The recent news and hospitalization of MMA fighter and UFC superstar Brock Lesnar has highlighted the importance of diet and healthy eating for even the best martial artists. Brock Lesnar’s acute case of Diverticulosis almost meant an end to his spectacular UFC career, which should send a serious warning message to other upcoming MMA contenders to take better care of themselves and their diets. At almost 300lbs of seemingly almost pure muscle that makes him look like he could take on a train superman style it is amazing to imagine him being taken down by not eating enough fruits and vegetables! Guess he didn’t spend enough time watching Popeye cartoons as a child.
Being A Pure Canivore Is Not Good
UFC legend Lesnar who’s notable fights include those against former UFC champion Randy Couture has admitted that his diet consisted of almost 100% protein and seriously lacked desperately needed fibre. OK, so what real man and MMA fan doesn’t consider himself a carnivore and could almost live on red meat and potatoes alone? Not many – just don’t forget the potatoes!
Avoiding Health Complications
So now you are probably asking yourself what and how you should eat to avoid health complications, while still maintaining some serious muscle mass and having the stamina to compete in the gruelingly long UFC bouts? Maybe a better role model for eating your way to MMA victory is the famous Gracie family, that have been so instrumental in the development and growth of the UFC and MMA in general.
The Gracie Diet
The Gracie family of fighters and instructors have developed their diet over many decades since development by Grandmaster Carlos Gracie Sr. The ‘Gracie Diet’ includes a variety of proteins as well as fruits and vegetables, but has be planned out in incredible detail down to which food items should and should not be eaten together or within a few hours of each other in order to maximize the benefits and avoid the negative effects mixing conflicting food groups can create.
