THE GAME CHANGER WITH BALANCED FIVE ELEMENTS, THE AYURVEDIC PLANT-BASED MEALS ARE FULL OF ENERGY

while ether is the space that encompasses all substantial and insubstantial matters. The combination of these five elements constitutes three inclinations of people: vata (air-prone), pitta (fireprone), and kapha (water-prone). Stanley says, “A body is not unlike a miniature universe. When the five elements are balanced, a person is then healthy in physical, mental and spiritual aspects.” Ayurvedic food therapy identifies six tastes in food: sweet, sour, salty, spicy, astringent, and bitter. Enen says that “As long as one has all six tastes in each meal, then the five elements are balanced.”

For a long time, there has been a stereotype that vegetarian diets cannot provide sufficient nutrition and that vegetarian athletes cannot perform well. However, Enen, who manages N. Plant-based Cuisine, and her partner Stanley from Singapore were inspired by the documentary "The Game Changers" in 2020 and decided to adopt a plantbased lifestyle. They relocated from the metropolis to the mountainous Caoling, Yunlin, where they studied and shared the ancient scientific wisdom of Indian Ayurveda with the general public through their popular social media channels, promoting the benefits of plant-based cuisine. In this article, they have created plant-based dishes tailored to the needs of professional cyclists, debunking the myth that plant-based diets are inadequate for athletic performance.

Ayurvedic food therapy is based on the five elements: ether, air, water, fire and earth. Fire represents the ability to digest and metabolize food, water refers to all the liquid in the body, earth is the constitutes of the body, air is the energy and gaseous matters that facilitate body movement,

Professional cyclists have unique body constitutions as they require both sprinting and endurance abilities, making them more susceptible to the "fire" element. They also have high metabolic rates due to their intense training, leading to increased appetite and good digestion. However, a diet high in condiments can cause inflammation and discomfort. To address these concerns, Enen and Stanley have developed Ayurvedic recipes containing highprotein foods like tofu and red lentils to nourish the cyclists' muscle tissues. They also incorporate herbs like turmeric to aid digestion, reduce inflammation and repair body tissues. Additionally, good fats like sesame and coconut oils are included to support metabolism, promote calcium absorption, and overall nourishment of the body.

Vegetarian Recipes For Professional Cyclists

Rice with Turmeric and Lemongrass, Pan-Fried Tofu and Red Lentil Stew, and roasted Vegetables

Rice with Turmeric and Lemongrass/

Put the ingredients of 1 cooker cup rice, 1/8 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 fresh lemongrass/1 teaspoon lemongrass powder, ¼ teaspoon sea salt and palm sugar and 1/3 cup coconut milk into the rice cooker and cook rice as usual.

Red Lentil Stew/

Stir-fry ½ teaspoon cumin/coriander seeds with olive oil until aromatic. Then add half rice cooker cup red lentil, a pinch of sea salt, ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika and 2 cups of water. Bring the broth to a boil and then reduce the heat to simmer till the lentils are tender.

Roasted Vegetables /

Fry zucchini in a hot pan. Blanch broccoli and baby corns for 30 seconds, drained and drizzle them with olive oil, Italian seasoning and salt. Pre-heat the oven to 180ºC and bake for 6 minutes. Black sesame paste on the side as the sauce for pan-fried tofu. Squeeze lemon juice on top.

Quinoa with Red Lentil, and Taro Tempeh Strips

Quinoa with Herbs/