Vegetarian Bodybuilding: Is It Possible?
When it comes to bodybuilding, a wide number of people depend on non-vegetarian stuff while an ongoing controversy still suggests the possibility of vegetarian bodybuilding all the while minimizing the risks for developing various degenerative diseases like coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, cholesterol, hypertension and even some forms of cancer. In this article, we will critically examine different shades of vegetarian bodybuilding. Here we go.
Benefits of Being Vegetarian
Although there are many controversies regarding the availability of the essential nutrients in sufficient amount while solely depending on vegetarian diets, the most interesting fact is that only the choice of vegan and vegetarian foods allow an individual to stay aligned with nature power, to become kind to animals, to increase the likelihood of feeding the famished population around the world, to save animals in nature and to decline public medical care cost. Interesting?
Before going any further, let us first understand the differences between various types of vegetarians. They are primarily three types - vegans or people who are strict vegetarians and prefer not to consume any animal products or byproducts; lacto-ovo vegetarians, people who consume eggs and milks, but no meats; and pesco-vegetarians, people who consume dairy products and fishes. In our article, we will discard our discussion about other subcategories.
Since the first thing knocking the mind about vegetarian bodybuilding is the availability of sufficient protein and other essential nutrients. Surprising but true, in the protein quality measurement scale, beef and soy are scored as 0.92 and 1.0 respectively, and soy is rated as the highest quality protein supply. On the other hand, soy contain high level of glutamine, a non-essential amino acid, has an anti-catabolic effect, especially vital during stressful situations.
Vitamin Supplements
While you are considering vegetarian bodybuilding and if you are adhering lacto-ovo or pesco vegetarian lifestyle, you do not need to worry about the sufficient supply of essential vitamins and minerals. However, if you are adhering vegan lifestyle, you may need to consider multivitamin supplements, since vitamin12 is only available in animal products. Dairy products are rich with the supply of vitamin12.
No matter whether you are taking additional vitamin and mineral supplements or not, you must care enough to choose the right combination of foods in your daily diet in order to fulfill the needs of required vitamins and minerals, especially if you are engaged in vegetarian bodybuilding. Our Mother-Nature has a rich supply of a wealth of vitamins, minerals, phyto-chemicals and antioxidants that are able to provide you the optimum benefit.
