Roman gladiators were fat vegetarians

[matawguro]

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/a...sh_1081439.htm

Roman gladiators were overweight vegetarians and not the muscle-bound men protrayed by actors like Russell Crowe, anthropologists say.

Austrian scientists analysed the skeletons of two different types of gladiators, the myrmillos and retiariae, found at the ancient site of Ephesus, near Selsuk in Turkey.

"Tests performed on bits of bone taken from the skeletons of some 70 gladiators buried at Ephesus seem to prove that they ate mainly barley, beans and dried fruit," said Dr Karl Grossschmidt, who took part in the study by the Austrian Archaeological Institute
"This diet, which has been mentioned in the oral history, is rather sad but it gave the gladiators a lot of strength even if it made them fat," said Grossschmidt who is a member of the University of Vienna's Institute of Histology and Embryology.

The Austrian palaeoanthropologists relied on a method known as elementary microanalysis that allows scientists to determine what a human being ate during his or her lifetime.

[Chicklady]

I have a hard time picturing "strong" AND "fat" Experience tells me fat drags 'ya down!!

[sadie147]

Originally Posted by matawguro

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/a...sh_1081439.htm

so they should have had John Goodman star in Gladiator and not Russell Crowe

Interesting!

[matawguro]

Originally Posted by Chicklady

I have a hard time picturing "strong" AND "fat" Experience tells me fat drags 'ya down!!

Think sumo wrestlers.

[Chicklady]

Originally Posted by matawguro

Think sumo wrestlers.

Yeah, I never have understood how they don't all have heart attacks!

[quotidianlight]

Originally Posted by Chicklady

Yeah, I never have understood how they don't all have heart attacks!

Some do after retirement but they work out like marines and I'm sure that makes up for better longevity. Plus they start out in great shape before they are fattened up to begin with. Remind me of skinny people who drop dead from heart attacks due to diet and lack of exercise.

[sadie147]

I saw a really interesting documentary recently on sumo wrestlers and how they eat and train. it was really interesting, they have food down to a science really...and none of it junk food, all whole foods.

[quotidianlight]

Originally Posted by sadie147

I saw a really interesting documentary recently on sumo wrestlers and how they eat and train. it was really interesting, they have food down to a science really...and none of it junk food, all whole foods.

Whole high carb foods!

[Chicklady]

Isn't that how they fatten livestock?

[sadie147]

Originally Posted by quotidianlight

Whole high carb foods!

Yes but they were all healthy whole foods (though i think they do drink beer), don't forget they're goal is to gain not lose. And of course they live in Asia so rice is a staple in their diet which is going to add alot of carbs

They also work out hours on end, so they need alot of fuel to keep their weight up. they're actually in much better shape than people realise. Actually i think in the documentary they worked out all day on an empty stomach to work up an appetite (no breakfast) than ate after that, enormous meals...

good reason not to skip breakfast!