You may have heard of the new craze sweeping the nation: Fuelling. Inspired by the professional sport’s most popular players, the “fuelling lifestyle” encourages athletes to eat the right foods while engaging in strenuous physical activity. Proponents of the diet believe it helps improve sports performance by ensuring the body is fuelled during exercise.
Although there is no scientific evidence to suggest that dietary changes impact on athletic performance, many professional athletes have experienced benefits from adhering to a plant-based diet. If you’re looking to shed some pounds, this 2019 football diet plan could be just what you need.
Keep Your Skin Healthy
Reducing toxins in your diet is an important factor in maintaining healthy, young-looking skin. A large part of the visible appeal of footballers is their beautiful, smooth skin – you may have noticed that many prominent sportsmen and women don’t get many wrinkles as they age.
A 2018 study from the Harvard University Department of Health found that when women ate a plant-based diet, they gained more muscle and the same amount of fat as men did when they ate a typical Western diet. The researchers suggested that this may be because vegans have higher levels of the hormone IGF-1, which promotes muscle growth and development.
While you may not be able to control how you look after you’re born, you can control what you put into your body. Unhealthy foods will damage your health, and more importantly, cause you to put on weight. The ideal vegan diet encourages you to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables while avoiding grains and dairy.
Boost Your Mental Health
An additional factor contributing to sports stars’ good looks is their mental health. If you’re happy and comfortable in your mind, you’re likely to be relaxed and focused during exercise, resulting in better athletic performance. Many professional athletes deal with anxiety and depression, which can be caused by a number of factors including lifestyle, family history, and even the weather. As a result, they may benefit from taking supplements or talking to a professional.
A 2016 study from the Psychiatric Research Institute in Copenhagen found that a vegan diet may help reduce anxiety and depression. During the eight week trial, both groups showed significant improvements in their mental health scores. The amount of fish the participants consumed impacted the results – consuming more fish while on the diet resulted in worse scores compared to those who avoided fish entirely.
Whether you’re a professional sports star or just want to be around people who feel good, this vegan diet plan may help you shed some pounds. With so much talk surrounding veganism, it may be hard to find the right food choices to make without harming yourself or the environment. Ensure you’re making the right choice for your body by getting educated on the subject and forming your own opinion.