MMA Diet: Vegetarian

We’ve heard stories about how Olympian Carl Lewis and baseball slugger Hank Aaron were vegetarians. But now elite MMA dudes like Jon Fitch, Jake Shields, Nick Diaz and Mac Danzig are making vegetarian news. Over the past few years, MMA, thanks to the exposure from the UFC, has been at the cutting edge of training methods and nutritional practices. When there is a televised feature of a UFC fighter using battling ropes or sandbags or a certain protein shake, gym owners and weekend warriors the world over begin ordering these products. Likewise, to go vegetarian is hot right now in MMA. The question here need not be the black and white, “Should I become a vegetarian?” The question should be the shades of gray, “How vegetarian should I go?”

We all should become vegetarians to a certain extent. In fact, research – ranging from Johns Hopkins University’s “Meatless Monday” campaign to Harvard’s Health Publications – is coupling with the growing number of individual success stories, books like Skinny Bitch and documentaries like Food INC. to reveal that perhaps “should” should become “need.” Meat isn’t so bad. What’s bad is that we are eating far too much of it.

Directly stated: At least every other meal should be meatless. And even those meat meals should contain smaller portions. And even those smaller portions would be better if they were more often fish.

Some will say they went vegetarian for their personal health, while others will cite the abstract, all-encompassing “environment.” The truth is, and especially when it comes to food, personal health and environmental health are inextricably linked. You can’t speak of one without at least indirectly speaking of the other.

Below you will find three lists. The first states some reasons why you should incorporate vegetarian elements into your diet. The second addresses the “types” of vegetarian. The third suggests tips for how to make your transition, regardless of what stage you are in, safer and more enduring.

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The world’s population is rapidly increasing and therefore expanding and our available quality land to grow quality food is rapidly decreasing. The result is more people entering poverty and dying of hunger, and more outbreaks of e-coli, salmonella and other food poison microorganisms. This doesn’t include the still (somehow) hot-button political (1) issue of climate change, which continues to supposedly cause many unpredictable weather patterns that result in poor rice and grain harvests, among others.

Fast technology means fast lives and a greater need for fast food and a greater need for fast food means a greater need to have cow factories where acres upon acres of land are essentially turned into flattened, unusable masses of cow feces. The UN suggests that 20% of man-made greenhouse gas emissions come from the meat industry alone. Land and air, like our body and the earth’s body, are also inextricably linked.

Cancer, Heart Disease, Life-Longevity – consumption of meat has been shown to moderately impact all of these negatively. The healthcare system in the United States is struggling to carry the weight, literally at times, of the sick, particularly those who are sick from easily preventable illness. To live a healthier life is patriotic.

 Fossil fuels are a finite resource and the procuring thereof is cause for countless political debates, fears, economic stressors, and, some say, even war. Even slightly reducing the energy consumption the meat plantations need to feed our endless meat consumption could help our domestic lands and international relationships.

Countless positive testimonies regarding all aspects of health from people in various fields – fitness gurus, bankers, MMA fighters, photographers, gymnasts…the lists go on and on. Even the science perhaps hasn’t yet caught up with all the health benefits that incorporating vegetarianism can offer.

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Vegans (total vegetarians): Do not eat meat, poultry, fish, or any products derived from animals, including eggs, dairy products, and gelatin.

Lacto-ovo vegetarians: Do not eat meat, poultry, or fish, but do eat eggs and dairy products.

Lacto vegetarians: Eat no meat, poultry, fish, or eggs, but do consume dairy products.

Ovo vegetarians: Eat no meat, poultry, fish, or dairy products, but do eat eggs.

Partial vegetarians: Avoid meat but may eat fish (pesco-vegetarian, pescatarian) or poultry (pollo-vegetarian). (2)

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Many vegetarians supplement with protein shakes. If you’re thinking of doing so, it’s best to go as natural as possible – something easily digestible, easy on the body. I usually don’t recommend products, but Sun Warrior’s Raw Vegan Protein (Natural Flavor) is the best I’ve personally come across. (3)

You may experience unexpected weight loss when transitioning to a vegetarian diet. This is the result of several factors. One: the fiber and roughage can sweep excess waste from the body. Many of us are storing pounds of it. Two: meat is calorically dense and takes up little space on the plate, whereas most fruits and vegetables are the opposite. The visual presentation makes the mind think it’s eating the same or more, and the temporary stomach expansion (sumo wrestlers and competitive eaters actually train to expand their stomachs by eating cabbage) will make you feel like you’ve eaten a ton. The Japanese meal sukiyaki is a great example. You can eat bowl after bowl of the steamed vegetables, and when you stand from the table you feel stuffed, but it wears off in a few short hours and you’re hungry again.

The Evolution Debate: When someone approaches you with this concept, politely inform him or her that there will never be a definitive answer. There are too many unknown variables. Environment, availability, tactics, tribal rituals, etc. What can be said with relative certainty is that ancient peoples ate meat, but more than likely ate what was easiest because it meant survival. Unless they were absolutely forced, it wouldn’t make sense to burn 150 calories just to eat 80. Those passionate anti-vegetarians rarely take into account the rise of “foods” like high-fructose corn syrup, or the unbelievable amount of sugar we have access to or the ease and accessibility of food in general. As we were making food more convenient, obesity and diabetes were lounging on a couch laughing. Part of incorporating vegetarian elements is incorporating a holistic awareness of food.

Compensation: “Well, I’m cutting out red meat so I’ll replace it with chips, cake and soda.” Speaking of awareness, be aware that this “splurge effect” can work on conscious and subconscious levels. Red meat often contains some fat and is usually served salted. Fats and salts are essential in the diet, especially for the MMA fighter sweating and burning calories. Even animal fats have their health benefits. However, be careful not to “go raw” and cut salt and fats completely from the diet. Drizzle some extra virgin olive oil and pinch some salt onto your salad. Mix some coconut milk and chopped bananas in with your morning oatmeal.

(1).  My conscience thanks poet and mentor, Richard Siken, winner of the Yale Series of Younger Poets Award, for his terrific 2009 in-class impromptu lecture about how everything is political and try as we might we can’t avoid it.

(2).  Harvard_Womens_Health_Watch/2009/October/becoming-a-vegetarian

(3). I am not associated or affiliated with Sun Warrior products. I’ve experimented with many protein brands, stumbled on Sun Warrior years ago and simply haven’t found a better protein powder for vegetarians.

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