Craig Peckham

Complete Guide To Plant Based Diet for Athletes Craig Peckham

Modern statistics on health can be extremely upsetting: by age 10 to 14, most U. S. children already have fatty streaks in their coronary arteries and more than 5% have more advanced coronary disease. This tendency continues as we age, with approximately 10% of the population in developed countries showing advanced atherosclerotic lesions in the abdominal aorta by the age of 20. This typically leads to reduced blood flow and often results in lower back pain. Many people try to live healthier lives by engaging in athletic activities. However, there is a common misperception that a vegan diet may not be appropriate for athletes. In this study, a group of medical professionals and researchers in the U. S. reviewed the available scientific literature on the ability of a plant-based diet to reduce risk for cardiovascular disease, and positively affect endurance sport performance. Previous studies looking into the cardiovascular health of middle-aged and older endurance athletes showed that, although being well-trained, they are exposed to significant risks (double compared to sedentary people) for atherosclerosis and myocardial damage. The data, however, did not reveal whether these changes are the consequences of athletic activity or food.