What did Bruce Lee's diet look like? A deep dive into the food habits of the megastar

Years after the Fist of Fury actor Bruce Lee's death, people are once again talking about the iconic figure's diet. Turns out, it is not that difficult to follow.

For years, fans of the actor and martial artist have wondered about his dietary intake, and for good reason. At just 61 kilograms, he had a body fat percentage of around 6 to 8 percent.

Speaking about this almost unfathomable achievement, Arnold Schwarzenegger offered his observation in the book Bruce Lee: The Art of Expressing the Human Body.

"Bruce Lee had a very — I mean a very — defined physique. He had very little body fat. I mean, he had one of the lowest-body fat counts of any athlete around," Schwarzenegger said.

According to the information collected from multiple sources, such as Work Out Like Bruce Lee and Made4Fighters, Lee loved eating beef, vegetables, chicken, tofu, and shrimp. Even after shifting to America, he relied more on Chinese food, as he thought that it tasted better and was more nutritious.

Besides food, he also relied heavily on protein shakes and vitamin supplements for his nutrition.

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What was the Bruce Lee diet?

Lee had a very specific diet that helped him maintain his physique (Image via Instagram)

There is no specific "Bruce Lee diet" per se; however, devoted fans and well-wishers of the actor have often used the term to refer to his dietary habits.

Although he had moved to America for work, he was never a fan of American food. He heavily depended on Chinese food for most of his dietary needs. The actor also consumed a lot of tofu, chicken, beef, vegetables, and shrimp. Per Style magazine, Lee's favorite food was beef in oyster sauce.

In terms of dairy intake, the actor detested cheese and used powdered milk in his protein shakes and cereals. Until recently, it was also believed that he hated dairy, but this myth was busted when it was revealed that the actor occasionally indulged in ice cream and milk.

Lee was not a very big fan of cheese (Imagee via freepik)

Instead of having three big meals, it is said that Lee used to eat four to five smaller meals a day. He also consumed fruits frequently and had them throughout the day to boost his metabolism.

Lee was not a very big fan of wheat, especially refined wheat. He maintained his distance from baked items such as cakes and biscuits.

You would think that a person like Bruce Lee would be one of the last ones to look in the way of fast food or junk food. However, that is not true, as it has been known that Lee used to enjoy having steak. He also enjoyed a good meal at McDonald's now and then.

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Besides food, what did Bruce Lee consume that made him different?

The Hollywood star was fully aware of what he was putting inside his body. He loved having black tea, and in fact, he consumed a lot of it, sometimes paired with honey or milk and sugar. The actor also occasionally consumed a mixture of tea, ginseng, honey, and royal jelly before working out.

As mentioned earlier, Bruce Lee also consumed protein shakes. However, the shakes that he consumed were not the ones that are in prevalence now. They comprised vegetables that he prepared himself in a mixer. Besides this, he also consumed a lot of vitamin and mineral supplements, which helped him get the additional nutrients needed.

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Even after so many years, Bruce Lee's legacy still lives on. The martial artist who is often credited with the emergence of modern-day mixed martial arts (MMA) did indeed have a very different way of life.