The 5 Eating Habits Cristiano Ronaldo Swears By
Playing in over 1,100 games, scoring more than 800 career goals, and winning many achievements and awards, including "Player of the Year," "Golden Boot," and "FIFA World Cup Top Scorer," it's no wonder why Cristiano Ronaldo is looked at as a soccer (fútbol) icon. In order to have such a stellar performance and great accomplishments, it's no secret that Ronaldo has to work hard, including a dedicated workout regime and eating habits.
Fans have seen him act in commercials and model for advertisements, all while being one of the most victorious fútbol players. With all this fame and success, you can't help but look at him and wonder, "how does he do it?" Thankfully, Ronaldo spoke with DailyMail about his secrets to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including his eating and drinking habits that keep him sharp.
As we dive into his particular eating habits in this article, it's important to note that it takes more than just food. Some non-food-related practices include learning to train your mind like you train your body, getting proper sleep, mixing up your exercise routine with cardio and weight training, and relaxing. If you want to learn more about celebrity eating habits, take a look at Heidi Klum Just Revealed Her Exact Weekend Meals to Stay Fit.
Eat lots of protein.
Ronaldo believes that a good workout has to be combined with a good diet.
His diet is high in protein. Specifically, he loves to eat fish. One of his favorite dishes is a Portuguese dish called bacalhau à brás– a combination of scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, and pieces of salt cod. If he's at a restaurant, Ronaldo will typically order a steak with salad.
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Balance your meals.
Although protein is his main focus, Ronaldo mentions the importance of eating a balanced diet. Along with his sources of protein, he makes sure to consume whole grain carbs, fruits, and vegetables.
A combination of proteins and healthy carbs is also great for your body's health, such as helping to lower blood sugar and aiding weight loss.
Avoid sugary foods.
Ronaldo also stresses that he stays away from sugary foods.
Sugary foods may give you energy right off the bat, but you can easily succumb to fatigue and lack of energy once the initial sugar-high wears off. If you keep eating sugar foods, your body over time could be at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, as well as affecting your body's ability to keep blood sugar levels balanced. It can also lead to weak endurance.
If you're still in need of sweet food, fruit is a great alternative, as these are natural sweeteners that could help crush sugar cravings.
Stay hydrated.
Ronaldo says that "drinking water is so important." He's so adamant about it, in fact, that he even traded in a bottle of Coca-Cola for water at the Euro 2020 news conference. He removed the sodas out of view and held up a bottle of water to show that it was his preferred drink.
It doesn't stop at the soda products. Ronaldo also avoids alcohol. Alcohol is a natural diuretic and causes your body to squeeze out water from your cells, and sweat mixed with consuming alcohol will dehydrate you even faster. We could see why an athlete who runs across a soccer field for 90 minutes may not want to drink alcohol.
Eat regularly and often.
Ronaldo believes it's important to keep energy levels high constantly. This will fuel your body for better performance, especially if you train regularly.
Sometimes, he will eat up to six smaller meals a day to make sure he has enough energy to perform each session at the top level. It's better to eat often as opposed to skipping meals, and there are plenty of snack-friendly options to choose from.
