- Lewis Hamilton became a vegan in 2017 despite warnings from his doctors.
- Since then, he's won four championships and said his energy levels have improved.
Lewis Hamilton is one of many athletes successfully moving to a vegan diet and proving the doubters wrong.
The Formula One superstar switched to a vegan diet in 2017 after two years of "generally" being a pescetarian. According to Vanity Fair, doctors warned Hamilton that he wouldn't get enough protein to keep up with the physical demands of F1 racing.
Hamilton ignored the warnings and then proceeded to win the next four F1 championships, raising his career total to seven. He's now tied with Michael Schumacher for the most wins ever.
"I mean, I've won [four] world titles since then," Hamilton told Vanity Fair in 2022, noting that his energy levels became more consistent and his skin even cleared up. "I've been more consistent than I ever was in the past. So it just takes proving people wrong. And that's what I did."
Hamilton also spoke with the BBC in 2017 about the reasons behind his switch, which was as much about his concern for the environment as his health. He pointed to the "incredible" amount of pollution resulting from cow-rearing practices.
"The cruelty is horrible and I don't necessarily want to support that and I want to live a healthier life," he told the BBC.
Hamilton noted that his family's medical history also contributed to his decision, telling the BBC there is a history of heart disease and cancer among his relatives.
Veganism is spreading among athletes
Hamilton is not the only professional athlete switching to a plant-based diet.
Other big-name athletes who are vegan include Venus Williams, Kyrie Irving, Meagan Duhamel, Jack Wilshere, Colin Kaepernick, and Nate Diaz.
NFL quarterback Justin Fields switched to a vegan diet after a 28-day challenge with his family while he was a student-athlete at Ohio State University.
In an interview with Insider, Fields said the vegan diet improved his athletic performance.
"I think the biggest change for me is just how much lighter and faster I feel all around," Fields told Insider in 2022. " This change was very drastic for me after I did the challenge I did with my family and was ultimately the reason I chose to continue a plant-based diet."
To keep up with the physical demands of football, Fields eats high-carb foods like fruit, oats, beans, and grains to provide energy for his workouts. He also consumes protein-rich foods such as vegan chicken, quinoa, and plant-based shakes for muscle recovery.