Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has explained the benefits he has got since changing his diet to vegan one.
Smalling added that his power and strength have increased considerably since ditching animal products for a plant-based diet. The 29-year old returned to the starting XI that faced Fulham and pulled a 3-0 win at the Craven Cottage. He also pointed out that recovery from injuries has been boosted by the change in the diet.
“I’m constantly getting stronger and getting better results. Even before I went vegan, in terms of cutting out red meat, my tendinitis and recovery after games was vastly improved. I had quite a few symptoms, but since I went fully vegan I don’t feel it at all anymore. The second day after a game is often when I feel most fatigued, but my fatigue levels have gone down and, on the second day, I’ve felt a lot more recovered than previously. Even my skin, I had a lot more breakouts before than I do now. I’m feeling a lot of physical benefits from it.” Smalling told Sky Sports News.
Thai food, Jamaican stews with yam, pumpkin and sweet potato are some of the delicacies the centre-back enjoys as he revealed during the interview.
“The chef makes me a vegan section and often quite a lot of the other players are looking at it thinking: that looks good. And then by the end of the dinner, a lot of it’s gone. A lot of them are trying it. At home, we try to plan what we cook in the week. When we go to the supermarket I’m often the one pushing the trolley and Sam’s chucking stuff in. I like Thai food, Jamaican stews with yam, pumpkin and sweet potato.” he added.
Not many people took it easy upon realising that Smalling was switching to being a vegetarian and even some asked how he will be able to play intensively as the league standard demands. To him, that was a silly question.
“I was ordering soy milk in a hotel and he looked at me and said ‘how are you gonna run on Saturday?’ Just a silly question! It made me laugh at the time,” he pondered.
Smalling has been a mainstay at Man United’s defence with the three managers since Sir Alex Ferguson retired: David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal and Jose Mourinho fielding him regularly