Vegetarian Star

“I don’t worry about protein. I don’t worry about all that. I’m from old school. I grew up in south Georgia. They didn’t worry about cholesterol or protein. They went out and worked and lived a long time, so I don’t put a lot of worries in my mind. I just get it done.”

—Herschel Walker, former Heisman Trophy winner who’s decided to pursue a career in Mixed Martial Arts at the age of almost 50. A vegetarian, Walker told CNN he trains for 6-7 hours a day, waking up at 5:30 AM to do 750 to 1,500 push-ups and about 2,000 sit-ups.

We really don’t need as much protein as some meat eaters will try to convince us. Experts recommend about 0.8 grams of protein per 2.2 lbs. of body weight for men and women. And too much protein may put you at risk of disorders of the kidney, liver and/or osteoporosis.

Walker is training for his second MMA fight, which is scheduled to take place December 4th. Watch the video below to hear him discuss his new sport.

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Leilani Munter. Credit: Alan Moore

Race car driver Leilani Munter comes in as the #1 eco athlete on Planet Green’s Planet 100.

“At number one, biology graduate turned race car driver, Leilani Munter is on a mission to ensure every race car uses clean, renewable biofuels and every race track has a recycling program. Self described “Vegetarian Hippie Chick,” Munter uses her celebrity status to inspire race car fans to make a difference. She is focused on getting the 135 million Indy and Nascar fans to recycle and use efficient bulbs—small actions that add up to big changes.”

Leilani’s a fantastic example of a green athlete, given her diet and environmental activism, but how did Hannah Teter not make the cut?

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Tickled pink that vegan Scott Jurek broke an American record in the IAU 24 hour running race?

You have plenty of company and a dietitian wrote to the New York Times sports editor to express just how exciting it was to see a man completely free of meat and dairy at the top of his athletic game.

“It’s clear that his diet isn’t slowing him down. In fact, it may explain why he is so fast and full of energy,” the letter writes.

“Athletes must get energy from food, but calories should come from healthy low-fat foods that have enough protein and are high in fiber. Because of its high-carbohydrate and low-fat content, a vegan diet is optimal for athletes.”

A new book by Dr. Katharina Wirnitzer, sports scientist and two time competitor in the TransAlp Challenge mountain-bike race, is meant to slam the claim that athletes who munch on nuts in between laps and weight training will collapse before the race even begins.

Wirnitzer also touches on the myth athletes need the protein of an entire cow during every meal.

“To maintain good health, a daily intake of 8–12 percent is more than enough and ideal for the highly strained metabolism of athletes,” Wirnitzer said, adding that vegan diets “are not only well suited for all phases of life, as well as for top athletes, but if adequately implemented and combined with a supporting lifestyle, also optimally suited for endurance sports.”

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Mark Bittman took a jog with vegan marathoner Scott Jurek before heading over to his home to eat a meal cooked by the athlete and discuss his diet and career for Bittman’s column in the New York Times.

The pair ate a greek salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, seaweed, a tofu and vegetable dish with miso and cashew sauce and quinoa.

This is what an athlete that races in 100 mile competitions fills up on?

It’s completely normal, assured Jurek, who consumes 1,000 calorie smoothies with nuts, fruits and protein powder, plenty of sweet potatoes, tofu and tempeh combos and beans and grains during training for a big race.

“None of this is weird,” Jurek said. “If you go back 300 or 400 years, meat was reserved for special occasions, and those people were working hard. Remember, almost every long-distance runner turns into a vegan while they’re racing, anyway — you can’t digest fat or protein very well.”

Visit the New York Times for more.

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Brendan Brazier, a vegan athlete and author who created his own line of vegan energy bars and drinks, recently interviewed with Media Bistro’s Morning Media Menu show, where he discussed his idea to write a book, being vegan and his contributions to Moby‘s collection of essays, Gristle.

“In 2004, I wrote and self published a short book about my nutrition plan. I had been racing Iron Man triathlons professionally for seven years–eating a completely vegan diet. I was getting asked all the time where I got my protein, my calcium, my iron, and all these things. It came out in 2004, and did better than I expected. I expanded it and it was published by Penguin Canada.”

Listen below to hear the entire interview.

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Prince Fielder‘s success at the ballpark is so sought after, the Brewers are willing to do anything they can to retain him, including giving him a salary increase at the expense of the residents in Wisconsin, according to OnMilwaukee.

A vegetarian tax is being proposed, with a 5% charge on such items.

But Republican representative Scott Newcomer is certain the pinch will hardly be felt by those that eat the food.

“These vegetarians are wired a little differently. Most of them live on the East Side and they wear funky T-shirts and beat up old sandals, but you know they have money.”

“You have to be affluent to be a vegetarian. They pay extra for organic produce and free-range bean curd. I don’t even think they’ll notice the extra charge.”

With Fielder’s success on the field, you’d think more people would be encouraging vegetarianism as they see not only is the diet tasty, but can physically support the endeavors of a major league baseball player.

But some people are apparently worried about their cows.

Jeffrey Mursau, a Republican from Crivitz, said, “This is a no-brainer for me, given that there are a lot of cattle and dairy farms in my district,” he said. “People up north don’t trust anyone who doesn’t eat meat. And frankly, I find soy stupid.”

“I think this tax is a great idea because real Brewers fans eat bratwurst. They don’t want expensive tofu dogs that taste like cardboard.”

One final April Fool’s story to add to the day’s mix.

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The Hornets’ George Shinn sat down for dinner at a famous steakhouse, Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse in the French quarter and ate nothing but meat free items–a stuffed bell pepper, mushrooms and a salad medley with sliced apples.

Shinn set an example for a few Hornets fans who won the opportunity to have lunch with the basketball star.

Shinn embarked on a meatless diet on the advice of his wife, Denise, who insisted after he received a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

It’s been 11 weeks since the surgery to remove the cancerous prostate at Johns Hopkins Medical Institute and Shinn couldn’t feel better.

Is it luck that he found something delicious to eat at a steakhouse of all places?

Maybe it’s the result of giving the customer what he wants.

Shinn said that if a restaurant doesn’t adapt to his lifestyle, then, “I don’t go there.”

Spoken like a true superstar!

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Triathlete, author and food entrepreneur Brendan Brazier has been a vegan since the age of 15.

Although his first attempts to follow the diet didn’t work out (too many refined carbohydrates), he eventually found a way to eat to sustain energy without meat and dairy products.

A few highlights from hlifemedia on how he did it.

On his typical salad:
“Different types of lettuce, kale, sometimes a bit of nutritional yeast, different types of seaweed like dulse, a good dressing made up of apple cider vinegar and Vega oil. Also, usually avocado, different sprouted things, carrots, beets, sometimes cucumber.”

How he gets his protein:
“I think quality is way more important than quantity. I’m 165 lbs, so I should, according to a conventional sports-nutrition book, eat about 165 grams of protein a day – and I don’t eat half that. The protein I get is from leafy greens, which is about 45% protein, pretty high, and hemp, a natural source of protein, as well as lentils, legumes, beans, peas, so it’s about quality. I get probably about 70 grams a day.”

On how to put coconut oil to use:
“Coconut oil has medium-chain triglycerides. So it’s a type of fat and it acts more like a carbohydrate than a fat, and it goes to your liver, gives you energy straight away. I often put coconut oil on dates and have that right before a workout – it’s just quick, simple energy. I use it as part of some of my recipes too in Thrive. It’s in Vega Sport, too, in powder form.”

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