NFL Defensive Lineman Cites Reasons for Going Veg

Oakland Raiders defensive lineman David Carter recently tackled the issue of veganism and athletics with an op-ed piece published on insidebayarea.com. The six-foot, five-inch, 300-pound lineman, decided to go vegan after watching the film Forks Over Knives and learned that some of the most prominent, and deadly, chronic illnesses in America are caused by meat and dairy consumption. Carter goes on to note how major health organizations such as Kaiser Permanente and the American Institute for Cancer Research have released statements touting the benefits of plant-based diets, while athletes such as track star Carl Lewis and tennis pro Venus Williams have demonstrated that high-performance goes hand-in-hand with veg diets. “So many people are shocked when they learn that I fuel my body with a plant-based—vegan—diet,” writes Carter. “I’m just shocked that it took me 26 years to gain the wisdom to do it!”