Athletes

Appears in
The New Vegetarian
The New Vegetarian

By Colin Spencer

Published 1986

  • About
Most athletes will need to have extra protein in the diet for building up muscles in their training and for muscle repair when they are bruised or damaged (this will particularly apply to participants in ‘contact’ sports such as football and rugby). However, specific protein requirements should be discussed with the trainer or doctor for these will very much depend on the individual and the particular sport. Teenage athletes will automatically require more protein in their diet anyway.

It is misleading, however, to talk of protein as a thing apart. Although this is important, there should be more emphasis on consuming a larger amount of calories (or energy-producing foods) and it is best for the athlete to be having these in the form of unrefined carbohydrates, such as potatoes. For athletes in training, protein is important and can be readily taken in the form of soya milk and soya products. Tofu is the most digestible of all foods and high quality soy sauce flavours it beautifully. Eat plenty of seeds - sunflower, linseed, sesame and pumpkin - and plenty of salads made up from sprouting seeds, alfalfa, lentils, mung beans, chick peas, lima beans and fenugreek. Stock up with cereal and grains, rice, barley, oats, millet and buckwheat to be eaten with cheese, eggs and fresh vegetables.