The eating habits of 3 successful people

For these three inspirational people in my life, eating foods that help them feel amazing and perform at their best is key. Together, they prove that when you create and commit to healthy eating habits, you can become more focused, energised and driven – the perfect recipe for success.

When it comes to success, your memory retention, brain power and ability to learn are some of your most important assets. The great news is they can all be improved by what you eat.

One man, Jim Kwik, is proof of this. His story is incredible. Growing up with learning difficulties, he had to teach himself how to retain information. He became really good at it and he’s now a memory and brain expert, teaching some of the world’s most famous people how to improve their brain power and remember lines for movies.

Jim’s secret weapon? He likes to pack brain foods into a daily smoothie. Blueberries, walnuts, hemp seeds, chia seeds, avocado, spinach and coconut milk ¬– all ingredients that help boost brain health and keep you at the top of your mental game.

Whether you’re using brains, brawns or both, the right foods can have a huge impact on your mental and physical health.

Take Novak Djokovic, for example. You probably know he’s a tennis champion, but what you may not know is that he credits a lot of his success to his diet. A few years ago, Novak found himself stuck in the rankings, at number 20 in the world. So he decided to switch things up by going gluten-free, refined sugar-free and processed food-free. The result? He won Wimbledon and shot to number one – just months after changing his diet.

What’s on his plate? Novak likes to incorporate a lot of green and vegetable juices into his mornings. Later in the day, he’ll eat more wholesome, plant-based foods and avoid meat and animal products.

More and more athletes are experimenting with being plant-based. However, if it doesn’t work for you, avoiding man-made meat could be a great place to start. I think not eating factory farmed or commercially-produced animals is one of the best decisions we can make.

A lot of people struggle to find balance in their life. Understandably, after a long and stressful day, healthy eating can easily end up at the bottom of your to-do list.

That’s how it was for one incredibly inspiring man, Rich Roll. Rich was a successful lawyer – he worked hard and made lots of money but was burning out. At age 39, he hit breaking point. He was unhealthy, sick and living on fast-foods. One day, he decided he couldn’t go on like he was. So, he completely changed his diet by starting to eat mainly vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. It was a radical experiment, but it worked. He started to feel better and better.

At 41, he found himself with more energy than he’d had in years, so he competed in his first Ironman. He kept eating plant-based wholefoods, increased his training, and a few years later, competed in the EPIC5 – five days, five Hawaiian Islands, five Ironman triathlons. At 44-years-old, he was one of only two people in the world to have completed the challenge.

From being unhappy and unhealthy, Rich is now recognised as one of America’s top ultra-distance athletes of all time – not bad for someone who didn’t start his athletic career until his 40s. But although Rich’s physical achievements are remarkable, the story of his journey to healthier eating and living is even more inspiring.

Whether you’re looking to transform your life or just make one healthy change, it helps to take an honest look at what you’re eating. For these successful people, it was a game-changer.

Filmmaker of 'Food Matters' and 'Hungry For Change', and founder of FMTV, James has dedicated his life to discovering the truth behind nutrition and our food supply. James, alongside Laurentine ten Bosch, has transformed the 'Food Matters' film into a global wellness hub, with a community of over 3.3 million followers across email and social networks. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.