Athletes don't need sausage, so quit chewing the fat

There are many studies concerned the virtues of various diets and all have their flaws. It seems vegans and vegetarians are choosing to identify problems in eating meat without balancing the argument. As I indicated in today's world with the medical assistance and supplements availability, a person can live either as an omnivore, vegetarian or vegan without too many health issues, as long as balance is retained. Now to show a little balance against those denigrating the consumption of meat, this is from a nutrition authority regarding the reasons to be wary of avoiding meat consumption. "1. Vegans Are Deficient in Many Important Nutrients Humans are omnivores. We function best eating both animals and plants. There are some nutrients that can only be gotten from plants (like Vitamin C) and others that can only be gotten from animals. Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin that is involved in the function of every cell in the body. It is particularly important in the formation of blood and the function of the brain. Because B12 is critical for life and isn’t found in any amount in plants (except some types of algae), it is by far the most important nutrient that vegans must be concerned with. In fact, B12 deficiency is very common in vegans, one study showing that a whopping 92% of vegans are deficient in this critical nutrient . 2. Animal protein contains all the essential amino acids in the right ratios. It is important for muscle mass and bone health, to name a few. Vegans don’t get any animal protein, which can have negative effects on body composition 3. Creatine helps form an energy reservoir in cells. Studies show that vegetarians are deficient in creatine, which has harmful effects on muscle and brain function 4. Carnosine is protective against various degenerative processes in the body and may protect against aging. It is found only in animal foods . 5. Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) is the most active form of Omega-3 fatty acids in the body and primarily found in animal foods. The plant form of Omega-3s, ALA, is inefficiently converted to DHA in the body . 6. Cholesterol is a crucial molecule in the body and is part of every cell membrane. It is also used to make steroid hormones like testosterone. Studies show that saturated fat intake correlates with increased testosterone levels .Not surprisingly, vegans and vegetarians have much lower testosterone levels than meat eaters . Bottom Line: Vegans are deficient in many important nutrients, including Vitamin B12 and Creatine. Studies show that vegans have much lower testosterone levels than their meat-eating counterparts." Now I'm not suggesting that this is the final word on diets and realise it may have underlying agendas. But it shows that arguments exist just as effectively against vegetable only diets as against those against meat eating. Now I realise that supplements exist to address some of these issues but this information shows that there are concerns in all eating habits and that is why humans are adapted in such a way that they live by an omnivore diet to gain their needs from both plant and animal. That is how homo sapiens sapiens have lived since they first appeared about 200, 000 years ago. We in this society are fortunate through a wide range of foods and supplements to live in other ways such as in vegan and vegetarian manners. But thousands of years past such diets without supplements could well have been far less beneficial than the omnivore diet.

No one, whether they are athletic or not, needs to consume animal flesh to be healthy. In fact, meat-based diets cause a host of serious issues. Vegan eating can be delcious and satisfying and no animal has to suffer and die for a fleeting meal. Give it a try in 2015!

And that is not only true but thought out and intelligent

Surely we are all getting the real issue confused here. As indicated it doesnt matter what you're eating choice is as long as you ensure the right nutritional intake and being a meat eater, vegetarian or vegan is somewhat irrelevant as long as that rule applies. The real problem is population numbers not individual diets. Our problems relating to animal and vegetable use is not to do with our use of these life forms for food, but our increasing direction towards monocultures and diminishing genetic variation as a result of selective breeding. Killing animals and plants is a necessary part of nature, and we are part of nature. Its not the killing of food animals that concerns me. In fact our use of food animals actually increases their population. Its human tendency to oversupply animal and plant foods for an increasing population at the expense of other life forms. In nature death is necessary to maintain balance and space for the next generation. Our problem is that we are bringing about death of species of animals and plants we dont find useful.

'not eating meat will not stop animals from dying'. Funny that, because that's exactly what it does do. Simple supply and demand. Dogs and pigs are omnivores, humans have the dentition (jaw movement and teeth) and digestion (length of intestines) of frugivores. I wonder how that calcium and iron gets in the meat in the first place Rob? Perhaps the animals absorb it from plants just like we do.

Hear hear! agreed

Good on you Peter! What a wonderful stand and dedication. Keep it up!

I applaud him for taking an unpopular yet healthful stance in the midst of uneducated people. The planet and the animals have his back.

I'll take scientific data (The China Study) and proven vegan athletes (Carl Lewis and Jim Morris as just two examples) along with Peter Siddle as evidence that we don't need meat or any animal by-products to excel. In fact, there's strong data to support the reverse! Siddle is an absolute champion and has proven his value to Australian cricket again and again - against England here last year then South Africa. A vegan diet has nothing to do with his omission. I saw him take his hat-trick at the Gabba and am so proud of what he has done for his country without harming animals. No point trying to defend inherited, cruel beliefs to try and explain Siddle not being part of the team, that's just not factual.

What is wrong with some of you. "Stop killing animals', 'Meat eaters get cancer' etc etc. My goodness where is reality. Humans are omnivores whether you are happy with that or not. According to scientific studies we acquired a big brain because we started eating meat, whether it be red meat, white meat or fish. That's how humans survived up to now. But of course they didnt over indulge with meat and the majority of their food was still probably vegetable matter and even grubs and insects. One of the primary reasons we live so long in the west is because we have such good medical assistance and we have good food, which includes meat. That's not to say those who live on a vegetarian or Vegan diet are wrong. That's choice and if they can supplement their diet in such a way that they get the nutritional value gained from meat through other sources so be it. Less than a thousand years ago the aristocracy was living significantly longer than the villeins and serfs. And they ate large amounts of meat. The villeins and serfs lived mainly off vegetable matter in gruel with rare bits of meat. On average most died before they were 30 whereas the aristocracy lived usually to about 50. Its not whether you eat vegetable matter or meat. Its whether you get sufficient nutritional value out of what you eat so being an omnivore, vegetarian or vegan these days is just choice, none better than the other. As for killing animals, well I hate to say this but that's called nature. All animals consume other living matter to survive. Arent you killing plants when you eat them? Does it have to have big baby eyes and make a screaming sound for us to abhor killing. Go out in the wild for a while and see how it really works away from the comfort of your suburban homes. And as for cancer, sorry but we all die and are bodies are preset to break down at certain times, some genetic, some environmental. I've got an uncle in his early 90s who is still quite mobile and has eaten meat all his life. I've had an aunt who died of a cancerous condition in her early 60s and she was vegetarian. We're living longer today while eating meat. Others are living longer today as vegetarians. Generally, unless we are doing something destructive like smoking or living off McDonalds, we will live to our optimum no matter what food style we choose, as long as its nutritious and meets our necessary requirements.

Well you got every non-vegan offside from the first sentence, thereby not getting your point across and again offering proof that vegans mainly take up their diet choice so they can jerk each other off about how clever and virtuous they are. Niceties out of the way, I think you need to realise that we're all adults and we all make our own choices. I eat meat. As much as possible I only buy free range. You talk about pets... Every vegan I know seems to own pets (I even know of one who keeps her cat on a vegan diet). Personally I have no intention of owning a pet because I think it's cruel. Birds shouldn't live in cages, fish shouldn't live in tanks, dogs and cats shouldn't be allowed to eat native wildlife. "Ignoring the achievements....etc" (You, 2014) I compete in a reasonably high level sport and I don't personally believe I could continue to be competitive on a vegan diet. If I was a professional athlete (ie. could afford a dietician) and lived in the city (where access to quality vegan food is greater) then maybe, but I've looked at it and I don't see it as realistic.

Vegetarian diets simply do not provide adequate nutrients without supplements. B12, Carnosine, Iron and Calcium, omega 3 fatty acids ect. We are omnivores, we benefit from a small amount of meat in our diet along with lots of fruit and veg and a small amount of high carb foods. Meat is not bad, its the lack of protective nutrients from vegetables that is bad. Not eating meat will not stop animals from dying, although we would all prefer cruelty to be minimised.

There is no universal "vegan diet" just as there is no universal "meat diet," but the fact remains that we can get all the nutrients we need from plants. Just look at gorillas, our close primate relatives. They have no trouble building muscles and strength on only plants and the occasional termite.

how about Mitchell Johnson, he is older and not getting slower?

"sake of a snack"

Excellent advice, Desmond! So many elite athletes have discovered the benefits of picking healthy plant-based foods. Whether we’re athletic or not, we can be so much healthier—and help animals and the earth—by piling our plates with tasty and healthy vegan foods instead of cholesterol- and fat-laden meat, eggs, and dairy products.

Ignoring the achievements of many vegan professional athletes is again proof that people just want to kill animals, regardless of necessity. Even if athletic results would benefit from killing and consuming animals (which, mind you, they don't), people have been conditioned to believe that sports games are very important and the actual lives of non-human animals mean nothing. Why would anyone want to be a succesful professional vegan athlete when you could just abuse, mistreat, disrespect and kill animals while being a succesful professional athlete? Loving animals, the environment and the future of this planet is for pussies. Real men kill animals. Unless of course it's their own pet. That would be cruel.

Hitler was indeed a great sportsman.

Ha ha Rob, a very out-of-date grasp of nutrition there. No-one eating a variety of plant foods ever goes short of protein as amino acids easily combine from all foods. The problem with most people is too much protein - linked to cancers, diabetes and many other 'western civilisation' diseases. There are many superfit vegan athletes including the martial artists Jake Mace and Jade Xu, Arctic marathon winner Fiona Oakes, Carl Lewis and loads more. Veganism isn't 'extreme dieting' it's sensible eating

Yes. That's what it is.