F1 Driver Lewis Hamilton Says His Pet Roscoe 'Is Like a Different Dog' After Going Plant-Based (Exclusive)

The British racing icon, who went plant-based himself seven years ago, says he tried the diet on his bulldog Roscoe and has seen a world of difference in the pet

British racing icon Lewis Hamilton is such a fan of a plant-based diet that he tried it out on his 12-year-old bulldog Roscoe several years ago, and he says it was completely transformative.

"Roscoe is almost like a different dog to when I first got him," the Formula One driver, 39, tells PEOPLE. "I’m always looking for ways to look after his health and really just improve his quality of life, and his diet is just one part of that, but he has so much more energy and doesn’t struggle as much with the health issues he had before."

Because of the noticeable difference, Hamilton, who decided to switch to a plant-based diet seven years ago, recently became an investor in the plant-based dog food Bramble.

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"I've had Roscoe with me for a long time, and the first eight years, he was on a normal diet for dogs that included meat," Hamilton continues.

"He always had health issues and would struggle with things like his breathing and his walking. I wanted to see if there was anything I could do to help him, so I did some research into things that might improve his health. I saw that having a plant-based diet was something that could be helpful as long as you were making sure the dog was getting all its nutritional needs met, so I decided to try it."

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He adds that his canine has not only had fewer health issues and more energy since starting a plant-based diet, but the diet has also helped the dog's fur. Hamilton says, "Even his coat is softer, which is amazing because he loves to be petted!"

The seven-time Formula One Driver's Championship winner has been a fan of plant-based eating for years and says it's also worked equally well for him.

"I was thinking about my health and fitness and what changes I could make to feel my best, and the more I started looking into plant-based diets, the more I realized this was something that could be impactful," he says of why he initially explored the lifestyle.

"It just felt like ethically, scientifically, and even based on the types of foods I love to eat, this was something that made sense for me."

Hamilton says that once he decided to go plant-based, it became easy for him to continue down the path. He notes that he doesn't preach a plant-based diet, but if someone was curious to try it, he'd encourage them to do so.

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"I think there was some misunderstanding at the time around how it would work and if I would be able to get enough protein as an athlete," he says.

"But it hasn’t been a problem bringing other protein-rich foods into my diet. Everyone is different, so I would never tell someone they should go plant-based, but for anyone looking to just feel or perform a little better, I do encourage them."

He notes he's not even a big snacker anymore:

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"I try not to snack a lot when I’m in training, but I do love vegan jerky now and then. You can get the best ones in the US, so I try and stock up when I’m over there! Otherwise, I just try and snack on fruit and vegetables."

He adds, "I’m happiest when the plate in front of me looks like a rainbow."

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