Tom Brady's Health Habits Are Giving Experts Cause For Concern

Most people thought Tom Brady was just being stubborn when he shot down retirement rumors back in 2014 by saying, "When I suck, I’ll retire... [But] I don’t plan on sucking for a long time." But seven years and three Super Bowl rings later, the legendary quarterback just keeps getting better — and he owes part of his success to the "TB12 Method." But while Brady's famous workout and lifestyle routine clearly produces results, it has also forced health experts to issue a startling warning.

A dangerous morning routine?

After all, most people would find guzzling down 20 ounces of "electrolyte water" first thing every morning a bit odd. It's great, of course, that Brady is a big advocate of staying hydrated. But thanks to his TB12 Method, the star QB takes this habit to what some would consider a dangerous level.

Life-threatening consumption

On some days, the quarterback can drink up to 25 glasses of water. That comes out to a whopping 200 ounces of H2O! This is well in excess of what an average body should be consuming and can lead to life-threatening conditions such as hyponatremia and water intoxication. Brady, however, has claimed that over-hydrating can ward off a variety of health problems — including sunburn.

Outsmarting the sun?

That's right: according to his 2017 memoir/workout guide, The TB12 Method: How to Achieve a Lifetime of Sustained Peak Performance, Brady believes that post-outdoor workout hydration can prevent sunburn. This is, to put it politely, not backed up by any scientific evidence. And Brady's claims about his "revolutionary training, conditioning, and wellness system" only get more questionable from there.

"Muscle pliability"

One of the tenets of the TB12 Method is the concept of "muscle pliability." According to Brady, making one's muscles "long" and "soft" allows the body to disperse the shock of tackles. This could possibly explain why the QB has the ability to bounce back from hard hits. But some scientists say there's a problem with his logic.