Could a plant-based diet turn things around for Charles Clay?

[YoloinOhio]

http://buffalonews.com/2018/05/29/bn-blitz-newsletter-could-a-plant-based-diet-turn-things-around-for-charles-clay/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=puma&utm_medium=social&utm_source=Twitter#link_time=1527584804http://buffalonews.com/2018/05/28/charles-clay-hoping-changes-to-diet-will-keep-him-stay-on-field-more-for-bills/

 

http://buffalonews.com/2018/05/28/charles-clay-hoping-changes-to-diet-will-keep-him-stay-on-field-more-for-bills/

 

 

Quote

Charles Clay recently tried going vegan. It lasted for about a month.

 

“I felt good,” the Buffalo Bills’ tight end said. “But it’s hard. It’s expensive to do, too.”

Undaunted, Clay remained true to drastically changing his eating habits, because he was determined to find a solution, once and for all, to help cut down on the injuries with which he has dealt for most of his seven NFL seasons and all of the last three in Buffalo.

The tipping point came last Nov. 20, during the Bills’ 16-12 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals, when he was carted off the field in Paul Brown Stadium with a torn meniscus and sprained MCL in his left knee. Clay underwent arthroscopic surgery and missed three games. It was one of the lowest points in his career but also provided the impetus for him to seek answers beyond training methods.

With the help of the Bills’ nutritionist, Clay said he has been following a diet loaded with plant-based foods and devoid of sugar. His meals include chicken and fish, but little, if any, red meat.

 

 

 

Quote

 

Bills tight end Charles Clay believes everything happens for a reason. And he feels the reason behind last year's knee injury that cost him a month of action was that it led him to experiment with new diets, which have him feeling great as he enters his eighth professional season.

Clay told Vic Carucci that he has been following a diet "loaded with plant-based foods and devoid of sugar," with the help of the team nutritionist. His meals include chicken and fish, but little, if any, red meat, Carucci wrote.

Clay, 29, has been frequently limited in practice during his time with the Bills due to chronic knee issues. But changing up his diet "was something I looked into all offseason, trying to keep as much inflammation out of my body as I can," he said. "[A]nd eating has a lot to do with that. I feel awesome right now."
 

 

Edited May 29, 2018 by YoloinOhio

[Zac]

Works for Chara. 

[BruceVilanch]

4 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

 

 His meals include chicken and fish, but little, if any, red meat.

 

 

 

I love harvesting all my fish and chicken plants when they are ripe and in season!

[Captain_Quint]

Let's hope he has a pair of these for the garden

[atlbillsfan1975]

This is something all athletes need to be doing. Finding a diet that will help their body with recovery. There are enough studies and more every day that show what we eat is killing us. The food pyramid is totally false and needs to be turned upside down. 

Edited May 29, 2018 by atlbillsfan1975

[Big Turk]

He is right about eating having a lot to do with inflammation...everyone has trigger foods that they are likely eating every day that they have no idea is causing inflammation in their body...

Edited May 29, 2018 by matter2003

[SoCal Deek]

17 minutes ago, atlbillsfan1975 said:

This is something all athletes need to be doing. Finding a diet that will help their body with recovery. There are enough studies and more every day that show how what we eat is killing us. The food pyramid is totally false and needs to be turned upside down. 

I saw a study that said if you don’t eat...you’ll die. ?

[KW95 - JA17]

Forget the diet, just catch the damn ball.

 

Actually, stay on the sideline and let a true TE play.

I would bench him for 14 games and let him play against Miami.

 

[bobobonators]

Clay complaining that being Vegan is too expensive. ??‍♂️

 

Someone please hold my beer while i handle this. 

[Big Turk]

4 minutes ago, bobobonators said:

Clay complaining that being Vegan is too expensive. ??‍♂️

 

Someone please hold my beer while i handle this. 

 

Guess $6 mil a year doesn't go as far as it used to...

[Seanbillsfan2206]

55 minutes ago, SoCal Deek said:

I saw a study that said if you don’t eat...you’ll die. ?

Link?

[aristocrat]

ron swanson will pull this guys man card

[klos63]

Other than eliminating sugar, what has he changed in his diet? he eats plant based- but most of us do with fruit, veges, beans, rice...., he eats chicken, fish and maybe a little red meat.  The team nutritionist needs some help.

[cba fan]

1 hour ago, Seanbillsfan2206 said:

Link?

 

[Hebert19]

good for him but when i see him play I'd say his biggest issue is flexibility.   He is rigid running routes and when reaching for poorly thrown balls and this more than anything can impact his injuries.  Just my 2 cents. 

[MJS]

Someone explain to me how cutting expensive meat and dairy products out of your diet and only eating plants is expensive. Is he eating exotic plants?

[Matt_In_NH]

Eating plants prevents meniscus tears in the knee when subjected to trauma?

2 hours ago, matter2003 said:

 

Guess $6 mil a year doesn't go as far as it used to...

 

6 million AFTER taxes (he makes like 9 million per)...yeah that does not go that far anymore...inflation is a real thing

[nedboy7]

5 minutes ago, mattynh said:

Eating plants prevents meniscus tears in the knee when subjected to trauma?

 

6 million AFTER taxes (he makes like 9 million per)...yeah that does not go that far anymore...inflation is a real thing

 

No eating tortured sick animals on antibiotics helps w knee trauma according to the surgeon general 

[That's No Moon]

9 minutes ago, MJS said:

Someone explain to me how cutting expensive meat and dairy products out of your diet and only eating plants is expensive. Is he eating exotic plants?

Fresh produce is expensive and if you aren't used to buying it it's hard to measure how much you will use before it goes bad (which is fast) so you end up throwing out a lot.  Now if you shop day-to-day that's not an issue but most people don't do that.

 

Also if when he tried the vegan thing if he bought stuff like soy milk instead of cow milk, it gets expensive.  Also keep in mind the number of calories these guys need to eat in a day to maintain their weight.  Avocados are expensive.

[John from Riverside]

I was going to suggest that he leave country and do that blood therapy that Kobe Bryant does but I saw the blurb about it being too expensive.

 

Chuck....are you not a millionare?

[QBorBust2018]

I would say it’s worth a try. Plant based diets have pretty much cured heart disease and other miracle like outcomes for those with health related issues. On the other hand, Not going to help you if a guy like Tre Edmunds lights you up over the middle

[B Fan in LA]

 

I've been drinking Genesee Cream Ale every day for the past 40 years or so, and haven't missed a day of work.

I strongly recommend everyone try that stuff, including Charles Clay.

 

[FappyTheClown]

1 minute ago, B Fan in LA said:

 

I've been drinking Genesee Cream Ale every day for the past 40 years or so,

 

 

[RocCityRoller]

Does he have bad knees or gout?

[MJS]

51 minutes ago, That's No Moon said:

Fresh produce is expensive and if you aren't used to buying it it's hard to measure how much you will use before it goes bad (which is fast) so you end up throwing out a lot.  Now if you shop day-to-day that's not an issue but most people don't do that.

 

Also if when he tried the vegan thing if he bought stuff like soy milk instead of cow milk, it gets expensive.  Also keep in mind the number of calories these guys need to eat in a day to maintain their weight.  Avocados are expensive.

 

Fresh produce is cheap. There are some things that are expensive, but the most common produce that people eat are cheap (potatoes, apples, bananas, carrots, celery, lettuce -- all cheap).

 

I'm not vegan, but my family and I eat only a little meat and use mostly fresh produce, along with grains, legumes, etc. We eat very cheaply compared to most people.

 

I guess if you are trying to have fake meat and dairy and already prepared vegan meals things can get expensive.

[Augie]

4 hours ago, SoCal Deek said:

I saw a study that said if you don’t eat...you’ll die. ?

 

Interesting... I saw a study that if you DO eat....you’ll still die!

 

I bet Tommy B has some nice kale recipes for him. 

[Kwai San]

What a crazy set of articles......I mean the Bills have peeps on staff to help these people and how to eat no?  A LARGE portion of their meals are coming from the team for several times a year and they can't figger out what to eat from that.

 

Money and brains.....there is a large chasm in the NFL....

[FappyTheClown]

I don't think a steroid based diet could turn things around for him.

[ThunderGun]

1 hour ago, That's No Moon said:

Fresh produce is expensive and if you aren't used to buying it it's hard to measure how much you will use before it goes bad (which is fast) so you end up throwing out a lot.  Now if you shop day-to-day that's not an issue but most people don't do that.

 

Also if when he tried the vegan thing if he bought stuff like soy milk instead of cow milk, it gets expensive.  Also keep in mind the number of calories these guys need to eat in a day to maintain their weight.  Avocados are expensive.

So true, we have to shop between Trader Joe's, Aldi, Target and Wegmans. 

My wife can't eat gluten.

My kid can't have nuts.

We eat very limited cheese, and no red meat.  Probably 70-80% organic foods.

I spend about $1200-$1300 per month on groceries... the struggle to eat food that is actually good for you is real... if you have allergens to be conscious of, it's damn near impossible.

[CardinalScotts]

grow an actual throwing qb he'll be better like magic

[DriveFor1Outta5]

When I first read the title I thought “no, but it could get him suspended”. 

[Punching Bag]

I worked in a vegetarian food coop in college and good portion of my family is vegan.

The key to a vegan diet (which he is NOT on eating chicken and fish) is balancing the diet to get complete amino acids since there is no one vegan items which contains all.

 

Clay does not seem to be type tp do work himself and prepared vegan meals ARE more expensive especially since there is not as much competition in market.  When he says "expensive" he means compared to non vegan alternatives just as we will say food in stadium is "expensive" compared to food outside stadium NOT unaffordable.   I do not know Clay's lifestyle and whether he has enough bling to pay for a mortgage but many who grew up poor are reluctant to just spend money because they are earning more.  Many NFL players still drive old cars they had in college.  But as James Harrison said you need to spend to maintain yourself to continue to play and Clay does not appear to be that type.

[SoCal Deek]

Let me get this straight....a highly paid NFL player is complaining that FOOD is expensive!    I'll put that up on the wall with the long list of other so-called grievances.

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

35 minutes ago, Limeaid said:

I worked in a vegetarian food coop in college and good portion of my family is vegan.

The key to a vegan diet (which he is NOT on eating chicken and fish) is balancing the diet to get complete amino acids since there is no one vegan items which contains all.

 

Clay does not seem to be type tp do work himself and prepared vegan meals ARE more expensive especially since there is not as much competition in market.  When he says "expensive" he means compared to non vegan alternatives just as we will say food in stadium is "expensive" compared to food outside stadium NOT unaffordable.   I do not know Clay's lifestyle and whether he has enough bling to pay for a mortgage but many who grew up poor are reluctant to just spend money because they are earning more.  Many NFL players still drive old cars they had in college.  But as James Harrison said you need to spend to maintain yourself to continue to play and Clay does not appear to be that type.

 

My guess? He's using a meal prep service and having them prepare meals based on his new diet.  That will be very expensive at probably 10 bucks a pop - as an nfl player thats probably 5 meals a day, maybe more?  50 a day = 350 a week = 1400 a month just for him and not including wife/kids.  It's not crazy expensive, but it's probably some sticker shock.  

[elroy16]

4 hours ago, klos63 said:

Other than eliminating sugar, what has he changed in his diet? he eats plant based- but most of us do with fruit, veges, beans, rice...., he eats chicken, fish and maybe a little red meat.  The team nutritionist needs some help.

 

 

Yes, I'm sure it was the team nutritionist telling him to eat a bunch of red meat and drink sugary drinks.

 

 

[BillsFan130]

5 hours ago, KW95 said:

Forget the diet, just catch the damn ball.

 

Actually, stay on the sideline and let a true TE play.

I would bench him for 14 games and let him play against Miami.

 

He’s not that bad lol.

 

Overpaid? Sure.

 

But he is at least an average tight end when healthy IMO

[Irv]

He should get Zay to change his diet.  Too much iron.  Impacts the hands.

Edited May 29, 2018 by Irv

[KW95 - JA17]

12 minutes ago, billsfan11 said:

He’s not that bad lol.

 

Overpaid? Sure.

 

But he is at least an average tight end when healthy IMO

 

Basically you summed it all up for me:

 

A) Overpaid

B) When Healthy

C) Average TE.

 

 

[BillsFan130]

7 minutes ago, KW95 said:

 

Basically you summed it all up for me:

 

A) Overpaid

B) When Healthy

C) Average TE.

 

 

I think he is above average personally. Was saying at least an average tight end.

 

There are way bigger problems on that offence than Clay

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, Kwai San said:

What a crazy set of articles......I mean the Bills have peeps on staff to help these people and how to eat no?  A LARGE portion of their meals are coming from the team for several times a year and they can't figger out what to eat from that.

 

Money and brains.....there is a large chasm in the NFL....

 

Well, they're all on their own for the off season, no?

 

Good question though: how many of their meals are in the team facilities during the season?

 

Athletes get all kids of different ideas of what's best to eat.  And some of these guys, especially young guys, are all in on wings etc.