Arnold Schwarzenegger Disagrees With the Idea That 'Real Men Eat Meat'

Schwarzenegger makes an appearance in the new documentary, The Game Changers, which explores the growing popularity of veganism, especially in the world of professional sports. The 72-year-old actor, a big advocate for plant-based diets for both health and environmental reasons, has reduced his own meat intake by 80 per cent. And you wouldn't exactly call Arnie a slouch in the fitness department, would you.

In a new clip from the film , Schwarzenegger states that what you eat has no impact on your masculinity, and criticizes the way that meat is advertised in popular culture as something "for men".

"Theres no one that can relate to it better than I do because Ive lived in that world," the seven-time Mr. Olympia champion says. "'Steak is for men'... They show these commercialsburgers, George Foreman with the grill and epic sandwichthis is great, great marketing for the meat industry, selling the idea that real men eat meat. But youve got to understand, its marketing. Its not based on reality."

Why is a rare steak seen as a sign of masculinity? Probably because it appeals to the primitive part of our brain that still identifies as a hunter-gatherer. But when was the last time you went literally hunting for your pre-workout meal?

It's 2019, and those old jokes about vegans being weak and anemic aren't just tired; they're inaccurate . You only need to take a look at fitness influencer Simon Hill , whose ripped physique is the partial result of a 100 per cent plant-based diet, and actor Jared Leto , who credits his vegan, alcohol-free lifestyle with helping him stay shredded, to start questioning whether meat really is an essential source of protein... or whether we just fell for those ads.

If a meat-free diet is manly enough for Arnie, who are we to argue?