LeBron James, best known as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, may have just earned himself a new nickname: The Vegan Smoothie King. Off the court, James maintains optimal health through a rigorous workout and nutrition plan. A major part of James’ regimen is his specially curated vegan smoothie recipes.
Known for his incredible athleticism and long career in the sport, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar attributes his consistent high performance to rigorous training and a strict diet. His diet is rich in lean protein, fruits and vegetables, supplemented by his signature protein shakes — a concoction that’s almost as famous as his fadeaway jumper.
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Fans looking to emulate the King’s healthy habits need look no further than his go-to vegan protein shake, a blend that balances flavor with the nutritional firepower needed to fuel high-octane athletes.
James’ smoothie recipe is a blend of plant-based protein powder mixed with frozen bananas, a tablespoon of peanut butter, vanilla almond milk and a handful of ice cubes.
While James’ diet isn’t entirely plant-based, the athlete enjoys a bagel with peanut butter for breakfast, as well as fruit snacks like bananas, apples, and berries; according to Total Shape, he’s a big fan of fresh vegetables like pumpkin, Zucchini, banana peppers and asparagus.
LeBron James is the vegan smoothie king
James turns 39 next month and is the oldest player in the NBA. How does he continue to perform at such a high level? The secret might be in your vegan smoothie.
The plant-based protein in James’ smoothies is produced by Ladder, a sports nutrition company that James co-founded last year with athlete Arnold Schwarzenegger. Ladder is not completely vegan as some of its products contain animal ingredients such as whey.
ladder
However, the company does offer several vegan protein products, including a chocolate plant-based protein that James uses to make smoothies. Designed to support muscle repair and recovery, this plant-based protein powder contains only minimal ingredients like pea protein and tart cherries, and is fortified with 21 vegan amino acids.
Last year, Ladder was present in 690 vitamin counters and super supplement stores, as well as online stores, a major milestone for the company, which previously only offered its products through e-commerce.
The development of Ladder can be traced back to James’ pursuit of quality supplements, a journey that began during a critical moment of adversity during the 2014 NBA Finals. Along with his long-time trainer Mike Mancias, and with insights from Schwarzenegger, James set out to create a line of clean performance products that are now available at retail to support the health goals of individuals of all fitness levels .
“We created Ladder to fill a need for clean, safe, effective products we can trust that will help maximize our best performance,” James said in a statement last year. “See How it has grown into a community of athletes at all levels, all working hard to achieve their goals, is very special.”
“I’m excited that our partnership with The Vitamin Shoppe will make Ladder even more accessible as we continue to innovate our products and grow the Ladder community,” said James.
James, who is also an investor in Blaze Pizza, enjoys incorporating cheat meals into his daily routine, with pizza being one of his favorite foods. While big chains like Domino’s and Pizza Hut lag behind in plant-based options, Blaze has been offering vegan pizza since 2019.
The perfect cheat meal for James fans, the vegetarian option here is made with red sauce, vegan cheese, spicy vegan sausage, mushrooms, red onions, green peppers, basil and a drizzle of olive oil.
Arnold Schwarzenegger also likes plants
While James’ overall diet is not plant-based, he is one of a growing number of athletes turning to plant-based protein to support health. In fact, his Ladder co-founder is also a big fan of plants.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, 76, a former bodybuilder, actor and former governor of California, remains a strong proponent of plant-based nutrition, regularly incorporating vegetables, beans and plant-based burgers into his diet. This type of dietary choice is an important factor in maintaining health and fitness.
game changer
on his podcast earlier this year Arnold Pump ClubSchwarzenegger shared insights into his eating habits, noting that while he still eats eggs, salmon and chicken, he’s increasingly favoring veggie burgers, lentils and beans.
His daily diet also includes pea protein powder from Ladder. “The morning after a workout, I usually have oatmeal, Greek yogurt or granola,” Schwarzenegger said on the podcast.
“For lunch, I always have a salad, sometimes with a plant-based burger, or salmon or chicken,” he says. “Other times, it’s a stir-fry or an omelette. I always have soup for dinner. “I like to have something light for my last meal. “
Schwarzenegger reported that despite eating meat occasionally, his meat intake has decreased significantly, about 80% less than before. He attributes improvements in his health markers, including significantly lower cholesterol levels, to this change in eating habits.
Schwarzenegger’s advocacy of a plant-based diet extends beyond his personal practice. He has been outspoken in challenging the deeply held belief that meat consumption is essential to health and masculinity.In the 2019 documentary game changerHe criticizes marketing strategies that link meat consumption to masculinity, saying they are just promotional ploys with no basis in reality.
And James is also involved game changer. The NBA star will help bring the sequel to the documentary to life through his production platform SpringHill Company, with a release date yet to be determined.
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Anna Starostinetskaya is the Senior News Editor at VegNews, staying on top of all things vegan in her hometown of San Francisco, California, and beyond.