The Claim
Two recreational cyclists on plant-based diets maintained body weight and fat-free mass during a 30-day, 4300-km cross-Canada ride despite high energy expenditure, with one cyclist losing 2.3 kg of fat mass and gaining 1.4 kg of fat-free mass while consuming over 2.3 g/kg/day of protein.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
Two recreational cyclists following a plant-based diet maintained their overall body weight and muscle mass during a 30-day, 4300-km cycling trip across Canada, despite high energy expenditure; one cyclist lost 2.3 kilograms of fat and gained 1.4 kilograms of muscle while consuming more than 2.3 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily.
See the scientific wording
Two recreational cyclists on plant-based diets maintained body weight and fat-free mass during a 30-day, 4300-km cross-Canada ride despite high energy expenditure, with one cyclist losing 2.3 kg of fat mass and gaining 1.4 kg of fat-free mass while consuming over 2.3 g/kg/day of protein.
Eating a lot of plant-based protein every day keeps muscles from breaking down during long, intense rides, while the body burns fat for energy instead of muscle, allowing fat loss and muscle gain even when burning huge amounts of calories.
What the research says
1 studyTwo regular cyclists ate only plant-based food and rode across Canada for 30 days, burning tons of calories — yet one lost fat and even gained a little muscle, without losing any muscle mass. This shows it’s possible to stay strong and lose fat on a plant-based diet, even during extreme exercise.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.