Day 27: Less food, more energy

My new theory is that my body is spending less energy digesting food and thus I have more energy to expend during my workouts. This hypothesis gathered some credibility tonight as I discovered the website of Brendan Brazier, who just happens to be a professional Ironman triathlete - and a vegan. In fact, he's a self-professed 80% "raw" vegan. Now that's hardcore... He's written a book called "Thrive: A Guide to Optimal Health and Performance through Plant-Based Whole Foods" and it seemed so intriguing that I promptly requested it from the local library (stay tuned for a review).

In the meantime, I am considering making February a vegan month - or at least a partially vegan month - to test how Brazier's Thrive diet works for me. I've even looked into hemp protein and heepseed oil (comparable in price to flax and whey), and the Vega meal replacement powders (pricey!!!)

His logic makes sense, really, and he makes some interesting claims about PH balance and the athlete. Leafy green vegetables are important in maintaining a proper PH balance and keeping the body's energy stores available to support immune function and bone health. Omega-3 and 6 (found in flax, hemp, and avacado) are important for heart health and many other body functions, including just keeping you feeling satisfied after a meal. Brazier even did an interview with Bodybuilding.com, and the article includes a sample day of his diet.

Of course, another aspect of the vegan diet is that it is inherently better for the Earth. The amount of food, chemicals, and hormones that go into meat production is incredible ... and thus many people believe that over-consumption of animal products is a major cause of world hunger. If we could just eat one vegan meal a day ... think of the difference even that would make to the food industry, to individual health, and to the environment.

In fact, wouldn't that be a good challenge for everyone next month?

Lunch: 2 cups coffee, 3 pancakes (1/2 cup dry mix, 1/2 cup skim milk, 1 egg, 1 tsp margarine), 1 cup yogurt $1.55
Dinner: 1 cup pasta, 1 can tuna, 1/4 cup frozen peas & carrots, salt & pepper, 1 lb lettuce with 3 tsp dressing $2.41
Snack: 2 cups coffee with milk, 2 cups bean & barley stew $0.62
Other: Multivitamin, Ca/ D, C, glucosamine $0.21

Day 27 Total: $4.79