'I feel healthier, cleaner and lighter': Boxer David Haye reveals he's KO'D meat and dairy from his diet - and says going vegan has even cured his dandruff

When David Haye enters the ring at London's O2 arena this weekend, he'll have completed his fight preparation without a morsel of meat or dairy passing his lips. 

The 35-year-old boxer is putting his new-look physique, which has left him looking leaner but weighing more than ever, down to a purely vegan diet.

Speaking to animal rights organisation PETA, the boxer revealed that his decision to give up meat came about after watching the documentary Earthlings. 

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Boxer David Hayes, who launched his comeback earlier this year, says he feels much healthier for jabbing meat products from his diet

He says: 'A friend of mine asked me to watch a documentary which is basically about all the unnecessary amounts of killing of animal in the world.'

The 2009 WBA champion said the show 'hit home' and, having given up dairy over the past few years, he decided to cut out meat completely for his boxing comeback earlier this year.

And he says he's quickly reaped the rewards, with the whites of his eyes 'whiter' than before and everything from his hair to his skin looking better. Dandruff, something he suffered from before, is also a thing of the past.

Haye says that after giving up animal products, he felt: 'healthier, cleaner, lighter… I woke up brighter in the mornings, fresher.'

He recalls how before going vegan, he would 'crash out and go to sleep' after a meal, but now when he eats, he feels 'more awake and perked up'.

Injuries have been scarcer and his muscles are 'good and lean'.  

So how does he maintain the bulk that he needs to be a tour de force in the ring? 

The star, who weighs in at over 16 stone, says his body now has 'good, lean muscle' thanks to his high protein diet

Dedication: Alongside protein shakes, the boxer also has his own special recipe which includes brown rice, quinoa and yellow peas

The boxer drinks plant-based protein powder shakes and his own protein heavy recipe of quinoa, brown rice and yellow peas, of which he eats 200mg a day. 

While he admits that he's spent a small fortune becoming vegan, investing in a juicer, blender and always buying good quality vegetables, it's worth the effort.

'I'd recommend people go meat-free for just two days a week and feel the difference. If I can do it, then I'm sure everyone else can.'

PETA says that compared to meat-eaters, vegans are less prone to heart disease, strokes, diabetes, cancer and obesity. 

According to new research this week, more than half a million Britons are now vegans.

The dramatic rise in those sticking to the strict no-meat, fish or dairy diet – up 247 per cent from 150,000 a decade ago – has been put down to more people trying for a healthy lifestyle and growing concerns about the treatment of animals by the food industry.

A documentary called Earthlings proved to be the tipping point for Haye to give up meat for good

The boxer says he's spent a 'hell of a lot of money' on going vegan including buying a decent juicer...but that the investment in his diet is worth it

Research this week revealed that some 521,000 people across Britain are now vegan

Young people were largely behind the increase, with 42 per cent of all vegans aged 15 to 34, according to the research by Ipsos MORI and The Vegan Society in partnership with Vegan Life magazine. 

It found there were 521,000 vegans across Britain and 1.68million vegetarians. 

Chief executive of The Vegan Society Jasmijn de Boo said: 'To have over half a million vegans in Britain is fantastic.

'More people than ever are now acting upon the health and environmental benefits of veganism, and finding out what really goes on in the meat and dairy industries and deciding they do not want to contribute to the pain and suffering of animals.'

DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MALE VEGAN: LUIGI MICCOLIS REVEALS HIS DIET PLAN

Italian Luigi Miccolis, who now boasts a six-pack, says that before going vegan he often felt low on energy, had frequent colds and a weak immune system

Breakfast: green smoothie made from bananas, dates and raw spinach, or plant milk (soy, rice, almond) with wholemeal cereal

Mid-morning snack: 2-3 organic apples or other seasonal fruit, or nuts

Lunch: brown rice with oil, salt and parsley, or any other whole grain or steamed potatoes, with steamed vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, green beans or other preferably seasonal vegetables. I accompany this with homemade hummus and toasted wholemeal bread.

Afternoon snack: 2-3 oranges or other seasonal fruit, or dried fruit such as dried apricots, dates, figs or raisins.

Dinner: veggie burger with steamed vegetables or oven-baked sweet potatoes, or roasted tofu or tempeh with the aforementioned veggie sides. Wholemeal bread with a vegan topping.