-read
2 minutos  |
August 2024
CARDIO SWEAT
Men's Fitness UK

CARDIO SWEAT

Elevate your aerobic fitness and fast-track fat loss with this cardio workout from the Movement Blueprint founder Harvey Lawton

time-read
1 min  |
August 2024
THE LEARN ROPES
Men's Fitness UK

THE LEARN ROPES

Skipping is more than a throwback. Done right, it offers a number of serious health benefits in Skipping is more than a throwback. Done right, it off ers a number of serious health benefi ts in a budget-friendly and convenient formula that can be done virtually anywhere

time-read
4 minutos  |
August 2024
MOUNTAINEERING IS ABOUT THE TENSION BETWEEN HUMAN NATURE AND MOUNTAIN NATURE.IT'S ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF DYING
Men's Fitness UK

MOUNTAINEERING IS ABOUT THE TENSION BETWEEN HUMAN NATURE AND MOUNTAIN NATURE.IT'S ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF DYING

MF meets mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner

time-read
4 minutos  |
August 2024
BUDGET BEATS
Men's Fitness UK

BUDGET BEATS

Apple’s new low-price buds punch well above their price tag

time-read
4 minutos  |
August 2024
FITNESS GOALS
Men's Fitness UK

FITNESS GOALS

Teddy Sheringham’s playbook for staying in shape in your fifties

time-read
2 minutos  |
August 2024
Summer SIZZLERS
Men's Fitness UK

Summer SIZZLERS

Fuel your summer with these fresh, high-protein recipes

time-read
4 minutos  |
August 2024
THE MONT BLANC MONSTER
Men's Fitness UK

THE MONT BLANC MONSTER

The Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) is among the most challenging and prestigious trail running events in the world. Typically held annually in the last week of August, it circumnavigates the iconic Mont Blanc massif. Covering approximately 106 miles, with a gruelling elevation gain of around 32,800 feet, the race demands exceptional endurance, technical skill, and mental fortitude – as Dominic Bliss witnessed for himself at last year’s event…

time-read
6 minutos  |
August 2024
FEEL THE BURN
Men's Fitness UK

FEEL THE BURN

Training for HYROX? This lung-busting workout from HYROX master trainer and Represent 247 athlete Jake Dearden will get you race ready

time-read
2 minutos  |
August 2024