Improved Aerobic Exercise Performance on a Plant-Based Diet
As well as improving overall health, plant-based diets are linked to superior aerobic exercise performance, according to a recent meta-analysis of the literature recently published in the British Journal of Nutrition. What’s more, the study found that plant-based diets were just as effective as omnivorous diets for strength and power-based exercise, and were beneficial for lowering body mass index.
The researchers, from Brazil, identified and assessed 10 peer-reviewed studies that met their inclusion criteria, and concluded “the results indicate that plant-based diets have the potential to exclusively assist aerobic performance. On the other hand, these diets do not jeopardize strength/power performance.” The findings corroborate previous research showing that plant-based diets can be beneficial for endurance performance, while supporting the same level of muscle growth as omnivorous diets.
References
Damasceno, Y. O., Leitão, C. V. F. S., de Oliveira, G. M., Andrade, F. A. B., Pereira, A. B., Viza, R. S., Correia, R. C., Campos, H. O., Drummond, L. R., Leite, L. H. R., & Coimbra, C. C. (2023). Plant-based diets benefit aerobic performance and do not compromise strength/power performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The British journal of nutrition, 1–12. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114523002258
Barnard, N. D., Goldman, D. M., Loomis, J. F., Kahleova, H., Levin, S. M., Neabore, S., & Batts, T. C. (2019). Plant-Based Diets for Cardiovascular Safety and Performance in Endurance Sports. Nutrients, 11(1), 130. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11010130
Monteyne, A. J., Coelho, M. O. C., Murton, A. J., Abdelrahman, D. R., Blackwell, J. R., Koscien, C. P., Knapp, K. M., Fulford, J., Finnigan, T. J. A., Dirks, M. L., Stephens, F. B., & Wall, B. T. (2023). Vegan and Omnivorous High Protein Diets Support Comparable Daily Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis Rates and Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy in Young Adults. The Journal of nutrition, 153(6), 1680–1695. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.02.023