Health Beyond the Blog: Athletes and Plant-Based Diets in “The Game Changers”

The Game Changers is a 2018 documentary available on Netflix that investigates whether athletes can reach peak performance on plant-based diets. It follows a UFC fighter who talks to scientists and athletes already consuming plant-based diets. It encourages people to make a shift to this type of diet, but with a positive approach instead of resorting to scaring the viewer or invoking guilt. 

However, the information it presents needs to be examined carefully. For instance, it claims that the source of amino acids in foods is irrelevant. Unlike animal protein, plant proteins are usually deficient in at least a few amino acids, requiring diets to include complementary proteins. [1] Another argument made by the film is that the fats found in meats impair blood flow and endothelial function unlike plant-based sources of fats. However, it bases this claim on a “study” of only three people who eat vegan and meat burritos over 2 days; it does not evaluate plant- and animal-based saturated fats on an equal basis. [2] [3,4] 

A third claim made by the film is that a plant-based diet can help an athlete bounce back quicker after training than a meat-based diet can. A 2020 review did find that antioxidant-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables can help inflammation and general health – but also found that antioxidant supplements can block anabolic signaling pathways and potentially interfere with recovery. [5] 

This documentary highlights that stereotypes about plant-based diets being deficient in protein are not accurate; athletes can be competitive and even potentially improve performance while being plant-based. However, a plant-based diet is not the only way to be healthy, so everyone should come to their own conclusions on what is best for their health.

References

Pace, J., Wilks, J. (2018). The Game Changers. Netflix. USA. Retrieved from   https://gamechangersmovie.com/ 

[1] Gorissen, S. H. M., Crombag, J. J. R., Senden, J. M. G., Waterval, W. A. H., Bierau, J., Verdijk, L. B., & van Loon, L. J. C. (2018). Protein content and amino acid composition of commercially available plant-based protein isolates. Amino Acids, 50(12), 1685—1695. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-018-2640-5

[2] Boateng, L., Ansong, R., Owusu, W. B., & Steiner-Asiedu, M. (2016). Coconut oil and palm oil’s role in nutrition, health and national development: A review. Ghana Medical Journal, 50(3), 189—196.

[3] Nicholls, S. J., Lundman, P., Harmer, J. A., Cutri, B., Griffiths, K. A., Rye, K.-A., Barter, P. J., & Celermajer, D. S. (2006). Consumption of Saturated Fat Impairs the Anti-Inflammatory Properties of High-Density Lipoproteins and Endothelial Function. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 48(4), 715—720. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2006.04.080

[4] Robinson, S. A., O’Brien, M. W., Grandy, S. A., Heinze-Milne, S., & Kimmerly, D. S. (2019). Short-term supplement of virgin coconut oil improves endothelial-dependent dilation but not exercise-mediated hyperemia in young adults. Nutrition Research (New York, N.Y.), 67, 17—26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2019.03.016[5] Higgins, M. R., Izadi, A., & Kaviani, M. (2020). Antioxidants and Exercise Performance: With a Focus on Vitamin E and C Supplementation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(22), 8452. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228452