How Cam Newton’s vegan diet may be hurting Panthers QB’s play and injury recovery
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article235295427.html 
...
Caloric deficit isn’t the only potential issue vegan athletes face.

Reduced protein intake can also lead to muscular issues and an inability to properly rehab from injuries.
And simply put, animal and plant proteins aren’t the same.

The human body uses protein for thousands of purposes, everything from growing hair and fingernails to creating essential hormones. Proteins, as well as fats and carbohydrates, are the macronutrients used to perform the majority of bodily functions.

Proteins are made up of building blocks called amino acids, some of which the body naturally creates, others of which we must take from food. The body can store protein in your muscles, but it cannot store the amino acids needed to build them. Animal meat contains all the amino acids needed to produce what are called “complete” proteins; plants can have more or less of certain amino acids, and so there can be imbalances.

As such, any person on a strict plant-based diet would need to eat the proper mix of plants to gain sufficient amino acids required to create “complete” proteins.

...

I cringed audibly when Aaron Rodgers started talking about all the fad diets he was implementing a few years back. I was concerned even then that we would see a decline in his performance if he started trying to get all fancy. I understand that the reasons for his decline have been multifactorial, and I doubt there's been a direct causal relationship between his diet and his performance, but I also don't think his silly diets have done him any favors.

Originally Posted by: Nonstopdrivel