Nikita Shah

Vegetarianism has reached an all time high. In fact, it's nearly a trend.

Around campus, students are dressed in shirts with slogans ranging from "Pigs are friends, not food" to "Powered by Tofu." Just as vegetarianism has grown in recent years, the emphasis placed on fitness has also increased dramatically. A popular misconception with these growing trends is that one significantly affects the other. Many believe that vegetarians are not as healthy and not as capable of fitness as carnivores. As common as this fallacy is, it is immeasurably far from the truth.

Consider Dave Scott, a six-time winner of the Ironman Triathlon, or Paavo Nurmi who won nine Olympic medals for distance running, or even body builders Andreas Cahling (Mr. International) and Bill Pearl (Mr. Universe). These four men are devotees of a plant-based diet according to Dr. Joseph Keon.

Based on their accomplishments, it is safe to say that nothing is particularly lacking in their diets. The main source of confusion for those who believe that vegetarian diets do not provide a sufficient source of energy is the belief that proteins are not easily acquired from a plant-based diet.

Although meats are dense in proteins, it is easy to attain a necessary amount of protein from beans and lentils. Furthermore, proteins are the lowest source of energy. Instead, carbohydrates are the main source for fuel for the human body. Sources of carbohydrates include rice, pasta, potatoes and other foods high in starch. Very rarely do athletes store their energy in fats, instead they store them in a form of glycogen. In order to have a high storage of glycogen, one must consume a large number of carbohydrates. Fortunately, vegetarians follow a very high carbohydrate diet, enabling high levels of fitness.

It would be wrong to say athletes completely evade the need for proteins. In order to build and repair muscles, the body needs nitrogen, which comes from a protein source. Although meats can provide all of the essential amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, the truth of the matter is that a combination of plants can also provide the essentials. Furthermore, over-consumption of proteins is unnecessary because the excess will be metabolized and excreted by the kidneys.

Take for example, Kenyans and Ethiopians who are known to be the reigning athletes when it comes to endurance. Diets for these cultures are based on rice, a complex carbohydrate, further showing that it is energy that is more important than protein for muscle building.

Finally, while it has been established that vegetarians can be just as fit as meat eaters, it is also true that vegetarianism may actually promote fitness and health. A vegan diet is full of antioxidants which help relieve stress and strengthen the immune system, and research has shown that vegetarians live longer, healthier lives - avoiding hospitals and modern medical ailments. While there are many advantages of a vegetarian diet, there are no known disadvantages of plant-based eating.