Professional Athletes Who Are Vegan and Why It Matters
Before we tell you about some seriously successful athletes who are also vegan, let’s talk about why a plant-based diet matters for the planet. Even if you’re well-versed on the tremendous effects of the food system on the health of our planet, it’s nice to be reminded. What we eat affects our water, climate change, air quality, plastic pollution, and more. The general consensus amongst scientists and experts is that eating meat has a much more deleterious impact on the environment than eating vegetables.
According to one study, agriculture accounts for a whopping 92 percent of water consumption and almost 1/3 of that is because of animal products. This statistic takes into account water required for animal feed and drinking as well as any other water used on the farm and slaughterhouse. The water footprint of each type of food is well illustrated in the chart below from Forks over Knives.
Food production also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. It is estimated that 26 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions are due to food production and that “meat, aquaculture, eggs, and dairy use ~83 percent of the world’s farmland and contribute 56 to 58 percent of food’s different emissions, despite providing only 37 percent of our protein and 18 percent of our calories.” Again, Forks Over Knives illustrates the greenhouse gas emissions from food production by product nicely in the below chart.
With this data there is a strong argument for going completely plant-based to protect the planet, and many people have. That being said, making the switch to plant-based might feel overwhelming or even impossible if you’re an athlete (though many have done it, as you’ll see). If you are not quite ready to take that plunge into veganism for the planet, you could begin by reducing your footprint. Consider at least decreasing your meat consumption, especially red meat, to start. Meatless Monday offers great tools to go meatless at least once a week. They estimate that by forgoing one quarter pound burger, you’ll save 6,800 glasses of fresh drinking water (!) and greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to driving 348 miles (see below).
via Meatless Monday
via Meatless Monday
If you or someone you love are very resistant to the idea of going meatless, Beyond Burger or Impossible Burger are solid replacements. These companies have done an amazing job creating plant-based alternatives to meat. Products from both companies deliver excellent texture and flavor that, based on my personal experience, is loved by meat eaters and vegetarians alike.
To further understand the impact of your food choices, consider taking the FoodPrint Quiz and trying their 4 Week Challenge to reducing your footprint.
Now that you understand the whys, here are the whos. These popular athletes have gone completely plant-based and there is no doubt that their athletic performance is still thriving.
Alex Morgan is a world renowned soccer player who currently plays for Tottenham Hotspur and the United States women's national soccer team, which she co-captains. Morgan has achieved an impressive list of accomplishments including an Olympic gold medal, two FIFA world cup championships, ESPY’s Best Female Athlete, and so much more. According to USA Today, Morgan became a vegan in 2018.
Scott Jurek has an impressive list of ultrarunning accomplishments, Jurek has won the 153-mile Spartathlon, the Hardrock 100, the Badwater 135-Mile Ultramarathon, and the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run. Jurek has been a vegan since 1999.
Rich Roll is an endurance athlete who amongst many other accomplishments finished 6th in the 2009 Ultraman World Championships, a 3-day / 320 mile double-ironman distance triathlon, completed the EPIC5 CHALLENGE– 5 ironman-distance triathlons on 5 islands of Hawaii in under a week, and was named one of the “25 Fittest Men in the World” by Men’s Fitness Magazine, all while vegan.
Kyrie Irving is an NBA powerhouse who has been an NBA champion, a 6-time NBA All-Star, an NBA All-Star Game MVP and more. According to NBC Sports, Irving shifted to a vegan diet in 2017.
Hannah Teter is an olympic medalist in snowboarding, a seven-time XGames medalist, and World Cup Champion, who according to Business Insider shifted to a vegan diet in 2010 because of her love for the environment.
Brendan Brazier is a former professional Ironman triathlete and a two-time Canadian 50km Ultra Marathon Champion. He is the co-founder of plant-based protein powder, Vega works with several NHL, NFL, MLB, UFC, and Olympic athletes on vegetarian nutrition and has written several books on vegan eating for performance.
…and so many more (there is an entire website dedicated to great vegan athletes, check it out).
