Just over a year later, Newton says the dietary shift became permanent, and has boosted his health, including during the strenuous recovery from a 2018 shoulder injury that required surgery.
"I've seen such a remarkable change in the way my body responds to the food that I eat," Newton, quarterback for the New England Patriots and former 2015 MVP with the Carolina Panthers, said in an interview with animal rights organization PETA, for a new "Built like a Vegan" ad campaign released July 20.
Newton is among a long roster of other high-profile star athletes that swear by a plant-based diet, including tennis legend Venus Williams, US women's national team soccer star Alex Morgan, NBA player Kyrie Irving, UFC fighter Nate Diaz, and fellow NFLers like Colin Kaepernick, Griff Whalen, and Tom Brady (who is primarily plant-based, though not strictly vegan).
"Some of the strongest species on this earth are vegetarian," Newton said in a video blog from 2019, documenting his first month as a vegan. "When you look at gorillas, when you look at elephants, they find their source of protein in plants and I do the same thing. I'm loving how I'm feeling."
Newton also shared a recipe for his favorite meat-free burger on a pretzel bun, heavy on pickles and sauce.
Advertisement
"I don't want people to think you can't love food being vegan or there's not good tasting food that's vegan," Newton said.
For people newly vegan or considering making the shift to a plant-based diet, Newton said: "Eat on schedule. If you can eat on schedule you won't miss or think anything different, and you'll be alright."
NewsletterSIMPLY PUT - where we join the dots to inform and inspire you. Sign up for a weekly brief collating many news items into one untangled thought delivered straight to your mailbox.