'Plant-based Diet' a new trend

Many times I come across on a question of diet plan. In today's world diet plan is followed strictly and many dieticians are getting involved in the sports world to use their knowledge on the sports players to make them fit. 

               Being a cricket coach, I came across many dieticians with whom I shared my player's diet chart and ask them to improvise it. I got many suggestions for diet plans but some were getting effective, while some were getting failed. Nowadays, we see players are using supplementary food items to balance the diet comprising high protein, high carbohydrate, or high-fat diets/foods. But I used to ask myself is it the right way to increase ones energy and power. So, I researched and followed some top-notch sporting personalities and local players daily diet routine and came to a conclusion.

                 A plant-based diet is one of the best diet plan which I came across and saw its results as well. The plant-based diet is one which includes the majority of the plant products, such as vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, oils, legumes, whole grains and beans. However, it does not mean that a person consuming a plant-based diet is a vegan, or never consumes animal products. A plant-based diet may include animal products such as the dairy products, eggs, or honey and at times meat too. But it must be noted that in the case of a plant-based diet there are more plant products and very few proportions of animal products.

               There are several types of plant-based diets. However, the three most common ones include the Vegan where no animal product is taken, Lacto-vegetarian where no eggs or meat is consumed but dairy products can be taken, and the lacto-ovo-vegetarian where no meat is consumed but eggs and dairy products are consumed. 

               One can consume a plant-based diet without being a vegan. Some people are “Semi-vegetarians” where they eat meat or poultry or fish occasionally. Some people are “Pescatarian” where people eat a plant-based diet along with fish.

                Working from the last five years in the National Academy of Direct Taxes as a cricket coach, I came across many officers who are following a Plant-based diet regularly to get the best result. Though they are professionally working as an Indian Revenue Service department's class one officer and their priorities are to serve the nation first. But to keep themselves fit and energetic few officers make sure that they strictly follow their diet routine. Working regularly with them I saw that the players who are following a plant-based diet are fit and the results in sports are getting better and better. Here are the few officers who shared their experiences on a plant-based diet. And came in front to debunk the "real men eat meat” mentality.

               "I am a pure vegetarian and generally have milk and pulses necessarily in my diet. Having lots of colours in my plate with leafy vegetables, dals, fruits, salads and Lacto-based products not only help in rejuvenating my body after a hefty workout but also ensures that diet does not get monotonous. Typical morning session followed up with milk, sprouts, lentils, paneer and beans in the day keep me energetic throughout the day," said Abhishek Jain, Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, New Delhi. 

               "During my training days, I rarely remember that I faced serious injury due to my physical workout. This all has happened because of my plant-based diet. It has helped me in keeping my body strong and fit," Jain added who was a former captain of NADT.

                Many celebrities and sports players do advertisement to promote that meat are the best protein provider and sign contract with brands, McDonald and KFC. But in recent years and studies on plant-based diet got raised. Many people have started adopting it due to its benefits.

There are a lot of health benefits of a plant-based diet. 

1) Plant-Based Diet Lowers Blood Pressure. 

2) Plant-Based Diet Helps In Weight Loss.

3) Plant-Based Diet Cuts The Risk Of Cancer.

4) Plant-Based Diet Helps In Cognitive Decline.

5) Plant-Based Diet in Treating Diabetes.

               The plant-based diet offers necessary proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals for optimal health, and are often higher in fibre and phytonutrients. Vegetarian diets have also been shown to support health, including a lower risk of developing coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and increased longevity.

               This lockdown has helped me a lot in researching on plant-based diet digitally and by reading books. Just to prove that it is been followed by many renowned athletes in the world. I came across watching documentaries on Netflix, I saw a documentary called "The Game Changers", which has among its executive producers heavy-duty names like vegan athletes Lewis Hamilton (Formula One) and Novak Djokovic (tennis), Arnold Schwarzenegger (actor, former bodybuilder) and Jackie Chan (actor, martial arts practitioner). The film lists a series of active and former sportspeople who excelled on a plant-based diet, including Olympians Edwin Moses, Carl Lewis and Morgan Mitchell, fighter Nate Diaz, cyclist Dotsie Bausch, ultramarathon legend Scott Jurek, besides the world’s “strongest man", Patrik Baboumian. It is been narrated by James Wilks, a former MMA fighter and all-around tough guy.

               India cricket team captain Virat Kohli and India football team captain Sunil Chhetri also turn vegan for staying fit. 

             Many people have born Lacto-Vegetarian. While discussing with them, A big concern, particularly among athletes, is that you can’t get enough protein on a plant-based diet. As we all know that protein is vital for building, preserving, and repairing the tissue and muscle in our bodies. But the good news is that you can absolutely get all the protein you need with plant-based foods. You have to see that which food has the highest protein intake and can easily supply to your body. 

                "From my childhood, I had never eaten meat. I never felt that I should eat meat to gain the energy. Till the date being a Lacto-vegetarian I feel light to handle my body and it helps me to perform. Many times I feel that I am unable to give a sufficient amount of protein to my body due to my hectic schedule. So, I take vegetarian supplementary products from market to add proteins intake in me. And that's helped me to keep my body healthy and energetic," says Vidarbha's Ranji team player Akshay Wakhare. 

                Today many people love to adopt a plant-based diet because of its amazing health benefits. If you want to experience the benefits of plant-based diet you can try switching towards it slowly. All you need is to consume more of a whole food plant diet and add a little number of animal products such as dairy products, eggs, or meat. A plant-based diet is not only good for our health but also great for our planet. Last but not the least, speak with a registered dietitian or nutritionist before starting any new diet. Taking care of your health is more important than anything else in this world. 

"Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet."---- Albert Einstein. 

Stay Fit, Stay Healthy!

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