Hammer thrower Hummel: Tofu and soy for his next big win?

Hammer thrower Merlin Hummel is set to compete in the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, fueled by a plant-based diet. Hummel has been vegetarian for over two years and fully vegan at home since the beginning of the year, eschewing the traditional English breakfast of bacon, sausages, and eggs.

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I've been vegetarian for two, two and a half years, and vegan at home 100 percent since the beginning of this year, as much as possible.

His dietary shift was inspired by a Netflix documentary about football players, which highlighted lower inflammation levels in athletes following plant-based diets. This resonated with Hummel, who was experiencing a herniated disc at the time and sought ways to reduce inflammation. His daily intake includes large portions of oats, dates, soy protein, berries, rice, tofu, and vegetables.

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I eat about a kilo of fruit and vegetables a day, half a kilo of rice a day, and about half a kilo of tofu and soy granules in total.

While competing, especially at events, Hummel sometimes has to revert to a vegetarian diet. He emphasizes that mental stability and reacting calmly to competitors' performances are also crucial to his success, alongside his nutrition. Hummel is a medal contender and is expected to comfortably advance from the qualification round.

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I saw a documentary on Netflix with football players. They examined the gut microbiome and general inflammation levels. It showed that plant-based athletes generally have lower inflammation levels.