Why This UFC Champ Says Drinking His Urine Keeps Him in Top Form

When you try to get into shape, you have your methods. Maybe you stick to grilled chicken and vegetables most nights or whip out an app that tracks your macros. Athletes, too, have their methods when training and though they're focused on peak performance, they develop some wonky habits. Sometimes a superstition leads them to weird foods. If they happen to win a competition after eating some gummy candies, they correlate that food with their win, and it becomes a part of their rituals.

Some of the weird foods athletes eat make sense once you understand the reasoning behind their choices. Other food options will have you scratching your head trying to grasp just how they can perform so well with seeming junk fueling their bodies. In some cases, these weird foods have scientific backing that let you know athletes are really onto something. Other things some athletes ingest are not backed by science—only anecdotal evidence (and fair warning, there's one item in this list that's particularly gross).

By learning about the strange foods athletes indulge in, you get a closer look into what goes on behind the scenes when your aim is peak performance. Athletes have to train their minds to perform under pressure, they have to train their bodies to keep going and endure the pain, and they have to ensure their financial stability so they can keep training. To save, they select substitutes they can pick up at any convenience store instead of opting for sports-specific products with price hikes. Athletes are mentally and physically strong—there's no denying that. They're also quirky and creative and that's made evident through the unusual snacks they regularly count on.

To put this list together of weird foods 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.

Athletes have to get their protein in, right? 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. Crickets contain all the essential amino acids athletes' bodies need so they can not only strengthen and grow their muscle mass, but recover as well. 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.

For those of you who need any excuse to avoid peak performance training, here's one. It can't be true, right? Oh, but it can. Some athletes are open about it, sharing that they find it serves as a form of natural medicine. Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida, for instance, shares openly about his experience drinking his own urine. He swears by it, explaining that 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 that he views as the cornerstone to 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.

You know eggs are complete proteins and you likely enjoy them regularly as part of your breakfast foods or snacks. But raw eggs? What's the deal? Well, athletes eat raw eggs because they find that they absorb the nutrients better, including protein, phosphorous, vitamin D, and vitamin K. The nutrients in raw eggs help elite athletes with recovery after training and helps them develop muscle. Some steer clear, however, due to the risks associated with raw eggs.

When you're craving a salty snack, corn chips satisfy your desire. Guess what? Athletes do this, too. Take Stephanie Howe Violett, for example. She's not just an ultrarunner; she's also a sports nutritionist. You know what she keeps by her bed? Corn chips—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, which means they 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 its 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, it helps the body build stronger bones, it strengthens the heart, and has benefits for the immune system as well.

Pure sugarcane is especially popular among Indian athletes. This is a beverage that delivers both carbs and electrolytes, which helps them rehydrate to keep going during training and competitions. It's 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, they have an unmistakable tang, and they 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.

MLB star, Bryce Harper, swears by Eggo waffles as part of his pre-game ritual. Now, that's not too odd, right? 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 along with 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 the way they make use of 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 head out for a run, during a run, or during their recovery period. Obstacle course racer, Amelia Boone, enjoys these as a pre-race snack not only because her body digests them well but also because they play into 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, was training 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 due with what was available: Thai milk coffee for the fuel she needed.

This isn't an every day 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 on those items are significantly higher than your typical bag of candy. So, instead of investing on a limited number of fuel sources, she opts for nearly two pounds of Sour Patch Kids (which she then 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 and delivers the vitamins and minerals athletes need to recover. Although seaweed and other foods on this list have their distinctive benefits, each athlete's nutrition plan is different as it must cater to their specific needs.

This food isn't so weird when it's 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 yes, there are energy gels specifically for athletes, many find that it's more economical and frankly tastier to opt for frosting instead. Ultimately, what they need in those moments are simple carbs ultra-easy to digest and frosting gives them just 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 to the palate and delivers a host of nutrients they need to train and recover.

Some athletes have dietary restrictions due to health conditions, which means they have to get creative with their foods. Just like there are sports-specific protein bars, there are also sports-specific formulas similar to the little pouches parents give their kiddos. 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, it lessens the time it takes for them 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.