UFC Champ Swears by Urine Drinking for Peak Performance

Many of us have certain rituals that we swear by, certain things we feel compelled to do to ensure our day will go well. For some, it may be having a meal at the same time every day, keeping good luck charms with them always, or even eating a specific food. Athletes are no different – just like everyone else, they have rituals they adhere to with the belief that it keeps them in peak performance.

However, the methods athletes use may be quite unconventional. When they're training, athletes are often hyper-focused on achieving optimum results. Many of their rituals involve what they believe to be methods that will help them keep their bodies in top form to allow them to attain peak performance. Sometimes these rituals arose from a superstition that led them to weird practices. Some rituals seem logical, while others are downright strange and in the case of one, quite repulsive.

To compile a list of interesting rituals athletes swear by for peak performance, 247 Tempo reviewed several sources, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and sports and health-related websites like Runner's World and Outside Magazine. It's important to note that these rituals aren't backed by science, only anecdotal evidence. (Check out the dangers athletes face in extreme heat.)

Athletes have to get their protein in. In some countries, munching on crickets is the norm—and some elite athletes (even those who didn't grow up enjoying this superfood) have taken a page out of their book. Crickets are packed with protein and they're an easy, on-the-go snack.

They also contain all the essential amino acids athletes' bodies need to strengthen and grow their muscle mass and recover. While you may opt for some chicken or beef, athletes look for what's most efficient in providing their bodies with the nutrients they need to keep training, beating personal records, and competing.

If you need any excuse to avoid peak performance training, look no further. Some athletes are open about their strange methods, sharing that they find it serves as a form of natural medicine. Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida openly discusses his experience drinking his urine.

He swears by it, explaining when he drinks urine in the morning, it helps his body flush out any impurities and bacteria. It's a daily practice that keeps his system clear and one he views as the cornerstone of his overall health.

Athletes deserve a sweet treat but they're not just sitting around indulging. They eat brownies purposefully because chocolate is packed with polyphenols. These are plant compounds with health benefits that include a digestion boost, protection against heart disease, and the neutralization of free radicals in the body. Additionally, chocolatey brownies help to reduce the body's inflammation, which makes these not just a tasty but a helpful post-training snack.

Eggs are complete proteins and you likely enjoy them regularly as part of your breakfast foods or snacks. But some athletes eat raw eggs because they find they absorb the nutrients better, including protein, phosphorous, vitamin D, and vitamin K. The nutrients in raw eggs help elite athletes recover after training and help them develop muscle. Others steer clear, however, due to the risks associated with raw eggs.

When you're craving a salty snack, corn chips satisfy your desire. You're not the only one. Athletes eat these, too. Stephanie Howe Violett, an ultrarunner and sports nutritionist, keeps corn chips by her bed – but only the blue variety. This isn't a pre-run snack, however. After she's performed, her cravings kick up for something salty so she keeps these close during her period of recovery.

It's a healthy fat you can turn into guacamole, layer onto toast, and pop on top of a salad in neat slices. And yes—you can even enjoy it in ice cream form. Athletes are constantly pushing past their limits, and need a diet that incorporates the nutrients and healthy fats they need to keep dominating.

Triathletes, for example, revel in the benefits of avocados, whether they enjoy them in ice cream form or with a spoon right out of their leathery shell. They contain B vitamins, fiber, vitamin E, healthy fats, and antioxidants.

Some superfoods take a little while to get used to, but when athletes see the benefits, they commit. Natto is fermented and traditionally Japanese. It has a salty, kind of cheesy, and even sweaty flavor to it. The texture is tender and the aftertaste is earthy and nutty.

It's rich in nutrients, including fiber, protein, manganese, iron, copper, vitamin K, and magnesium, to name a few. Athletes find that it improves their results in training. It improves digestion due to the fermentation, helps the body build stronger bones, strengthens the heart, and has benefits for the immune system as well.

Pure sugarcane is especially popular among Indian athletes. This beverage delivers both carbs and electrolytes, which helps them rehydrate to keep going during training and competitions, and is packed with several nutrients, including magnesium, B vitamins, and chlorophyll. Athletes are no strangers to strenuous training and pure sugarcane rehydrates them so they can keep pushing.

They're crunchy, have an unmistakable tang, and help athletes by preventing muscle cramping. Muscle cramps may be mild but when they get severe, they are debilitating. An athlete needs to keep moving and so they lean on pickles (and pickle juice) to keep them performing at their best. The juice delivers electrolytes and the sodium helps replenish their losses.

As part of his pre-game ritual, MLB star, Bryce Harper, swears by Eggo waffles. That may seem slightly weird but here's where it gets interesting: He eats them frozen. This isn't an across-the-board snack for all elite athletes. For Harper, it's just one of many quirky things he does to ensure he performs well on the baseball field.

These colorful chocolatey bits deliver sugar, calcium, sodium, and potassium so athletes can recover after arduous training. While this isn't recommended as a post-workout snack every time you need to recover, athletes are clever in how they use these tasty treats.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), "beetroot juice increases levels of nitric oxide (NO), which serves multiple functions related to increased blood flow, gas exchange, mitochondrial biogenesis and efficiency, and strengthening of muscle contraction."

This makes beetroot juice an excellent choice in terms of nutritional supplementation. While other weird foods athletes eat may have some downsides, beetroot juice proves to "improve cardiorespiratory endurance in athletes."

When endurance athletes munch on pop-tarts, they're looking for a fuel source. They may snack on these before they go for a run, during a run, or even during their recovery period. Obstacle course racer Amelia Boone enjoys these as a pre-race snack because her body digests them well and because they are part of some of her superstitions. Athletes have both practical and deeply personal reasons why they eat different foods.

This isn't every athlete's go-to beverage but when other easy snack options aren't available, it makes a wonderful substitute. Clare Gallagher, an ultrarunner, trained in Thailand when she embarked on her sports career. She quickly realized that the fueling options for her out there were different than what she had seen elsewhere.

Without the ability to turn to simple fueling snacks like protein bars or energy gels, she learned to make do with what was available: Thai milk coffee for the fuel she needed.

This isn't an everyday drink for athletes as it's not sustainable for their training routines. However, guzzling down Coca-Cola can help fuel endurance athletes when they need it the most. It delivers simple sugars but it also offers a caffeine boost.

During events that require stamina, athletes deplete their stored carbs so these simple sugars help them endure the length of the event and perform well.

You already know that ultrarunner Clare Gallagher indulges Thai milk coffee for energy but one of her other secrets is candy—specifically Sour Patch Kids. The way Gallagher sees it, it's a financially practical decision. Although there are sports-specific gummies and fuel sources, the prices of those items are significantly higher than your typical bag of candy.

Instead of investing in a limited number of fuel sources, she opts for nearly two pounds of Sour Patch Kids (which she generously shares with her crew).

As elite athletes perform, they sweat, which causes them to lose essential nutrients. They get depleted of iodine and seaweed helps to deliver this nutrient so they can keep their energy levels regulated. Seaweed is also an anti-inflammatory food that provides essential vitamins and minerals athletes need to recover.

Although seaweed and other foods on this list have distinctive benefits, each athlete's nutrition plan is different as it must cater to their specific needs.

This food isn't so weird when sitting on top of a cake. But when you're enjoying the frosting alone, it gets a little weird. However, if you spot an ultrarunner stuffing frosting into their mouths mid-run, you realize why that makes sense.

While there are energy gels specifically for athletes, many find it's more economical and a tastier option to grab frosting instead. What they need are simple carbs that are ultra-easy to digest and frosting gives them that.

Cheeseburgers deliver protein, which helps athletes build up their muscles. Athletes find that they can use their hard-earned money to spend on energy bars and protein drinks but they also have the option to enjoy a good ol' cheeseburger. It's satisfying and delivers several nutrients they need to train and recover.

Some athletes have dietary restrictions due to health conditions, so they need to get creative with their foods. Just as there are sports-specific protein bars, there are sports-specific formulas similar to the little pouches parents give their kids. These deliver a solid balance of protein, fat, and carbs and are easy on an athlete's digestive system so they're not dealing with any gastrointestinal upset post-fuel.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) confirms that tart cherry juice is rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory polyphenol compounds. Athletes drink it because it reduces pain and discomfort, lessens the time it takes to recover, and reduces inflammation. Whether an athlete is focused on endurance or strength, tart cherry juice is a staple to ensure a quick recovery post-workout.