One of the first athletic studies on “animal product”-eaters vs. vegans was made way back in 1907. This Yale university study tested 2 groups on strength and endurance. The clear winner was the vegans. In the conclusion of the events the professors wrote that is seemed like these animal products contained some kind of fatigue poisons.
An interesting conclusion because something must be going on in the body to have a low performance. Fatigue is one of the most common complaint from athletes. Fatigue in athletes is problematic as it may affect training and competitive performance. This article will take a look at why animal products are lowering performance.
Animal products have low nutrition
Animal products are deficient in important nutrients. The consumption of animal products exposes humans to saturated fat, cholesterol, lactose, estrogens, and pathogenic microorganisms, while displacing fiber, complex carbohydrates, antioxidants, and other components needed for health. Muscles cannot work well having a diet with low carbohydrates – if the diet is focused on animal products then it is almost impossible to get enough carbohydrates into the glycogen storages in the muscles.
The athletes with low sugar levels in muscles is the biggest loser. This is because, that carbohydrates (such as blood glucose and muscle glycogen) has the advantage of generating more ATP per volume of oxygen (O2).
Animal products make inflammation
This dietary pattern also promotes the growth of unhealthful gut bacteria, fostering, among other things, the production of trimethylamine N-oxide, a pro-inflammatory compound associated with cardiovascular and neurological diseases. Milk’s most abundant nutrient, lactose, causes digestive problems, fosters the growth of pathogenic gut bacteria. Lactose is a substrate for the growth of Enterococcus species, which is a big causes of multidrug-resistant infections.
High animal product meal will reduce the anti-inflammatory ability to protect your arteries, this can put athletes in danger of atherosclerosis. Many young athletes are already showing signs of atherosclerosis. If your body is working on getting rid of inflammation caused by animal products then it does not have the ability to preform on highest level.
We want the inflammation away when it’s not needed. In many cases, if you do not have a healthy lifestyle with high levels of plants, you can get stuck with this inflammation.
Animal products are linked to diseases
Consumption of animal products increases the risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and other disorders. Omnivores have increased risk of common cancers, apparently due to saturated fat, heme iron, carcinogens, lower intakes of fiber and protective micronutrients, and elevated circulating estrogen concentrations. Unhealthy and sick body will lower performance.
Animal products makes your blood flow slow
Within hours after eating a high fat meal, our blood gets thicker and milky with fat, which slows down blood flow to the heart. At the same time, a high fat meal, especially one high in saturated fat, triggers endothelial dysfunction, which causes the arteries to stiffen and constrict. This effect further inhibits blood flow.
Nitrates can boost athletic performance and protect against heart disease. Nitrate in food is the main component that contributes to the generation of Nitric oxide. Eating foods high in Nitrates creates Nitric oxide in the body. Many plants have high concentrates of nitrate.
Animal products affect brain function
Eating animal products will give your body less important nutrients for the brain. This will give athletes mental fatigue and will have negative effects on physical activity. The brain mainly works on sugar. People eating high protein and fat foods are in a closer link with depression and stress. 2 elements which do not put athletes in a good position.
Plant-based diet improved mood and lowered stress. Depression is linked to inflammation in the brain. Plants fight and protect against inflammation.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and a hormone. It communicates chemical messages between nerve cells in your brain or between your brain and the rest of your body. It plays an important role in many of your body’s functions, including memory, motivation, learning, reward and movement. People eating a high animal product diets are likely to have lower levels of dopamin.
A healthful diet is based on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes, while avoiding oily and overly processed foods. Vegan diets easily meet recommended protein and essential fatty acid intakes – also for athletes. A return to a diet based upon the plant kingdom gives us the best chance for sustained good health.
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