Can you really build muscle on a plant-based diet? Is meat actually necessary for strength, or is that just a story we’ve been told?

In this episode, Shawna sits down with Dr. Minil Patel to break down the science, culture, and myths surrounding plant-based nutrition, strength training, and masculinity.

Dr. Patel shares his personal journey from being, in his own words, “the least vegan person” to going vegan for ethical reasons after questioning why we care for some animals while eating others. That realization sparked a deeper interest in plant-based nutrition, performance, and lifestyle medicine, and ultimately shaped both his medical practice and public advocacy.

In this episode:

• Whether plant-based diets can support muscle growth and strength training

• The cultural link between meat consumption and masculinity

• Common myths about protein, muscle, and vegan nutrition

• How misinformation spreads online, and how to evaluate nutrition claims critically

• What it really takes to thrive on a plant-based diet as an active individual

Dr. Minil Patel is a UK-based General Practitioner and Lifestyle Medicine Physician with a special interest in plant-based nutrition and strength training. He graduated from King’s College London in 2016 with an MBBS and a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience.

After adopting a vegan lifestyle in 2017 for ethical reasons, Dr. Patel completed the Plant Based Nutrition course at the University of Winchester. He also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education from King’s College London and a diploma from the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine.

He is an active member of Plant Based Health Professionals UK and serves as an ambassador for Climategames and Running On Plants. Dr. Patel was featured in the documentary I Could Never Go Vegan and has appeared in Men’s Health Online. He regularly speaks at events such as Vegfest, Vegan Camp Out, and VegMed on topics including plant-based diets for athletes, muscle building, and performance. He shares evidence-based insights on veganism, nutrition, health, and fitness through his Instagram account @drironjunkie.

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