Vegan Pro Athletes Excel and Inspire
Originally published in Animal World magazine
From football and baseball players to mixed martial artists and ultramarathoners, vegans are increasingly popping up in professional athletics, raising veganism to a whole new level by bringing it to a new audience – legions of sports fans. A recent article on the ESPN website told the stories of some of the most prominent and promising veg pro athletes. With thanks and acknowledgment to ESPN, here are a few highlights:
Tony Gonzalez – Tight End, Kansas City Chiefs: Football players are generally known for being beefy, and at 246 pounds, 10-time NFL Pro Bowl pick Tony Gonzalez is no exception. What sets him apart from others in his league, however, is that he maintains his massive frame on a vegan diet. Gonzalez stopped eating animal products after being diagnosed with Bell's Palsy, a condition that many doctors say can be successfully managed by eating a raw vegan diet. He is now writing a book about veganism from the pro football player perspective, and looks forward to speaking with other athletes about the power of healthy plant-based eating when he retires.
Pat Neshek – Relief Pitcher, Minnesota Twins: Sporting an inimitable throwing style, Pat Neshek is considered one of the best relief pitchers in major league baseball today. Since taking up veganism and a new training regimen, he has gained seven pounds of lean muscle. Neshek credits his good health to juicing (actual juice, not steroids), and carries a portable juicer on the road. He’s also fond of brown rice, beans, legumes, tofu, and flaxseed oil. While some of his teammates like to rib him about his diet, Neshek also draws curiosity from players who want to learn more about the benefits of being vegan.
Mac Danzig – Mixed Martial Arts Champion: As winner of the King of the Cage competition and the reality TV series The Ultimate Fighter, Mac Danzig is one of the top mixed martial artists in the world. Yet this scrapper with a sculpted physique is also a vegan and lifelong animal lover who worked at a sanctuary just before beginning his training for mixed martial arts. Danzig stopped eating animal products primarily for ethical reasons and out of concern for the environment, but if anything, the vegan diet seems to have improved his performance in the ring, proving you can be strong and tough without harming animals.
Scott Jurek – Ultramarathon Runner: Ultramarathons can be over 100 miles in the most extreme weather conditions – from freezing cold to searing heat – but as a vegan, Scott Jurek says he is able to recover faster than many of his meat-eating rivals from the physical strain these demanding competitions put on the body. With an impressive number of victories to his name (including seven consecutive Western States titles), Jurek is often approached by other runners seeking advice about healthy eating. According to Jurek, being vegan is "really not that hard once you get things down...Just keep variety in your diet, and you'll be good."
Learn more about healthy vegan eating for fitness at organicathlete.org/search/node/vegan.
From football and baseball players to mixed martial artists and ultramarathoners, vegans are increasingly popping up in professional athletics, raising veganism to a whole new level by bringing it to a new audience – legions of sports fans. A recent article on the ESPN website told the stories of some of the most prominent and promising veg pro athletes. With thanks and acknowledgment to ESPN, here are a few highlights:
Tony Gonzalez – Tight End, Kansas City Chiefs: Football players are generally known for being beefy, and at 246 pounds, 10-time NFL Pro Bowl pick Tony Gonzalez is no exception. What sets him apart from others in his league, however, is that he maintains his massive frame on a vegan diet. Gonzalez stopped eating animal products after being diagnosed with Bell's Palsy, a condition that many doctors say can be successfully managed by eating a raw vegan diet. He is now writing a book about veganism from the pro football player perspective, and looks forward to speaking with other athletes about the power of healthy plant-based eating when he retires.
Pat Neshek – Relief Pitcher, Minnesota Twins: Sporting an inimitable throwing style, Pat Neshek is considered one of the best relief pitchers in major league baseball today. Since taking up veganism and a new training regimen, he has gained seven pounds of lean muscle. Neshek credits his good health to juicing (actual juice, not steroids), and carries a portable juicer on the road. He’s also fond of brown rice, beans, legumes, tofu, and flaxseed oil. While some of his teammates like to rib him about his diet, Neshek also draws curiosity from players who want to learn more about the benefits of being vegan.
Mac Danzig – Mixed Martial Arts Champion: As winner of the King of the Cage competition and the reality TV series The Ultimate Fighter, Mac Danzig is one of the top mixed martial artists in the world. Yet this scrapper with a sculpted physique is also a vegan and lifelong animal lover who worked at a sanctuary just before beginning his training for mixed martial arts. Danzig stopped eating animal products primarily for ethical reasons and out of concern for the environment, but if anything, the vegan diet seems to have improved his performance in the ring, proving you can be strong and tough without harming animals.
Scott Jurek – Ultramarathon Runner: Ultramarathons can be over 100 miles in the most extreme weather conditions – from freezing cold to searing heat – but as a vegan, Scott Jurek says he is able to recover faster than many of his meat-eating rivals from the physical strain these demanding competitions put on the body. With an impressive number of victories to his name (including seven consecutive Western States titles), Jurek is often approached by other runners seeking advice about healthy eating. According to Jurek, being vegan is "really not that hard once you get things down...Just keep variety in your diet, and you'll be good."
Learn more about healthy vegan eating for fitness at organicathlete.org/search/node/vegan.
