Does vegetarianism effect cardio?

[Max Shane]

I sparred with a vegan yesterday and wow, that guy had stamina. We were doing 5 minute rounds and not once did he ever get tired and I've heard he does 10 of these rounds sometimes. Another example of this is Mac Danzig, another vegetarian who never gets tired.

So I'm wondering, does being vegetarian have any proven evidence toward increased cardio?

[MikeMartial]

Proven evidence? No. Theorized? Yes.

There's a line of thought that a high-alkaline food diet will enable the body to better buffer lactic acid. Berardi has an article on it called Covering Nutritional Bases

There may be some merit to it, but I really doubt being a vegetarian would enhance your cardio to a noticable effect. I'd put money on it that the majority of it comes from training/conditioning and genetics.

[Brendon Katz]

Originally Posted by MikeMartial

Proven evidence? No. Theorized? Yes.

There's a line of thought that a high-alkaline food diet will enable the body to better buffer lactic acid. Berardi has an article on it called Covering Nutritional Bases

There may be some merit to it, but I really doubt being a vegetarian would enhance your cardio to a noticable effect. I'd put money on it that the majority of it comes from training/conditioning and genetics.

agreed. from experience i can say that an alkaline diet definitely helps, but id say it helps recovery way more than actual cardio. vegetarians (all the ones i know, excluding my mother) also tend to be health freaks.

[Michael Wanaka]

I regularly go 15 - 20 rounds of hard sparring in the gym. I also eat meat. Now what say you?

[Sinister]

vegetarians (all the ones i know, excluding my mother) also tend to be health freaks.

That's funny because the bulk of them I meet (and mind-you I work in the supplement industry and do all my shopping at an organic foods market) are duly ignorant on health.

[Max Shane]

Originally Posted by Michael Wanaka

I regularly go 15 - 20 rounds of hard sparring in the gym. I also eat meat. Now what say you?

Uh, congrats.

[Poseidon9]

I'm not a vegetarian by far, but I did notice a tremendous increase in stamina once I switched to eating only whole foods (not including supps.)

The corrolation could be there, but I'm just speculating based on personal experience.

[Brendon Katz]

Originally Posted by King Kabuki

That's funny because the bulk of them I meet (and mind-you I work in the supplement industry and do all my shopping at an organic foods market) are duly ignorant on health.

o, well i know 3. my mom, her brother - whose an extreme sport junkie and has a resting heart rate of 46 or something - and one of my clients, whose also super fit from years of lsd running and dancing. i guess its safe to say uve probably got more experience with vegetarians than i do:p

[Sinister]

Well, as a whole most of them aren't too health conscious. They usually know diddly-crap about supplementing protein properly, and can't differentiate a high GI carb from a low GI Carb.

[JoeU1741]

Originally Posted by MikeMartial

Proven evidence? No. Theorized? Yes.

There's a line of thought that a high-alkaline food diet will enable the body to better buffer lactic acid. Berardi has an article on it called Covering Nutritional Bases

There may be some merit to it, but I really doubt being a vegetarian would enhance your cardio to a noticable effect. I'd put money on it that the majority of it comes from training/conditioning and genetics.

Cool article, thanks.

I remember hearing when Randy fought Tito, that Randy was on this alkaline diet too. I've heard the vegetarian thing too, and know one guy who is an athletic freak and he's strictly vegetarian. Is it because of the diet though? Who knows. Maybe it's the lower saturated fats and salts, but then again you can being vegetarian won't stop you eating cheese, onion rings and cheesecake so... dunno.

Interesting thread though..