Superior Self / Plant Based Performance

So many of us are eating more and more vegetables and fruits these days. Every day new data is released from studies claiming that veggies are super foods, fruits are super foods, and plant matter matters! It matters in many ways for our health and performance. The planet needs us to be healthy in order to take care of it, right? I recently read an article sharing a story of a teenager in England who only ate junk food. He stayed away from fresh veggies and fruits, eventually becoming permanently blind from his poor diet.

There are a lot of professional athletes who are completely plant based these days. There are some athletes who eat a mostly plant based lifestyle. How can a diet that is plant-based can help improve an athlete's endurance performance? I say we must experiment with our own selves. Create an N=1 experiment.

When I was in my 40s I ran 16 marathons. The inspiration was Oprah running her marathon at age 40. For the last few months of every training schedule, I ate mostly raw vegetables, and from time to time, smoked or raw fish. When I felt the craving for flesh I knew it was my body needing the extra dense protein, so I chose fish. Usually I ate lots of high quality raw and sprouted nuts, seeds, and their butters. I ate tofu and edamame beans, steamed or raw. I enjoyed nutritional yeast flakes for a cheesy tasting protein. Each year I did this and each year I improved my timing, although I was slow. I enjoyed my time running, so time goals weren’t a factor. Enjoying the journey was the most important thing for me.

I hope this helps you try new things and be creative with your life's journey!
Sincerely,
KJ Landis

Original post found here.