Veganism a growing trend in football – but Hector Bellerin, Sergio Aguero and Jermain Defoe could be missing out on vital nutrition
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VEGANISM has massively risen in popularity in the UK in recent years - and the diet has reached the Premier League.
People in Britain are not just turning vegan because they believe in animal welfare, a greater awareness of cultural and environmental impacts are also driving change.
According to research by The Vegan Society, veganism has seen a 350 per cent increase in the UK in the last 10 years, with hundreds of thousands cutting out all meat-related products.
Athletes who follow veganism claim that they have more energy, can recover quicker and enjoy a much brighter mood and higher motivation.
Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin, Argentina team-mates Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero and Bournemouth veteran Jermain Defoe are all vegan during the season.
Manchester United defender Chris Smalling also largely follows a vegan diet, with his wife Sam turning into an expert chef.
A number of elite athletes Stateside have also gone plant-based in a bid to improve performance.
Tennis superstars Serena and Venus Williams and NFL quarterback Tom Brady high-profile members of the pro-vegan movement.
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Brady has even launched his own range of vegan performance meals, called TB12 Performance.
But a sports dietitian and nutritionist has told SunSport that she has doubts whether a vegan diet is really a good idea for a top athlete.
Some of the perceived health benefits of being vegan have been a bit misinterpreted or are maybe a bit overrated because it's so on trend
Dr Sarah Schenker, sports dietitian
Bellerin claims that cutting back on meat and dairy has improved his performance this season.
The Spanish right-back is typical in stating that ditching meat and dairy products has helped him have more energy and recover from matches quicker.
He's also said that his new diet has helped prevent injury.
"For me the most important thing is the inflammation in my body after games and the speed that my body recovers compared to before," Bellerin said in March.
"I've always had little problems in my ankles when I played very hard games, they would get inflamed and very stiff.
"Now I don’t even have to strap them to play anymore. It doesn’t just make a difference in your body but I strongly believe that what we’re doing to the earth we get paid back.
"Getting rid of all the food I was eating and going to this plant-based diet it did take those few days to actually feel better, but when it got to the beginning of the third week I felt so good.
"I was waking up in the mornings and had so much energy whereas before I used to be that person who would snooze the alarm five times before they got out of bed."
It’s possible for athletes to thrive without eating animal products
Heather Russell, The Vegan Society dietitian
Veganism
- Veganism is the practice of abstaining from using animal products - particularly in diet - with meat, eggs and dairy products off the menu
- The popularity of veganism has spiked in recent years with a number of celebrities and athletes ditching meat in favour of a plant-based diet
- In the UK the number of people who identify as vegan has increased 350 per cent in 10 years, according to research by the Vegan Society
- British supermarkets have reported massive growth in the sector, with thousands of new products available on the shelves
- A number of British high street restaurants now offer vegan products on the menu
- True veganism is supposed to be a way of life rather than a diet, with followers believing meat products should not be eaten ethically, because of the impact on animals and the environment
However, Dr Sarah Schenker, a member of the British Dietetic Association and The Nutrition Society, is not so convinced.
"It's very on trend," sports dietitian and nutritionist said.
"Some of the perceived health benefits of being vegan have been a bit misinterpreted or are maybe a bit overrated because it's so on trend."
Dr Schenker worked as a dietitian for Norwich City and has also consulted for Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur - she has authored a number of books on dieting and nutrition.
True veganism is a way of life rather than just a diet, where the individual takes into account the ethical and cultural impact of the animal industry on the planet.
Documentaries such as What The Health, Cowspiracy and Carnage have sparked other people into following the lifestyle, while it has become very popular among the Hollywood A-list.
Defoe admitted documentaries, as well as a desire to prolong his career, sparked his decision to turn vegan - he's even created his own short film with meat-free food brand Quorn.
Defoe said: "I started [cutting out meat] and I realised I felt different in terms of energy.
"I wasn't getting any muscle injuries, and I was noticing a difference in my skin.
"This is me sending a message out to the younger players to say, if you can do what I am doing, and think about what you are eating, then they could play into their late 30s and early 40s."
Defoe has admitted he is a 'cheagan', eating fish a couple of times a week.
Speaking strictly from a scientific - rather than ethical or moral - standpoint, Dr Schenker believes that following a vegan or plant-based diet could leave athletes missing out on certain key nutrients.
"I'm not anti-vegan at all," she implores, "I'd never judge anybody's ethics or personal choice.
"A lot of the negative things [about eating meat] are related to the farming methods rather than the actual nutrition of the food itself.
"But if you can disassociate the two and look dispassionately, you'd see there are health benefits [to eating meat]."
Dr Schenker adds: "There are limited sources of protein in a vegan diet.
"We talk about high and low quality protein. Most vegetable sources are low quality protein.
"The body needs essential amino acids, you have to get them from your diet.
"What you find is that animal sources of protein contain large amounts. Vegan sources contain some of these sources, but not all of them.
"The only vegan source that is comparable to getting animal protein is soy. That's fine, but soy isn't for everyone and you can be limited with what you do with it - and there's only so much tofu you can eat.
"With professional advice you can make it work but it takes a lot of thought and effort.
";Good nutrition is always best from a balanced diet."
Dr Schenker says that Iron and Vitamin B12 are two crucial nutrients that are most difficult to get in a vegan diet.
However, Heather Russell, a dietitian at The Vegan Society, told SunSport that it's possible for vegan athletes to get every nutrient they would need.
She said: "The Vegan Society works with the British Dietetic Association to share the message that well-planned vegan diets can support healthy living in people of all ages.
"Athletic individuals need high quality fuel, and it’s possible for them to thrive without eating animal products.
"It’s also particularly important for athletic people to ensure that their daily diet contains plenty of iron-rich foods and really rich sources of calcium.
"Good sources of plant protein tend to be iron-rich, but kale, raisins and fortified breakfast cereal also provide iron."
Russell adds: "You can boost iron absorption by adding a source of vitamin C, such as pepper, broccoli, cabbage, kiwifruit, citrus fruits or pineapple.
"You can easily hit your daily calcium target by consuming great plant-based sources. "
The Vegan Society also sells their own supplements designed to boost the nutrients and vitamins that are typically lacking in the vegan diet.
Vegan athletes have also stated that their mood and attitude is much improved, leading to better performance on the pitch.
Dr Schenker believes the feel-good factor of following the vegan diet could be having a placebo-like effect on the players.
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"I think that often stems from them feeling better about themselves," she adds.
"They are thinking about their diet, they've cut a lot of things out, it's taking willpower and there's a feel-good factor that has a knock-on effect in terms of mood and attitude to training and motivation.
"There's nothing magic in the diet that can aid injury or recovery.
"It's coming more from mindful eating.
"Mindful eating probably leads to a better intake of nutrients, that can help, but there's nothing about veganism in particular.
"It's just that you're taking care of yourself."
- Dr Sarah Schenker has a book out: , available on Amazon
- For more information and vegan recipes, visit website