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  • Essay / The Physiological and Psychological Implications of a Vegetarian/Vegan Diet on Endurance Athletes

    In recent years, the public's view of vegetarianism and veganism has changed dramatically, resulting in greater support and greater recognition around the world. A stationary vegetarian diet contains no animal flesh but may include the consumption of animal products such as eggs and dairy products. In contrast, a true plant-based diet or vegan diet involves zero consumption of animal products such as animal meats, fish, dairy or eggs. As the general population of vegetarians and vegans increases, many well-known athletes have also followed this trend and chosen to adopt a diet focused on unrefined, micronutrient-rich foods, while minimizing or avoiding completely animal products and nutrient-depleted foods. This led to the discussion of an optimal vegan diet for athletes, which would aim to avoid potential nutritional deficiencies while accommodating optimal athletic performance. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayResearch studies conducted on high-performance vegan athletes, although limited, have been shown to produce distinct results when are placed in direct comparison with athletes. who adopt mixed diets such as omnivorous diets – which involve the consumption of animal products such as meat and dairy. Adherence to a vegetarian diet has been associated with a reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer, as well as type 2 diabetes. Additionally, it has generally been shown that Vegetarians and vegans have a lower body mass index (BMI). Nevertheless, there is a lack of knowledge about the exact influences that a vegetarian or vegan diet might have on athletic performance. Few people around the world can compete in a sport as demanding as Tripe-Ironman. For such an extreme endurance sport, there is virtually no knowledge about the effects a vegetarian or vegan diet can have on a triathlete. Until 4 years ago, the very first case report involving the presentation of characteristic parameters of a vegan ultra-endurance athlete was published. Led by Roman Leischik and Norman Spelsberg, the study follows a 48-year-old man who had been following a raw vegan diet for 6 years before the test was carried out (2014). The vegan ultra-triathlete was tested against a control group of 10 age-matched Ironman triathletes living on a mixed diet, using echocardiography and spiroergometry technology, as well as blood samples taken during triathlon season and off-season. In addition to showing no signs of nutrient deficiency or poor health, the vegan athlete was found to have a higher degree of peak oxygen intake (VO2max) and a larger end diastolic diameter. left ventricle and a greater stroke volume in his heart. -sectional study conducted by Lynch et al. (2016), elite vegetarian and omnivorous adult endurance athletes were compared for differences in peak torque and cardiorespiratory fitness through measurement of peak oxygen consumption (VO2 max). The sample group consisted of 27 vegetarian athletes (VEG) and 43 omnivores (OMN). These athletes were assessed on the treadmill for their VO2 max and strength usingusing a dynamometer which determined their peak torque for leg extensions. Vegetarian endurance athletes were found to possess better cardiorespiratory fitness than their omnivorous counterparts. Revolving around vegan ultra-triathletes and vegetarian endurance athletes, both studies were able to determine that a plant-based diet was not detrimental to athletes' health and did not compromise their performance compared to athletes mixed regime. Likewise, both research studies collected data suggesting that a vegetarian or vegan diet helped facilitate greater aerobic capacity in individual athletes. Nevertheless, limitations exist in both research methods adopted, such as small and selected samples that are not representative of the general population. Therefore, the significance of these results in varied environments remains limited. Additionally, it should be considered that the skill levels of vegetarian/vegan athletes and the control group of mixed diet/omnivore athletes varied. As the popularity of plant-based diets increases, numerous research studies have been conducted in an effort to further identify the qualitative health properties associated with the consumption of plant-based and health-free foods. animal origin. In an observational study by Link, Hussaini, and Jacobson (2008), other improvements in emotional and psychological well-being were also associated with people who adopted a strict raw vegan diet for 1 to 3 weeks. Taking place at a raw vegan institute in Florida, the study was conducted on selected participants who were 18 years or older, proficient in English and good enough to transition to a pure raw vegan diet. Participants had blood drawn and were also asked to complete a well-validated and reliable questionnaire, the Medical Outcomes Study SF-36, which accurately measured the physical and mental components of the patient's quality of life (QOL). participant related to diet change. perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) at arrival and 12 weeks. Comparing baseline data to participant measurements over 12 weeks, subjects who remained at the Raw Vegan Institute reported improvements in their quality of life in questionnaires, particularly their mental quality of life, anxiety, and stress. This exploratory study indicates that switching from a mixed diet to a vegan diet in a controlled setting such as the Florida Institute is associated with improvements in mental and emotional quality of life. However, given the limitations of this controlled framework, knowledge on conceptual elements such as personal, emotional and psychological well-being is limited. Similarly, Boldt et al. , the NURMI (Nutrition and Running High Mileage) study sought to collect data on the quality of life scores of vegetarian and vegan endurance runners, women and men, compared to athletes who adhered to an omnivorous diet (2018 ). In the second stage of the NURMI study, a total sample of 281 recreational runners, including 159 women and 122 men, completed a questionnaire called the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment – ​​Brief (WHOQOL-BREF ). This test included domains relating to physical health, psychological well-being, environment and social relationships. The data collected revealed that individuals who adopted a vegetarian or vegan diet had a high quality of life (QOL), suggesting that it is a suitable and equal alternative to a diet...