Here is the deal with athletes, energy, and protein. This great little article at Runners World, talks about runners (and athletes in general) and how many athletes decrease or completely remove meat from their diets because of “easier digestion and lower fat intake”. However, they need to replace this with other alternatives as an athlete needs an extra or constant protein source for big strong muscles.

The article which is written by Dr. Larson-Meyers, author of the book, Vegetarian Sports Nutrition, states that the recommended protein for athletes is .5 to .7 grams per pound of body weight (a 150 pound runner should consume 75 to 105 grams a day) and that the EASIEST way to get it is with animal protein, such as chicken.

But for those who are light on the meat, there are other options avail, such as soy products, beans, legumes, nuts, and whole grains.

She concludes the article by stating that the best way to go is to “make changes slowly” to keep the energy levels high, and also that the trick for athletes is to “think about protein-rich plant foods at every meal”. To vary it up and add like beans to salads, lentils to pasta sauce, peanut butter to your bagels, etc.

Give it a whirl and see how it works for you.

Source [Runners World]