Have you ever wondered why bodybuilders are prone to cardiac arrest? If you don't, then Dorian Yates has an answer for you.

Six-time Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates has opened up a new debate with his views on why some elite bodybuilders and strength athletes are prone to heart disease despite being in peak physical condition.

"The stress of exercise combined with the continual spiking of the glucose with carbohydrates, because you know, these guys that do endurance sports, they're working on carbohydrates all day long, as the bodybuilders do, constantly spiking insulin and glucose, and this damages the lining of your arteries. It becomes damaged over time, and this leads to heart disease."

According to Yates, the common assumption that cardiovascular problems in athletes are primarily linked to anabolic steroid use is not the reason. Instead, he pointed out that there is another commonality between bodybuilders and strength athletes: chronically high carbohydrate consumption.

"What is the common denominator?" Yates asked. "A very high and consistent carbohydrate intake."

Yates estimates bodybuilders consume 2-3x carbs vs. endurance athletes. Bodybuilders particularly consume large amounts of carbohydrates to fuel muscle growth and recovery, which can cause repeated spikes in blood glucose and insulin. This diet may gradually damage the lining of the arteries, potentially contributing to poor heart health over time.

The bodybuilding legend further noted that while anabolic steroids also put strain on cardiovascular health, he believes that this doesn't explain why heart attacks sometimes occur in athletes who have never used performance-enhancing compounds.

Yates' findings have been backed by a major study done on 20,286 male bodybuilders, which found that sudden cardiac arrest was the leading cause of mortality in them. In fact, the risk is five times higher compared to amateurs.

Researchers found that factors like anabolic s****** use, extreme muscle mass, dehydration, high blood pressure, and other performance-enhancing practices contribute heavily to the cause. Autopsies done on certain strength athletes have often found enlarged hearts and thickened heart muscle.

So how did Dorian Yates keep himself healthy and fit at the same time? A lot had to do with his diet. His diet was massive but still balanced.

Dorian Yates’ Diet Routine

During his prime, Dorian Yates consumed 7,000 calories a day, which helped him reach the heaviest weight of his career.

He would start his day with a huge protein-rich meal. Yates said, “200 grams of oats, 12 egg whites, four egg yolks, two bananas, breakfast. A couple of hours later, I’d have a protein shake, then about an hour or an hour and a half after that, I’m in the gym training.”

After a heavy workout in the gym, he used to drink his second protein shake mixed with creatine and amino acids. After a second protein shake after workout, he would come home to eat:

• Chicken or turkey breast
• Rice
• Vegetables.

Three hours later, he would have some beef, sweet potato, and veggie, and before going to bed at night, he would eat 12 egg whites, yolks, and oatmeal. And that's how he was able to build the mass monsteresque body that he is known for.

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Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil