World Food Day: Five international sports stars who've turned vegan

Most sports stars follow rigorous diets to maintain a healthy lifestyle. As a vegan diet has a variety of health benefits, many sports stars adopt the plant-based diet. According to the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, a vegan diet consists of low saturated fats and cholesterol, which improves blood thickness and helps more amount of oxygen reach the muscles, positively affecting an athlete's performance. As October 16 is celebrated as World Food Day, here are five sports stars who have adopted a vegan diet.  

1. Virat Kohli – Cricketer 

In 2018, Indian Cricket team captain Virat Kohli decided to forego protein sourced from non-vegetarian food. The cricketer, who liked having biryani, now has a diet that consists of protein shakes, vegetables and soya. Kohli's diet has had a positive impact on his game. According to reports, the Indian cricket team captain felt stronger after the diet started, and was not missing meat or dairy.

2. Lewis Hamilton – Formula 1 Champion

The popular F1 racer has been a vegan since 2017. Along with adopting a healthier lifestyle, Hamilton also wanted to boycott animal cruelty and stop damaging the planet. In an interview, he admitted that he finds the cruelty 'horrible' and wants to live a healthier lifestyle. Hamilton turned to veganism after being a pescatarian for years.

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3. Serena Williams – Tennis Player

Serena Williams opted a vegan lifestyle in 2014. The player wanted to lead a healthy lifestyle and believed that it is good to clean out our system. Her sister, Venus Williams, is also vegan. Venus had to adopt a raw vegan diet after being diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome. 

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4. Sunil Chhetri – Football Player

After Virat Kohli, it was the Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri who turned vegan. In an interview, Chhetri said that he became aware during an event with football club Sporting Lisbon in 2013. The 35-year-old footballer is now more aware of what he consumes. He also thinks that one should be aware of what works best for one's body, and following a diet can help in the long run.

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5. Hannah Teter – Olympic snowboarder 

The American Olympic gold medalist is also a vegan. Teter became a vegetarian after watching the movie Earthlings, and then later switched to the vegan lifestyle. In an interview, Teter said that her diet has helped her reach 'a whole other level'. The snowboarder felt mentally, physically, and emotionally after starting her plant-based diet.

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