When it comes to the best NFL players ever, Tom Brady is known as The GOAT. His immense success in the NFL is unmatched by any other player, and it’s clear that he just has that extra edge over even some of the other greats.
His work ethic, natural talent, leadership, and football IQ are some of the main factors for his success. But Brady also doesn’t overlook the importance of diet and lifestyle factors too.
To this end, Brady is known for practicing a very strict diet, and he also takes a number of health supplements on a regular basis to fuel his performance and overall wellness. And it is these regimens that Brady says helped him have a very long career, too.
This article goes over all of Tom Brady’s supplements, with a close look at why he takes each one and their possible benefits.
About Tom Brady
Tom Brady is the most successful NFL player ever. Now retired, Brady had an almost unreal career with 7 Super Bowl wins, 3 league MVPs, and 5 Super Bowl MVPs, along with the most career passing TDs at 649.
Most of this success (read: 6 Super Bowls) was with the New England Patriots, although he ended his career in Tampa Bay, also winning one Super Bowl there.
He’s also unique in that he had one of the longest NFL careers (the longest, in fact, for a non-special teams player.), which he has attributed a lot of to his strict diet, exercise, recovery, and overall lifestyle plan.
Beyond football, Brady is also the owner of the health and wellness supplement brand, TB12, as well as Brady Brand, which offers apparel for athletes and other active individuals.
Additionally, Brady is the author of The TB12 Method, a book that details the diet, training, and overall wellness system that kept him in top shape for so many years.
Tom Brady’s Supplement Summary
Tom Brady takes a handful of select supplements to improve his workout performance, reduce inflammation, and maintain optimal health for as long as possible. While no longer in the NFL, Brady still places a high importance on staying fit and being able to do the things he loves.
Here’s the overview of Tom Brady’s supplement regimen:
- TB12 Electrolytes: In the morning and throughout the day/around training
- TB12 Multivitamin: In the morning
- TB12 Omega: In the morning
- TB12 Perform: Before workouts and sometimes throughout the day
- TB12 Recover: At night before bed
- TB12 Plant-Based Protein: 1 scoop with breakfast and post-workout
- Others mentioned in the past:
- Probiotic
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin B-Complex
TB12 Electrolytes
Brady used electrolytes very frequently throughout his career to help maintain hydration levels and reduce the chance of cramps, injuries, and other issues. Many other athletes and high-performers take electrolytes too, including Ronnie Coleman back in his lifting days.
He uses his own TB12 Electrolytes supplement, which consists of magnesium, chloride, sodium, and potassium. Brady says that he takes it first thing in the morning with a lot of water, and also takes it throughout the day when he’s very active.
In this interview with CBS News Bay Area, Brady notes, “I try to stay really on top of my hydration. I’m asking my body to perform at the highest levels; I need the highest levels of hydration too.”
Of course, now that he’s done playing and not training as intensely, his electrolyte needs are likely lower. And people who don’t work out should be wary of taking in a lot of extra electrolytes if the body doesn’t actually need them.
TB12 Multivitamin
Another supplement Brady takes right away in the morning is his TB12 Multivitamin. It’s a pretty typical multivitamin and mineral formula, with the addition of some herbal extracts and antioxidants.
Now, Brady already has a very nutrient-dense, healthy diet. But he says in this video “It’s great to get all the nutrients that I need outside what I’m getting from my healthy diet”.
TB12 Omega
Tom Brady also uses omega-3 fatty acids, typically from his TB12 Omega supplement. In this YouTube video, Brady notes that omega-3s are “great for your brain and for your heart, and for your joints…and for aging quarterbacks in the NFL”.
The last part was said a bit in jest, but omega-3s could very well have helped Brady play for longer. After all, they have anti-inflammatory effects that could assist with recovery and keep the body running for a long time. And many people don’t get enough of them, even when following a nutrient-rich diet.
It’s why you see even the most health-conscious of individuals like Peter Attia using omega-3s in their supplement regimens.
TB12 Perform
The next supplement in Brady’s regimen is TB12 Perform. This is what he uses as a pre-workout and to support natural energy production throughout his entire day.
Perform contains trademarked forms of ashwagandha, rhodiola, mango leaf, and kanna extracts, which are all herbal ingredients.
Brady says that Perform helps him both on and off the field. Specifically, he remarks in this YouTube clip, “This has supported a lot of consistent energy throughout the day. This has been a great way to support my total day, Not just on the field, but off the field as well.”
And that’s very important given Brady’s days would often start before 6am and he’d be going non-stop with workouts, practice, and of course everything with family and off the field too.
Ashwagandha and rhodiola are both adaptogens which can reduce stress. And there is some evidence that they can boost endurance and workout performance, with additional energy boosting effects from rhodiola. You’ll even find them in Hunter Focus and other nootropic formulas.
As for the other ingredients, mango leaf and kanna are not as well-studied but there is some evidence indicates they can boost mood and offer antioxidant effects.
TB12 Recover
At night before bed, Brady takes TB12 Recover. This formula is a mix of trademarked forms of tart cherry, eggshell membrane, curcuminoids, and boswellia.
According to Brady, TB12 Recover “gives me a great, restful night’s sleep. It also gives my body a great, healthy inflammatory response that’s going to bring the inflammation down over the course of the night.”
This makes sense, since tart cherry, curcuminoids, and boswellia are all rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that may help reduce pain and soreness, while aiding recovery. And eggshell membrane has also been shown to reduce joint pain and stiffness.
So, these ingredients are definitely well-supported. And we know of many other athletes who take these too, such as Layne Norton who’s a fan of tart cherry extract after workouts.
TB12 Plant-Based Protein
The final TB12 supplement that Brady takes often is his Plant-Based Protein, although he says he sometimes takes the whey version too.
He’ll often have one scoop of TB12 Plant-Based Protein mixed into his morning smoothie, which typically also consists of berries, almond milk, and various nuts and seeds.
In addition, he says may have another shake or two throughout the day (typically just with water or plant-based milk these times) to support workout recovery.
In his own words, Brady doesn’t complicate things, saying “My body breaks down when I workout, so I gotta make sure I have the protein I need to recover.” This is especially important when not eating a ton of animal products because it’s a little more difficult (but certainly not impossible) to get enough protein from whole foods.
Other Supplements Mentioned
In his book, Brady also mentioned that he takes vitamin D, a probiotic, and a B-complex supplement.
However, these haven’t been mentioned in recent years, so it’s unclear if he still takes all of these.
We’re certainly not saying he doesn’t, but it can’t be fully determined.
The vitamin D and B-complex would make sense, especially given his mostly plant-based diet, which can make it a bit harder to get enough vitamin D and some B vitamins (especially vitamin B12).
Final Thoughts: Tom Brady Supplements
Tom Brady’s supplement routine is very specific to his health and performance goals. It’s clear that he used products that helped him to recover faster, have more energy, reduce inflammation, and ultimately be at his best for longer.
Sure, Brady’s not throwing touchdowns or avoiding defenders on Sundays anymore, but he still places a high importance on a healthy, active lifestyle. And it’s likely he will continue this regimen or something very similar to it for the years to come.
