5 Tips on Becoming an OrganicAthlete

Bradley Saul is the founder of OrganicAthlete, a nonprofit organization that teaches how to thrive on a whole food, vegan diet.

1. Commit to a better you and a better world.
As athletes we are not only participating in our sports, we are actively shaping our culture. No matter our level of athletic performance, we are role models for health and fitness. This is a tremendous power. We have the choice to aim this power towards living, training, and competing in a way that benefits all life.  What we eat and how we fuel our athletic pursuits greatly impact our environment and influences those around us.

2. Choose organic.
This should probably be obvious from the title of the article, but shopping for organic food means a lot to an OrganicAthlete.  The name "OrganicAthlete" came to me one day when I was training in the pecan orchards south of Tucson, AZ.  A cropduster flew over and a wave of chemicals wafted over me.  "Something is wrong with this," I thought to myself.  Organic produce tastes better and studies have repeatedly shown organic produce has more nutrients than conventionally grown produce. 

3. Eat lots of plants and fewer animals.
It shouldn't surprise anyone that a significant amount of fresh fruits and vegetables should be included in one's diet.  Contrary to popular belief, there is no need for meat or animal products in an athlete's diet, especially an environmentally-aware athlete's diet.  According to the United Nations, the production of meat and dairy is the leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. 

4. Don't worry about the protein.
Of all the questions that get asked of vegans and vegetarians, "where do you get your protein?" is by far the most common.  The fact is that if you consume enough calories from whole, plant foods, protein is a non-issue.  For more information about the protein question, check out OrganicAthlete's Guide to Sports Nutrition on our website.

5. Go to bed early.
A coach of mine once told me that "races are won in bed."  With your passion for changing the world, you're going be rushing out the door everyday to exercise and change the world.  Without adequate rest and recovery, all that training will be for naught.  Rest and sleep are just as important as diet and training for pursuing your athletic goals.