Michael Phelps’ atherogenic diet

A gold medal diet?

If Michael Phelps’s diet is really as reported and he continues to eat like this, his risk of atherosclerosis and probably some cancers are elevated. While no detailed nutrient breakdowns are available, one can infer that a large fraction of his calories are coming from saturated fat and refined carbohydrate, nutrient poor calories. The “energy drinks” are liquid candy. He consumes few vegetables and no fruit. His intake is low in fiber, and could be low or borderline in other nutrients. While such a diet may rapidly supply the calories he needs for Olympic gold medals, in the long run his health will suffer. If he thinks he can eat chocolate chip pancakes as long as he exercises enough, he is dead wrong. And what kind of example does he set for the children of the USA and the world? “Hey Mom, I can eat chocolate chip pancakes instead of broccoli, just like Michael Phelps.”