Monday, December 3, 2007

Vegan bodybuilding: a new breed of muscle building

Vegan bodybuilding: a new breed of muscle building
If you've spent any time in the bodybuilding world, you
have probably become familiar with certain terms and ways
of doing things. You may have some firm ideas about what
to eat and how to train, and you may not have thought that
there are other possibilities out there. While you
certainly don't need to change a routine that is working
for you just for the sake of change, it does help to keep
an open mind. For instance, you probably have been told
that meat and dairy products are essential components of
any weight gain diet. You may be surprised to learn,
however, that there is a new breed of bodybuilder ' namely
the Vegan bodybuilder.

Vegan diets exclude all animal products including meat,
milk, and dairy derivatives. This kind of diet may be
followed for ethical, religious or health reasons (or all
the above). The assumption by many meat eaters has been
that a vegetarian diet is inferior, especially when it
comes to building muscle. In contrast, Mr. Cheeke of
Veganbodybuilding.com tells us that consuming the correct
combinations of plant foods will provide our bodies with
all of the necessary amino acids (the building blocks of
protein). While it is important to eat the correct
combinations because individual plants contain incomplete
proteins, eating a wide variety of plants can help us
consume adequate protein. Because there are so many
different plants to choose from, finding complementary
sources of protein can be both feasible and enjoyable.

This is not to say that vegetarian diets are without
controversy for muscle building. For example, soy protein
has become a staple food for many vegetarians, since it is
considered a complete protein and also contains nutrients
which may be beneficial for heart health. However, some
research has suggested this may have long-term side effects
as its structure is very similar to the hormone estrogen.
Anyone considering a vegetarian or Vegan diet should do
some research and come to a personal decision. In any case,
the idea of meatless bodybuilding opens up opportunities
which were unknown in the past. It certainly makes
non-vegetarians think twice about the stereotype of the
scrawny, weak vegetarian.

In closing, here are two powerful quotes from the founder
of veganbodybuilding.com. They are simple concepts that
are often overlooked, and it is these concepts that can
make a difference between mediocrity and greatness, both in
bodybuilding and life in general.

"We learn something every day, but there is so much that we
don't apply," Cheeke said. "If you don't apply what you
know then it is wasted. We have the ability to change as
long as we take action, otherwise the wheels just spin and
we go nowhere."

"I think 99 percent of people don't have passion for
something," Cheeke said. "That's fine, but having a passion
for something makes life so much better and eventually it
comes down to the application of that passion."


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