Do you know what Navy SEALs eat?

I remember an old saying – "Garbage in; garbage out."

This is so true. Put bad fuel in a sports car and it's going to run like crap. Put bad fuel in your body and you will see the same result.

Navy SEALs are the professional athletes of the military. During a typical week of SEAL training we ran over 60 miles, swam at least 4 miles, and conquered the incredible O-course (obstacle course) several times. Not to mention the never-ending calisthenics.

We simply couldn't put bad fuel in our bodies and expect to last.

When I first started BUD/S (SEAL Training) we were eating three times a day at the Navy Chow Hall that we shared with everyone else on the Amphibious Base in Coronado, CA. Everything was deep fried... bad fuel.

Thankfully our Command was proactive in getting healthier options available to us given the extreme physical demands we were enduring.

Everyone in my BUD/S Class noticed an immediate improvement in not only our physical performance, but other elements like fatigue, injuries, muscle aches, and recovery time. This reminds me of another saying: "You can be hard or you can be smart."

This was an excellent example of "being smart."

As I have grown older I can't stress enough the importance of nutrition. Not only for Navy SEALs – but for anyone who wants to get the best performance out of their lives.

Ever wonder why Tom Brady the six-time Super Bowl winning champion of the New England Patriots is still at the top of his game at the age of 42?

He will tell you... diet, diet, diet.

Well, each time Navy SEALs go out on a mission they are playing in a Super Bowl that they can't lose.

Warriors Diet

• High fat/processed food – yes... that means any place with a drive thru window.
• Simple carbohydrates – sugar, non-whole grain bread, starchy vegetables (potatoes, corn, rice) Excessive dairy
• Excessive alcohol and tobacco
• And especially for men – soy

• Lean proteins – chicken, fish, lean beef
• Healthy complex carbohydrates – fruits & berries, non-starchy vegetables (spinach, lettuce, carrots, broccoli, green beans, mushrooms), beans.
• 100% whole grain bread (in moderation), brown rice, quinoa, couscous.
• Omega-3 fatty acids that are found in most fish as well as flaxseed, walnuts, and almonds.
• High nutrient supplements that contain many of the vitamins and minerals you might not get in your daily nutritional intake. I highly recommend Patriot Power Greens. It's filled with 40+ fruits & veggies, superfoods, enzymes, probiotics, plus much, much more. Try it out for yourself, right here.

Balance

Now I would be lying if I said I strictly adhered to all of the above. It can be extremely challenging and a recipe for disaster if you are truly trying to make a lifestyle change.

This is where the balance comes in.

Therefore, I have adopted an 80/20 rule for my nutrition, which means that 80% of the time I try to maintain a strict nutritional diet as described above. But I give myself 20% of the time to enjoy some of the things on my "naughty list." Generally, on the weekend.

So, if you are serious about wanting to get the very most out of life physically, mentally, and emotionally, give this a try. It's never too early or late to start filling your tank with good fuel.

Be a survivor... not a statistic,

Cade Courtley Former Navy SEAL / 4Patriots Contributor