I was asked recently if being a vegan is unhealthy for people who are athletes and/or unhealthy for people in general because the diet lacks protein. The answer is no, yes, you can be an unhealthy vegan, but it isn’t because of the diet specifically that leads to poor health. There are plenty of foods that are free of meat that contain all of the nutrients that we need. In fact, our gut health relies on the nutrients that we get from fruits and vegetables.

Key Takeaways:

• Being vegan isn’t necessarily a healthy lifestyle, especially if you resort to fast food and processed options.
• A balanced, plant-based diet that incorporates complex carbohydrates, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds can provide the gut with the healthy bacteria that it needs to thrive.
• Plant-based diets can decrease overall inflammation and support our body’s acid base balance.

“A frustrated mother of a competitive adolescent soccer player looked at me with hope while her daughter looked at me with fear.”

Read more: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/guest-commentary/os-op-veganism-good-for-young-athletes-20201103-hduvnfb6c5e6jb647ava5n4y7a-story.html