It’s not at all uncommon to be a vegetarian or vegan these days. People avoid meat for plenty of reasons.
As athletes and climbers we want our bodies to feel as good, strong, and healthy as possible, right?
So with that in mind, if you don’t eat meat it’s important to make sure you know how to avoid nutritional deficiences…..
“Meat contains vitamins B2, B6, and B12, phosphorus, iron, and zinc.
Deficiencies of these nutrients can lead to anemia, dermatitis, fatigue, reduced immune function, poor wound healing, and reduced ability to taste – the latter three signs all relating to a deficiency in zinc.” -Aicacia Young, RDN
This is an article from Aicacia Young’s (author of our Rock Climbing Nutrition eBook) site climbhealthy.com all about the potential nutrients you could be missing from your diet as a vegetarian or vegan, and what you can do about it.
She goes into detail about the foods you can eat to make sure you’re getting your B vitamins as well as phosphorous, zinc, and iron. She also talks about post-exercise recovery and good sources of non-meat protein.
As Aicacia Young says:
“…adding a few new foods to your daily routine can easily help you meet your nutritional needs as a vegetarian.”
CLICK HERE: What Every Vegetarian (And Vegan) Should Know
(photo courtesy of climbhealthy.com)
