Professional athletes will do nearly anything in their power to help them improve their skills in their sport. One way to elevate their performance is through a disciplined diet. The days of eating like a ravenous carnivore are over as inflammation runs rampant, causing these professional athletes to adopt a plant-based diet.
Novak Djokovic
Decades ago, it was common to consider tennis players past their prime when they reached 30. For example, the 14-time major winner Pete Sampras hung up his tennis shoes at 31. Since Sampras’s retirement, the men’s tennis scene has had a trio of champions that carried the sport: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.
However, “The Joker” is the only one who credits his plant-based diet as the driving force for his 22 major championships, tying him with Nadal for the most ever. At 34 years old, it’s difficult to prognosticate how many titles are in his future, but his diet can separate him from the rest of the competition.
Chris Paul
One way or the other, you have seen Chris Paul on your television. Whether pitching State Farm Insurance as Cliff Paul or leading his Phoenix Suns in the NBA Playoffs, the 37-year-old Paul recognized that a plant-based diet was the reason he could still play at the highest level. The motivation behind the decision was to reduce body inflammation by strictly consuming organic ingredients. Hopefully, Paul will finally collect his first NBA championship this season with the addition of Kevin Durant.
Diana Taurasi
While Paul is showcasing his skills on the hardwood for the Phoenix Suns, another Phoenix basketball player has even more skills than him. Diana Taurasi dominated at the collegiate level for the Connecticut Huskies, winning three straight national championships before the Phoenix Mercury made her the number-one pick.
The jump to the professional ranks didn’t slow down Taurasi, considering she’s the sport’s all-time leading scorer, and won two WNBA Finals MVPs during her three championship seasons. Recently, the 40-year-old Taurasi announced she was returning for her nineteenth season after contemplating retirement.
Cam Newton
Although he’s no longer one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL currently, Cam Newton was a monster in his prime. The former Rookie of the Year and MVP award winner scoffed at the notion that a plant-based diet doesn’t provide enough protein by stating: “People often ask, ‘How do you get your protein?’ I just say, ‘I get it the same way you do, but it’s fresher and cleaner.” The former All-Pro quarterback called it quits after returning to his former team, the Carolina Panthers, in 2021.
Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton may not be a household name in the States, but his success on the F1 circuit makes him one of the most recognizable and decorated athletes worldwide. The racer rid his diet of animal products because of his affinity towards living creatures, so the additional health benefits are only a bonus. Hamilton even passed his plant-based diet on to his dog Rocco.
After looking at the professional athletes who adopted a plant-based diet, the proof is in the pudding. Everyone has been the best in their game at one point, and with an enriched plant-based diet fueling them, they can remain at the peak longer than their adversaries.
