3 vegan bodybuilders show you that you can still beef up on a plant-based diet

As veganism spreads its wings, misconceptions remain about the cruelty-free lifestyle. The top one has to be the dearth of “good” plant-based proteins. Almost every transitioning vegan has had the existential question – “How will you thrive without meat, egg and dairy?” – frequently thrown at them. With animal protein touted as the healthiest, it makes sense to have hundreds of thousands of bodybuilders relying on it for their daily dose. But just because something is popular does not mean it is true.

Here are three of the best vegan bodybuilders who are big and beefy – without any beef in their diet. They smash every misconception we have ever had about plant-based proteins. Next time someone scoffs at the idea of vegan food and its nutritional power, show them this.

1. Torre Washington

Torre hasn’t tasted meat in his life. Raised as a vegetarian from birth, Torre is a professional bodybuilder, sprinter and a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) certified coach. “The Vegan Dread” embraced veganism nearly two decades ago. The four-time vegan bodybuilding champion told Natural Muscle Magazine, that his vegan diet is tailored to suit his training regimen, and it helps speed up recuperation and recovery afterwards.

2. Nimai Delgado

A vegan athlete and professional bodybuilder, Nimai’s physique would make the fiercest critics of a vegan diet squirm. Nimai, who has wins at the prestigious Fresno Classic, USA championships, Hawaii Pro, Sacramento Pro and Grand Prix, has been vegetarian since birth. He had been on a 95 per cent vegan diet apart from dairy products until 2015, and by the looks of things, he is thriving even more now.