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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Plant-Based Athlete summary
Matt Frazier and Robert Cheeke
A Game-Changing Approach to Peak Performance
25 mins
Brief summary
'The Plant-Based Athlete' by Matt Frazier and Robert Cheeke explores the health benefits and challenges of a vegan diet for athletic performance. It includes meal plans, recipes, and inspiring success stories of athletes who fuel their bodies with plant-based food.
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The Plant-Based Athlete
Summary of 7 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 7
Plants are nutrient-rich and calorie-poor – so you’ll lose weight while eating more.
“Plant-Based Diets Take Over Sports World.”
“Why NFL Players and Other Athletes Are Going Vegan.”
These recent, real-life headlines clearly demonstrate that the world has taken notice of a secret hiding in plain sight: a plant-based diet will improve your physical performance. Not only that, it’ll ward off injuries and enable you to live longer.
Anyone in any sport can benefit from adopting a meat-free lifestyle. Olympic medalists like swimmer Rebecca Soni and figure skater Meagan Duhamel swear by plants’ performance-boosting benefits. Mike Tyson made an epic boxing comeback at the age of 52; leading a plant-based lifestyle for ten years had replenished his youthful strength and power. And ultrarunning legend Scott Jurek has long espoused the recovery-enhancing power of plants.
Whether you’re an elite champion or a weekend warrior, eating whole-plant foods will level up your athletic prowess and overall health. That’s because at the foundational level, plants boast qualities that make them far superior to animal products.
The key message here is: Plants are nutrient-rich and calorie-poor – so you’ll lose weight while eating more.
Ready for a crash course in the makeup of food?
Macronutrients are the building blocks of nutrition; they’re what provide calories – that is, energy – for your body. The three main macronutrients are proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.
Micronutrients, on the other hand, are the minerals and vitamins that play a crucial role in keeping you healthy. Plants contain an abundance of micronutrients that help your body produce energy, boost your immune system, and repair muscles.
A food’s calorie density reflects how many calories it contains per unit of measurement. On food labels, this is usually listed as calories per gram. Plants like cruciferous veggies, fruits, and grains are high in volume but low in calories, so you’ll feel full sooner compared to calorie-rich, low-volume foods like meat or oil.
Then there’s nutrient density – how many nutrients per calorie a food or beverage contains. Plants have a high nutrient to calorie ratio. Combined with their low-calorie density, this means that you can eat more – and more healthily – and you’ll still lose weight. As an added bonus, shedding extra pounds can often make it easier, and more enjoyable, to exercise.
The goal with all these components is not necessarily to eat certain quantities of each; it’s about achieving a diverse mix. We’ll get into the nitty-gritty of exactly how to do this in the following blinks. First up? Protein.
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What is The Plant-Based Athlete about?
The Plant-Based Athlete (2021) debunks the myth that our bodies need meat, eggs, and dairy to achieve peak athletic success. Drawing on extensive research and interviews with professional athletes, it shows that a plant-based diet actually results in better performance, recovery time, and overall health.
The Plant-Based Athlete Review
The Plant-Based Athlete (2022) is an insightful guide to thriving as an athlete on a plant-based diet. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Packed with scientific research and expert advice, it provides a comprehensive understanding of the benefits and strategies behind plant-based nutrition for athletes.
- From nutrition to training, the book offers practical tips and meal plans tailored to optimize performance and recovery, making it a valuable resource for athletes of all levels.
- With inspiring success stories from plant-based athletes, including Olympians and marathon runners, the book dispels the myth that athletes need animal products to excel, keeping readers engaged and motivated.
Who should read The Plant-Based Athlete?
- Athletes looking to increase energy levels, speed, and recovery times
- People who want to improve their digestion or lose weight
- Anyone seeking long-term health for themselves and the planet
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The Plant-Based Athlete FAQs
What is the main message of The Plant-Based Athlete?
The main message of The Plant-Based Athlete is the power of a plant-based diet for athletes, backed by science and real-life success stories.
How long does it take to read The Plant-Based Athlete?
The reading time for The Plant-Based Athlete varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Plant-Based Athlete a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Plant-Based Athlete is a must-read for athletes and those interested in plant-based nutrition. It offers valuable insights and practical tips for maximizing performance.
Who is the author of The Plant-Based Athlete?
The authors of The Plant-Based Athlete are Matt Frazier and Robert Cheeke.
What to read after The Plant-Based Athlete?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Plant-Based Athlete, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Head Strong by Dave Asprey
- Master Your Core by Bohdanna Zazulak
- The Metabolism Reset Diet by Alan Christianson
- Biohack Your Brain by Kristen Willeumier
- The Sports Gene by David Epstein
- The Inspired Vegan by Bryant Terry
- How Not to Die by Michael Greger and Gene Stone
- Young Forever by Mark Hyman
- The Body by Bill Bryson
- The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma