Tom Brady is one of the greatest American Football quarterbacks of our generation. The New England Patriots quarterback is the winner of five Super Bowls and has some questionable health claims towards sustained peak performance.
Due to health reasons, Tom Brady has cut tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers and eggplants out of his diet because they cause inflammation. Whilst the red fruit may sneak into his diet once a month, he says that he is “very cautious”.
As a football player who wants to play the sport well into his 40’s, Tom says he owes a huge part of his success to his intense preparation and his diet.
Secrets Of Tom Brady’s Diet
The hidden secrets of what Tom Brady consumes behind closed doors has been leaked before, some of these secrets have been met with scientific pushback. A typical day for Tom would include organic, local and plant-based food with an avoidance of anything processed. He avoids gluten, dairy, sugar, most cooking oils, potatoes and ketchup. When it comes to treats though, avocado ice cream is his go-to!
Tom follows a strict anti-inflammatory diet which means that he not only dislikes but borderline vilifies tomatoes. He mostly will steer clear of fruit but will sometimes indulge in a banana. One of his favourite snacks in sushi rolls but you won’t find him washing it down with caffeine or alcohol; these are both off-limits.
Strangely enough, Tom also has a strong dislike for strawberries. The disgust dates back to his childhood when his aunt would come to visit and would bring with her a tray of strawberries. Any time the refrigerator door was open and the smell would waft out, he couldn’t stand it. Mo Rocca joked that NFL coordinators could start throwing strawberries at other players so that Tom couldn’t stand to be near them. Tom’s replied “that would be smart but most defensive coordinators are not that smart”.
Baseless Claims
In 2017 Tom, along with his controversial friend and body coach Alex Guerrero, released his exercise and diet book called The TB12 Method. The book contains exercises and massages that he says increase muscle pliability. However, this concept has been debunked widely by scientists. Throughout the book, the TB12-branded nutritional bars and dietary supplements are heavily promoted. Nonetheless, his book made the New York Times Best Sellers list to which he joked “pretty good for a C student!”.
Tom is a strong believer that his nutritional advice is what has made him a superior athlete and he’s not afraid to be vocal about it. He is a big advocate for the right foods which are alkalizing and anti-inflammatory.
Tom preaches that alkaline foods lower his pH levels and can help with boosting low energy levels to prevent bone fractures. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory foods aid his athletic performance and speed up his recovery.
While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with his diet, the main problem is that there is no scientific evidence to back up his claims. It doesn’t help that his coach Alex Guerrero has been investigated by the Federal Trade Commision for falasey presenting himself as a medical doctor and for promoting nutritional supplements that don’t work.
The Bottom Line
Whilst the Tom Brady diet does promote nutrient-rich and minimally processed foods the claims it makes are often not backed by science and the food it requires can be unnecessarily expensive. The diet is highly restrictive which can often lead to any weight loss being regained, and then some. Experts warn that the diet is unnecessarily complex and unsustainable however those who it has worked for rave of increased energy levels and weight loss.
Every body requires different levels of nutrition and exercise so it’s recommended to approach Tom Brady’s diet with caution. Most importantly, if you really love tomatoes, it may not be for you..
Check out the Youtube video below for a further look into what the TB12 diet looks like.