Originally Posted by
79pmooney
When I raced many moons ago, I read a book "food for Fitness" (Rodale Press ~1970) that talked extensively about the ease of digestion of various food types. Also that protein, while essential, is not needed beyond a rather small amount in an endurance athlete. That protein is the hardest of the food types to digest. Based on that, I stopped eating meat. Happened upon yogurt and instantly felt so much better than after the milk and cereal I ate my entire life that I stopped all un-cultured milk products. (Not diagnosed but I am certain I'm mildly lactose intolerant.) Tried to limit high protein sources. (That was touch because I live sharp cheddar cheese! But I cut out cheese 7 years ago along with all other diary and instant;y felt much better.) Cut down on salt radically and white sugar entirely also based on that book.
What I found was my recovery after hard rides was far better when I ate easy to digest meals afterwards. Slept better and recovered more after dinner of beans, fresh veggies and whole grains than I ever had eating meat. The low salt meant that on the hot and humid days, I sweated out far less sodium. The very hot races I rode above my class, simply because I slowed less. (And since I had no tolerance at all, white sugar and caffeine were pure drugs. Admit to being guilty of using them in races and on very long, hard rides when I found myself bonking 50 miles from home. (A cup of coffee with two cubes - getting home was easy!)
I've been a lacto-pisco-vegetarian for 50 years. You need protein. I've been taking 30g-45g of a high-quality whey protein for decades. I've experimented with running that quantity up and down over the years and this quantity for a 145 lb. guy coupled with high quality grains, veggies, etc., works for me. (Older athletes need more, though that's not been well investigated.) Less does not work. On a too-low protein diet you'll feel fine for a while, but you'll eventually notice that your muscles aren't recovering like they used to. On an unnecessarily high protein diet you'll feel fine. It's not the protein in the meat that's the problem, it's the fat and all the rest of the feed-lot garbage that causes problems. If you are a hunter and are eating your own game, meat is not an issue as long as you're getting plenty of carbs, fruit, and veggies.
Terrymorse is correct. I wouldn't take for fact anything you read from Rodale Press. Depending on age, an endurance athlete needs anywhere from 1 to 2 grams of protein per kilo of bodyweight. The problem with a diet like mine is that it's almost impossible to figure the daily protein intake for a varied diet, so I had to experiment to see what worked for me.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/art...cise%20%5B4%5D.
Like I said, Rodale is BS.