Answers

Vegans can enjoy all the health benefits of a plant-based diet while easily supporting their fitness goals. You can maximize your nutrient intake by keeping in mind a few key concepts.

Variety Is Best

Consuming a wide variety of plant-based foods can help vegans ensure they meet their nutritional requirements for protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Among the more common plant-based protein sources you’ll find:

- Beans- Quinoa- Tofu-Nuts/Seeds

Tip: Strive to include adequate carbohydrates for quick energy coupled with smaller amounts of plant-based protein to help build and repair muscle tissue in your pre or post workout meals.

Iron It Out Iron helps transport oxygen throughout the body. Vegan/vegetarian athletes and avid exercisers tend to be at a slightly higher risk for iron deficiency and depletion. Therefore, it’s a good idea to have routine iron assessments when you visit your doctor and focus your meals around iron-rich foods such as:

One additional nutrient of concern for vegans is vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is responsible for a number of metabolic processes including protein and DNA synthesis. It’s a nutrient found primarily in animal products: fish, meat, dairy, and eggs. Because the vegan diet is devoid of all animal products, it’s important to find alternate sources such as nutritional yeast or fortified soy milk and cereals. You may also want to speak with your doctor about the possibility of supplementation.