Some of the most talented athletes in the world—like ultramarathoner Scott Jurek, world champion boxer Keith Holmes, and professional football star and Heisman Trophy–winner Desmond Howard—have enjoyed successful careers as vegans. Most of us aren’t in their league, of course. If you’re hitting the gym two or three times a week to work out, you probably don’t need to change a thing about your vegan diet (assuming you’re already following our guidelines for healthy eating). It may be that those who train competitively don’t need to change much either. Athletes who eat enough to satisfy their appetite will often meet their protein needs without even trying, and they will get a boost in iron intake too. But since vegan diets are typically lower in calories, protein, well-absorbed iron, creatine, and carnitine, it’s worth giving these issues some added attention. We’ll also discuss carnosine because there has been interest in the relationship of this amino acid to athletic performance.
