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Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life Paperback – December 23, 2008
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Thrive is a long-term eating plan to help all athletes (professional or not) develop a lean body, sharp mind, and everlasting energy. As one of the few professional athletes on a plant-based diet, Brendan Brazier researched and developed this easy-to-follow program to enhance his performance as an elite endurance competitor.
Brazier clearly describes the benefits of nutrient-rich foods in their natural state versus processed foods, and how to choose nutritionally efficient, stress-busting whole foods for maximum energy and health. Featuring a 12-week meal plan, over 100 allergen-free recipes with raw food options--including recipes for energy gels, sport drinks, and recovery foods--and a complementary exercise plan, The Thrive Diet is "an authoritative guide to outstanding performance" (Neal D. Barnard, M.D., Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine).
- Print length320 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherDa Capo Lifelong Books
- Publication dateDecember 23, 2008
- Dimensions5 x 1 x 8 inches
- ISBN-100738212547
- ISBN-13978-0738212548
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Editorial Reviews
Review
-- Hugh Jackman (from the foreword)
"The Thrive Diet is an authoritative guide to outstanding performance, not just in top-level athletics but in day-to-day life."
--Neal D. Barnard, M.D., president, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
"Brendan Brazier's Thrive will increase the micronutrient density of your eating style and enable you to live longer, live healthier, and thrive."
--Joel Fuhrman, M.D., bestselling author of Eat to Live and Eat for Health
"Thrive is a must read."
--T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., bestselling author of the The China Study
"Quite simply, Thrive is the most comprehensive nutrition and lifestyle program we've ever seen."
--The G Living Network
About the Author
brendanbrazier.com
Product details
- Publisher : Da Capo Lifelong Books; 1st edition (December 23, 2008)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 320 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0738212547
- ISBN-13 : 978-0738212548
- Item Weight : 13.3 ounces
- Dimensions : 5 x 1 x 8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,349,851 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #302 in Vegan Diets (Books)
- #1,930 in Sports Training (Books)
- #8,038 in Other Diet Books
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Brendan is the formulator and cofounder of Vega, bestselling author of the Thrive book series, creator and host of the Thrive Forward web series, and editor in chief of Thrive magazine. He’s also a former professional Ironman triathlete and a two-time Canadian 50km Ultra Marathon Champion. Brendan is regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities on plant-based performance nutrition, and therefore works with several NHL, NFL, MLB, UFC, and Olympic athletes. Brendan now invests in and works with socially responsible food & tech companies whose mandate is to fix our food system and reduce the environmental strain of food production.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the information in the book beneficial and priceless. They say the recipes are reasonable, simple to make, and clear. Readers describe the book as easy to read, understand, and enjoyable. They mention it's about healthy eating, approaches to nutrition, and energy. Additionally, they find the book interesting, provoking, and satisfying.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the information in the book factual, beneficial, and priceless. They say it's a great resource for anyone interested in learning about vegan nutrition. Readers also mention the book offers serious how-tos and is comprehensive.
"...I also believe it's very factual as he reiterates a lot of nutritional information that I've seen in other reliable sources...." Read more
"...The last reason I give this book five stars is for the tone. There is a lot of science, but what I really like is that Brendan Brazier is not an..." Read more
"...advocates is more of a meal plan, one that contains an extremely high nutritional value and fulfills all nutritional needs...." Read more
"...The foods suggested are very nutritious and you'll be eating six times every day...." Read more
Customers find the recipes in the book reasonable, simple to make, and easy to read. They appreciate the clear explanations of how whole foods give the body exactly what it needs. Readers also mention that the book has great dishes and snacks. In addition, they say the author has lots of tips and tricks they would never have thought of. Overall, customers describe the book as a great overview and detailed guide for ramping up their healthy lifestyle.
"...This is primarily because of the awesome recipes he includes... I have yet to try the Thrive diet though, as honestly it takes a lot of work to..." Read more
"...The cool thing is that the recipes are so awesome you will be happy to make them a big part of your life." Read more
"...I never knew this! The recipes are easy to make, a huge plus because I'm very busy. They're also delicious...." Read more
"...This is so simple to understand after Brandon's well researched information. He explains it in a way that it really sinks in...." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read and understand. They say it's written in a unique and engaging way. Readers mention the book makes a lot of sense and is a detailed guide for ramping up your healthy lifestyle.
"...Cons:- Easy to understand. This is kind of an unfair con, but I have a lot of friends that actually care about this...." Read more
"...This book, however, is very professionally written. My kid loves the food too. A huge plus. Can't say enough good about it." Read more
"...I loved it immediately; it made so much sense and really helped fill in the gaps of some issues I was having in my nutrition/workout routine...." Read more
"...2. It's very time consuming to make the dishes. I do the recovery drink and only have a little while to get into making the protein drink...." Read more
Customers find the book great, easy to read, and well-informed. They say it has good chapters explaining different foods. Readers also mention the science behind all of it is very well done.
"...I can't believe how much energy this food gives me and how satisfying it is...." Read more
"...with the science in this book, which is a shame because the end product is so good...." Read more
"...I highly recommend the book! It is fun to read, fascinating, and truly can change your life...." Read more
"...His passion for healthy vegan diet is amazing. The book is very easy to read and gives clear explanations of how whole foods give the body exactly..." Read more
Customers find the book about healthy eating insightful and provides approaches to nutrition and energy. They say it's an excellent book on vegan health and fitness, saying it has changed the way they eat. Readers also mention the raw bar recipes are great for fast nutrition on the go.
"...The other reason I give it five stars is how the food makes me feel. I'm a pretty active guy: 5'11" 190 lbs. weight lifter, martial artist...." Read more
"...This is a wonderful book! It just makes so much sense. Poor nutrition and nutritionally devoid foods cause stress to the body...." Read more
"...Agave nectar is very, very tasty, but also very, very sugary...." Read more
"...I feel healthy. As soon as I'm done with my workout I eat about 5-7 dates and a bunch of water on my way home. I then make a recovery drink. *..." Read more
Customers find the book interesting, provoking, and inspiring. They say it's an informational collection of anecdotes, facts, and recipes. Readers also mention it's not too preachy and informative.
"...Pros:- Great concepts. I also believe it's very factual as he reiterates a lot of nutritional information that I've seen in other reliable..." Read more
"...These are by far the most easy, delicious and satisfying raw (or mostly raw) foods I've tried...." Read more
"...but all of it is interesting...." Read more
"...I highly recommend the book! It is fun to read, fascinating, and truly can change your life...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the taste of the recipes. Some mention they're tasty, while others say they don't taste great and are complete mush. Readers also mention that raw foods are harder to digest and agave nectar is not very good for them.
"...These are by far the most easy, delicious and satisfying raw (or mostly raw) foods I've tried...." Read more
"...They're also delicious. I really like that you can eat larger portions than what's suggested without having to worry about excessive weight gain...." Read more
"...Some of the bars tasted okay, not great. But some of the recipes tasted downright awful...." Read more
"...One criticism is that although most of the recipies taste good, some dont...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the value for money of the book. Some mention it's worth the price, while others say the recipes are complex and expensive.
"...food processor and blender, I have found that my monthly food bills have dropped since...." Read more
"...But here are my problems: 1. The base ingredients are rather expensive...." Read more
"...This book is definitely worth it's money just for the recipes alone...." Read more
"...The downside is that this program is a lot of work and is expensive...." Read more
Reviews with images
Great book.
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Pros:
- Great concepts. I also believe it's very factual as he reiterates a lot of nutritional information that I've seen in other reliable sources. Opened my eyes to the value of nutrition and also how my body reacts to the foods that we intake. I really enjoyed some of the examples which I still repeat to others all the time.
- Easy to read and understand. This could be pro and con, in which you'll also read below. It was very easy to take in, and was a nice overview (in my opinion) of all the different superfoods you can have.
- Great recipes. I've tried a couple of them now, and was surprised at how easy they were to prepare. I've been really sick of buying all my raw vegan foods for lots of money, so it was nice to be able to finally make them myself. The only downside is that they require a LOT of ingredients that can be hard to find if you're in the middle of nowhere. However, I also found that once I familiarized myself with the ingredients, I felt more comfortable using them and was able to get creative with my own foods. Finally, I also like how he gives a general overview of how to cook the foods, and then apply them to all the ingredients. So you don't have to read the details of each recipe on how to prepare, and execute (which can be tedious and annoying).
Cons:
- Easy to understand. This is kind of an unfair con, but I have a lot of friends that actually care about this. If you're anal about the eloquence of writing and wit (i.e. you read The New Yorker / The Economist), then you may not enjoy this read. But for me it was fine and got the message across.
- This is a gripe I had, which I felt the book was too short! A lot of the superfoods, he did a REALLY quick and brief overview. I wish he had talked more about certain foods that I was interested in, but I guess I could just Google them; which I ended up doing later on.
- Too many ingredients! I already talked about this earlier. This may be a good thing... But the reason why I haven't started the Thrive diet yet is because I haven't gotten around to making his first cereal recipe.. which consists of a lot of ingredients I don't readily have at home. That doesn't even include lunch & dinner, which require all these other ingredients that I also don't have! Buying all of them and starting really would take a lot of work (and MONEY). Plus, I live in So Cal, and even I'm having difficulty finding some of the ingredients.
The main reason I give it 5 stars is because the recipes are FREAKING AMAZING. These are by far the most easy, delicious and satisfying raw (or mostly raw) foods I've tried. The energy bars and burgers are awesome, I LOVE the smoothies, and the apple cereal is the best breakfast cereal I've ever had. I haven't gotten around to trying the pizzas or pancakes yet, as they seem a little more labor intensive, but I have high hopes.
The other reason I give it five stars is how the food makes me feel. I'm a pretty active guy: 5'11" 190 lbs. weight lifter, martial artist. I can't believe how much energy this food gives me and how satisfying it is. I have been eating food from the thrive book from breakfast until dinner time for the last week or so and feel really awesome. I have even given up coffee without planning to because I feel so awake in the morning.
The last reason I give this book five stars is for the tone. There is a lot of science, but what I really like is that Brendan Brazier is not an extremest. This book is mostly raw, but Brazier never goes on some rant about how cooked food is the root of all evil like some other raw books do. He gives raw options, but also says you can cook your quinoa or lightly fry your burgers, etc. Also, he seems to offer ideas and rules of thumb, rather than expecting perfection.
My recommendation for anyone reading this book is make it fit your life; take from it what is helpful to you. The cool thing is that the recipes are so awesome you will be happy to make them a big part of your life.
The main reason that I had to give up on a highly disciplined following of this meal plan is I just could not stand the taste of it anymore. I think I was bordering on depression shoving those bland (yet filling) "pizzas" into my mouth every day after eating a nut/bean/veggie filled salad at work and thrive diet bars in the morning. Some of the bars tasted okay, not great. But some of the recipes tasted downright awful. One of the "soups" I actually had to hold my nose and drink down like it was medicine. I dared not throw it away since the hemp seeds needed to make it were so expensive. I nearly felt sick after drinking one of the smoothies (my wife and I dubbed it the "pipe sludge smoothie").
In spite of that, I give the book four stars because I think the author accomplishes what he sets out to do: provide the healthiest possible meal plan at all costs. Even if, like me, you can't follow the meal plan closely, I think reading this book and trying out some of the recipes will give you some valuable ideas that can be applied to whatever meal plan you ultimately follow.
Top reviews from other countries
Sein Wissen, das in diesem Buch vermittelt wird, trägt enorm dazu bei mein Leben zu gestalten und zu Leben in der Form, dass für mich die Ernährung mit zu einem Schlüsselelement geworden ist für ein nach meinen Vorstellungen glückliches Leben.
Maximale Leistung abzurufen, die Stressresistenz zu steigern, Ruhephasen genießen, ....sicher sind viele Faktoren für ein glückliches Leben wichtig, die Ernährung und damit verbundenen Aspekte sind ein Teil davon, nicht alles. Aber ein sehr wichtiger Teil dafür. Wenn das Auto nicht mit Spritt gefüllt wird sondern mit...keine Ahnung, Apfelsaft...wie kann ich dann erwarten, dass ich vorwärts komme mit dem Auto und alle PS auf die Straße bekomme? Wie kann ich erwarten, dass die Wartung möglichst kostenschonend bleibt und die Wartungsintervalle möglichst lange sind bis irgendwann der Motor kaputt geht nach etlichen hundertrausend KM, wenn ich meinem Motor nicht den richtigen und besten Treibstoff zuführe?
Ich finde den Vergleich sehr treffend, einfach als Denkanstoß für jeden. Beim Spritt haben wir kapiert dass das Auto nur mit dem richtigen Spritt gescheit funktioniert und läuft und alle PS auf die Straße bringt...bei der Ernährung ist das Ganze noch ausbaufähig...hier danke ich den Menschen, die sich auf machen, ausprobieren, damit beschäftigen und das Wissen weiter geben. Dazu gehört Brendan für mich im großen Maße!
I am a fitness instructor and this book helped me to understand what fuel I need to run my body at certain level of performance without relying on chemically boosted stimulants or synthetic supplements. By implementing some of the Brendan's knowledge I've already seen benefits and my energy level is much higher than before. I've improved my sleeping patterns and understanding what is going on inside my body when I'm stressed or undernourished made me thinking twice what I eat now. It's becoming my bible even if I am not a vegan myself.
E' stato prezioso per aiutarmi a recuperare meglio le sedute di allenamento aumentando così il carico di lavoro, lo consiglio a tutti quegli sportivi che si sentono spesso stanchi e spossati, che vorrebbero allenarsi più spesso e in maniera più efficace. Certo è che abbandonare i prodotti animali per molti può essere visto come un sacrificio estremo, ma non è così difficile se si è motivati.





