2025-07-14
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Documentaries
“The Game Changers” is a documentary film about the impact of plant-based nutrition on athletic performance. The project was created with the participation of professional athletes, and among the film’s executive producers are Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jackie Chan, who set out to debunk the myth that eating meat is essential for success in sports. The experiences of champions became the primary material for the film.
The documentary “The Game Changers” is built on the thesis that plant-based nutrition promotes athletic achievements while also enhancing physical strength and endurance. The filmmakers demonstrate this through examples of successful athletes who, by following a plant-based diet, achieved outstanding results in their sports. In this way, the film breaks the stereotype of an exclusive connection between muscle strength and a meat-based diet, opening new perspectives on plant-based nutrition for athletes.
One of the common myths is that muscles can only be fueled by animal protein. However, the filmmakers argue that muscle growth requires amino acids, which are also found in plant-based proteins. Even animals consume plant feed, from which they obtain everything necessary for life. Therefore, plants are the primary source of high-quality protein essential for muscle growth. In addition, plants provide the body with fiber and antioxidants that help athletes recover after intense training sessions.
Those who train regularly need more protein, the authors of the film emphasize. According to information from the film’s official website, plant-based protein contains all the essential amino acids. Moreover, plant foods do not contain saturated fats or cholesterol, which are present in meat, thereby reducing the risks of chronic diseases. In particular, a plant-based diet supports normal blood microcirculation, reduces chronic inflammation in the body, and consequently lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease. Animal protein, by contrast, is more acidic, which slows down muscle recovery after training, whereas plant protein combined with fiber accelerates this process.
The conclusions of the film The Game Changers are scientifically sound. It features leading experts, nutritionists, and doctors who are convinced of the benefits of a plant-based diet. Dean Ornish, Walter Willett, and Caldwell Esselstyn emphasize that a plant-based diet benefits muscle growth and recovery after exercise and has an overall positive effect on health. In particular, it supports the cardiovascular system.
Additionally, Dean Ornish, a cardiologist and Stanford University professor of medicine, cites the findings of clinical studies. He claims that a plant-based diet improves blood vessel elasticity and reduces the risk of heart attacks. This is due to the absence of excess fat and reduced cholesterol consumption, as cholesterol is abundant in meat products.
Walter Willett, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard University, adds that plant-based foods contain high concentrations of antioxidants, which protect the body against cell damage and premature aging.
Cleveland Clinic cardiac surgeon and researcher Caldwell Esselstyn emphasizes that he regularly treats patients with artery disease using a plant-based diet.
Studies have also shown that red meat is carcinogenic and increases the risk of pancreatic and prostate cancer. Processed meat is no less harmful and can contribute to the development of colorectal cancer. The WHO confirms that consuming large amounts of meat negatively impacts health. Therefore, the less meat we eat, the better.
In the film “The Game Changers,” Dr. Vogel, an experienced cardiologist, presents his own experiment. He selected three basketball players and gave them two different burritos to eat: one plant-based and one meat-based. The athletes ate them one after the other. Two hours later, blood samples were taken for analysis. As a result, after eating the meat burrito, all three athletes had cloudy blood and elevated inflammation. However, after eating the plant-based burrito, their blood remained clear, meaning that the inner lining of their blood vessels remained intact. This demonstrates that even a single meal can impact vascular health.
An increasing number of modern athletes are switching to a plant-based diet. Patrik Baboumian, one of the strongest men on the planet, has not eaten meat since 2005. Since then, he has set several world records. In the film, he shares his perspective on nutrition:
"If you think strength requires meat, explain why the ox, the strongest animal, eats grass."
American mixed martial artist and UFC star Nate Diaz avoids meat before key fights. He relies on plant-based proteins during training and notes that his endurance increases during matches, while his body recovers more quickly after workouts. This gives Nate Diaz an advantage over his meat-eating opponents.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is another advocate of plant-based nutrition. In the past, he followed a meat-based diet and considered meat to be his main source of protein. Over time, however, the bodybuilding legend changed his perspective and began consuming plant-based foods. Eventually, plant-based foods became his primary source of protein, and he gave up meat altogether. Schwarzenegger believes that strength comes from the right nutrients, not meat.
Athletes on a plant-based diet consume legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and vegetables. These foods provide the essential amino acids and micronutrients the body needs. Reducing or eliminating meat lowers saturated fat and cholesterol intake, leading to decreased inflammation and reduced strain on the cardiovascular system. Athletes emphasize improvements in endurance and faster recovery after intense training.
Plant-based nutrition has existed since ancient times. The film mentions that Roman gladiators were called "barley eaters" (hordearii) because of their predominantly plant-based diet. This did not prevent them from engaging in challenging battles and enduring extreme physical strain.
Research from the University of Vienna confirms that the warriors' diet consisted mainly of grains rather than meat. Elevated levels of strontium in gladiators’ bones are evidence of this, as strontium accumulates in organisms that primarily consume plants. Thus, the film presents another argument in favor of plant proteins.
Anthropological studies also support this claim. It turns out that early humans also consumed mostly plant-based diets. This was not a conscious choice but rather a matter of survival: Hunting was unreliable, while plants were always available. Thus, meat appeared in the diet only occasionally. In this way, The Game Changers debunks the myth that humans are "made" to eat meat.
A plant-based diet contributes to lowering the level of the stress hormone cortisol. This not only stabilizes athletes’ moods but also positively affects endurance and accelerates recovery processes after physical exertion and injuries. High cortisol levels promote chronic inflammation, whereas normalizing cortisol reduces this risk.
In addition to protein, plant-based foods are rich in antioxidants. These prevent oxidative reactions in the body and reduce oxidative stress. As a result, muscles recover faster after training, and blood circulation improves. Altogether, this supports faster recovery and consistent athletic performance.
In his research, Dr. Robert Vogel examined the effect of nutrition on athletes’ erections. Participants who had plant-based meals for dinner demonstrated a significant increase in both the duration and quality of erections compared to those who ate meat. Thus, a plant-based diet improves not only athletic achievements but also intimate health.
In addition to scientific studies, viewers of The Game Changers learn many interesting facts about nutrition:
Beet juice improves athletic performance. Drinking beet juice before training increases pedaling efficiency by 22% and bench press performance by 19%.
Eating a meat burger increases inflammation in the body by 70%, significantly worsening blood flow in the arteries. Switching to a plant-based diet for just three weeks reduces inflammation by 29%.
Lettuce contains more antioxidants than salmon and eggs.
Among firefighters, 67% of heart attacks are linked to meat consumption.
Eating animal protein increases the risk of developing prostate cancer by 40%.
Men who eat a lot of meat experience worse potency. On a plant-based diet, the frequency of nighttime erections increases three to fivefold.
Plant-based nutrition lowers cortisol levels in the body by 27%.
Beyond the health risks associated with meat consumption, animal agriculture negatively impacts the environment. Producing just one hamburger requires 2,400 liters of water, and raising livestock demands additional feed resources. Consequently, humanity is gradually shifting toward reducing meat consumption, and some restaurants now offer fully balanced, plant-based menus.
Meat consumption is not necessary for human survival. This is evident from the examples of early humans, the feats of gladiators, and the experiences of modern professional athletes. A plant-based diet provides the body with essential amino acids, fiber, and antioxidants. These nutrients contribute to muscle growth, improved endurance, and faster recovery after exercise.
Furthermore, plant foods contain no saturated fats or cholesterol and are low in calories. Therefore, unlike meat products, which are high in fat and cholesterol, they do not pose health risks.
Thus, the film The Game Changers debunks the myth that muscles grow only from animal protein. It demonstrates the benefits of a plant-based diet through scientific research and personal examples of athletes.
