The Truth About Tom Brady's Intense Diet

At 43 years of age, Tom Brady is about to play in his 10th Super Bowl. And according to John Burns, CEO of Brady's health company (via New York Post), "Tom's sustained success over the past 20-plus years is a testament to his incredible drive and his meticulous approach to everything he does." He continued, "It's that mindset that allows him to keep going." But in our opinion, it's clear that the former New England Patriot turned Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback's diet, dubbed the "TB12 Method," also has a lot to do with his longevity.

As Brady explained in his book The TB12 Method: How to Achieve a Lifetime of Sustained Peak Performance (via Men's Health), the TB12 Method follows "a mix of Eastern and Western philosophies." He adheres to a largely plant-based diet, explaining, "[m]y nutritional regimen may seem restrictive to some people, but to me it feels unnatural to eat any other way." So, what exactly does Tom Brady eat in a day?

Tom Brady starts his day at 6:00 a.m. "I wake up and drink 20 ounces of water with electrolytes" before drinking a calorie-dense smoothie loaded with protein and fat, he told TB12 Sports. He then begins training around 8:00 am, drinking water with electrolytes at 20-minute intervals throughout, before eating around 11:00 a.m., post-workout. But not before he takes on a scoop of plant-based protein powder with almond milk! Come midday, he'll have lunch, which is "mostly plants." Then he spends the rest of the day snacking on nuts, seeds, and protein shakes and caps it off with a plant-based dinner. Talk about intense!

But that doesn't mean he doesn't have cheat meals. "If I'm craving bacon, I have a piece," Brady admitted to Men's Health. "What's changed as I've gotten older is now if I want pizza, I want the best pizza," he explained, adding, 'I don't eat a slice that tastes like s*** and then wonder, 'Why am I eating s*** pizza?'" Whatever he's doing seems to be working!