Dear fellow athletes and fitness enthusiasts,

When I became vegan, I wondered why more people weren't considering whole food, plant-based nutrition as part of a healthy athletic regimen. In terms of nutrition, health, athletic performance, and environmental impact, athletes and fitness enthusiasts can benefit greatly from consuming a diet based on fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, myths and misconceptions abound when it comes to plant-based diets, so in 2003 I founded OrganicAthlete with one of our major missions being to educate athletes on the many benefits of a whole food, plant-based diet.

If I had a nickel for every time I've been asked where I get my protein, I would conduct a huge publicity campaign stating that vegans get protein from plants and plenty of it! I would have a picture of my friend and professional bodybuilder Kenneth Williams front and center. But good, healthy, common sense nutrition does not have a very large marketing budget, and most sports nutrition information available does not advocate a plant-based diet nor recognize its benefits. The fact is that athletes can succeed on a vegan diet, and more and more people are discovering a boost in health and performance from eating a plant-based diet.

With this first publication of the OrganicAthlete Guide to Sports Nutrition, we hope to clear up some of the confusion surrounding vegan nutrition. We explain that a whole food, plant-based diet is definitely not about lack of nutrients or restrictive dieting. Whether you're a long time vegan or just interested in sports nutrition, we hope this guide provides some information that will help you live healthfully.

May your life be fruitful,

Bradley Saul