Does Tom Brady Eat Salmon? The Truth About His Anti-Inflammatory TB12 Diet

December 9, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the principles of his famous TB12 Method, Tom Brady’s diet is comprised of approximately 80% plant-based foods and 20% lean animal protein. For those wondering, "Does Tom Brady eat salmon?", the answer is a definitive yes, as it aligns perfectly with his anti-inflammatory nutritional philosophy.

Quick Summary

Tom Brady's TB12 diet allows and includes wild-caught salmon as a lean, anti-inflammatory protein source within his mostly plant-based eating regimen.

Key Points

Salmon is Approved: Tom Brady includes wild-caught salmon as a core part of his TB12 nutritional plan.
80/20 Diet: The TB12 method consists of 80% plant-based foods and 20% lean, animal-based proteins like fish.
Anti-Inflammatory Focus: Salmon is prized for its high omega-3 fatty acid content, which helps reduce inflammation and supports overall health and recovery.
Wild-Caught Preference: Brady's diet specifies wild-caught fish, rather than farmed, to ensure cleaner, more nutrient-dense protein sources.
Part of a Structured Meal Plan: Salmon is often featured in recipes for lunch or dinner, paired with large portions of organic vegetables.
Broader Wellness Philosophy: The diet is a component of a larger wellness system that also emphasizes hydration with electrolytes and specific food combinations.

Yes, Tom Brady's Diet Includes Salmon

Contrary to common misconception that Tom Brady's diet is purely plant-based, he actually follows a flexitarian approach that includes fish. Salmon, in particular, is not only allowed but also featured in his TB12-aligned recipes, valued for its anti-inflammatory properties. This aligns with his overall goal of reducing inflammation to aid recovery and enhance athletic performance, a cornerstone of his wellness philosophy.

The TB12 Nutritional Philosophy: The 80/20 Rule

The core of the TB12 nutritional plan is an 80/20 split: 80% plant-based foods and 20% animal-based foods. The plant-based portion emphasizes organic, seasonal vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, while the smaller animal-based portion is reserved for high-quality, lean proteins. For fish like salmon, the diet specifically calls for wild-caught over farmed, ensuring a cleaner source of nutrients.

Why Salmon Fits the TB12 Method

Salmon is a potent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are well-regarded for their ability to combat inflammation in the body. Given that Brady's diet is hyper-focused on minimizing inflammation, incorporating a nutrient-rich food like salmon is a natural fit. Omega-3s are beneficial for cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and joint health, all critical components for a high-performing athlete. By choosing wild-caught salmon, Brady ensures he is consuming fish with a higher omega-3 content and fewer potential contaminants than its farmed counterpart.

TB12-Approved Foods vs. Restricted Foods

The TB12 diet is renowned for its long list of exclusions. The focus is on whole, minimally processed foods that are organic, non-GMO, and free of additives. This comparison highlights some of the key differences in Brady's eating plan.


Approved Foods	Restricted Foods
Wild-caught salmon and other fish	Farmed fish
Organic, grass-fed lean meat	Conventional, hormone-treated meats
80% plant-based, organic vegetables	Nightshade vegetables (peppers, tomatoes)
Gluten-free whole grains (quinoa, brown rice)	Refined carbohydrates and gluten
Plant-based oils (coconut oil, EVOO)	Canola oil, vegetable oils
Himalayan pink salt	Iodized table salt
TB12 supplements, protein shakes	Sugar, artificial sweeteners

Sample Meals Including Salmon

Former private chef Allen Campbell, who cooked for Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen, confirmed that wild-caught salmon was a staple in their diet. Some example meals on the TB12 plan involving salmon could include:

Baked or poached salmon with steamed broccoli and quinoa.
Wild salmon filets with spiced cauliflower and pistachio-arugula pesto.
Salmon burgers with avocados and greens.

The Importance of Hydration and Electrolytes

Beyond food, Brady’s method emphasizes extreme hydration. He reportedly drinks up to 25 glasses of water a day, often with added electrolytes. This is a key aspect of his approach to reduce inflammation and promote muscle pliability, although experts debate the extent of its necessity. The TB12 website details his hydration strategy extensively.

A Look at Brady's Daily Intake

A typical day for Tom Brady is highly structured around his nutrition and training. His intake starts early with electrolyte-infused water and a nutrient-dense smoothie. A mid-day meal often consists of fish, such as wild salmon, paired with a large serving of organic vegetables and grains. Snacks consist of nuts, seeds, and TB12-branded protein bars, with dinner once again heavily featuring plants and lean protein.

The Controversies and Scientific Backing

While the TB12 Method has helped Brady maintain peak performance late into his career, certain aspects have faced scientific scrutiny. The claims regarding balancing pH levels with diet lack scientific foundation. Furthermore, the strict avoidance of nightshade vegetables is not universally supported by nutritional science. Despite these points of contention, the diet's core principles—emphasizing whole foods, limiting processed items, and managing inflammation—are widely recognized as beneficial for overall health. Brady's longevity and success are a testament to his discipline, but it's important to remember that not all of the TB12 tenets are scientifically proven for the general population.

Conclusion: Salmon is a Key Protein in a Precise Plan

In conclusion, Tom Brady does eat salmon, and it is a deliberate and consistent part of his TB12 diet. As a source of wild-caught, anti-inflammatory, and high-quality protein, it perfectly fits within his 80/20 plant-forward eating pattern. His approach is strict and highly structured, but for him, the benefits of enhanced recovery and peak performance are worth the disciplined choices. The inclusion of salmon highlights that his diet is not vegetarian or vegan, but rather a carefully crafted plan focused on optimizing his body for longevity and elite-level athleticism.

For more information on the TB12 Method, you can visit the official site TB12sports.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Tom Brady's TB12 diet includes fish as part of his 20% animal-based protein intake. He specifically opts for wild-caught fish over farmed varieties.

The TB12 diet follows an 80/20 principle: 80% of calories come from plant-based foods (vegetables, grains, beans) and 20% from lean animal protein, such as wild-caught fish, organic poultry, and eggs.

Wild-caught salmon is preferred on the TB12 diet because it is believed to have higher levels of omega-3s and fewer contaminants compared to farmed salmon, fitting the anti-inflammatory focus.

Yes, Tom Brady's former personal chef, Allen Campbell, has publicly stated that he cooked wild-caught salmon for Brady and his family.

Other approved protein sources include organic, grass-fed lean meats like steak, pasture-raised chicken, and eggs.

Recipes featuring salmon, such as baked or poached salmon with vegetables, have been mentioned in Brady's book, The TB12 Method, and on his TB12 website.

The omega-3s in salmon help reduce inflammation, which is believed to speed up muscle recovery and enhance overall athletic performance, aligning with Brady's health goals.

No, he does not avoid all fish. He specifically allows wild-caught fish and seafood, but he avoids farmed fish and adheres to specific food combination principles.