Sounds awfully fishy.
Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban may be known for his bold business moves, but his latest diet confession even sends his own 16-year-old son fleeing from the kitchen.
During an appearance on Robin Arzón’s “Project Swagger” podcast at South by Southwest, the former “Shark Tank” star called the three-ingredient meal “disgusting” but effective in getting his protein.
While Cuban previously followed a vegetarian diet to extend his lifespan, he recently moved to a pescatarian approach to get more iron in his diet — and shared the recipe he follows for his go-to lunch.
“I know this is going to sound so gross and it is disgusting,” the 67-year-old told Arzón. “My new hot food are these egg white wraps… and because I need iron, I add baby clams.”
“But because they sound disgusting [and] taste disgusting, I put honey on them,” he added, receiving a loud groan from the live audience.
The Texas-based investor claims the unusual combination not only packs in the protein, but also supports his longevity strategy to feel like he’s decades younger than his biological age.
“Literally, it sounds so disgusting,” he admitted. “But that’s not even the grossest part… The grossest part is they’re in a can, right? And they come with water. And so you know how when you open a can of something, it’s got water in it — you’ve gotta take the lid and really squish it down to get all the water out.
“So I’m like squishing the can and the clam juice is everywhere. But otherwise, it gets on the wrap. And if it gets on the wrap, it’ll ruin the wrap, and you can’t put the honey on the wrap ’cause the wrap’s been ruined.”
Although the vile-sounding “clamwich” shocked the crowd, there’s nothing wrong with it nutritionally, according to one expert.
“He’s right,” Robin DeCicco, a New York-based certified holistic nutritionist, told Fox News. “Canned shellfish like clams, mussels and oysters are some of the highest in absorbable iron and are also high in protein.”
The egg white wraps contain 50 calories and 11 grams of protein, while the clams have 80 calories per can with a whopping 14 grams of protein, all combined to give him a post-workout protein boost.
However, DeCicco did also note that the sodium content of some canned clams can be high, while the honey can lead to a blood sugar spike compared to complex carbs.
There’s also a notable lack of vegetables, all of which are “critical for fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, which are all linked to disease prevention, gut health and longevity,” DeCicco added.
Cuban says this odd meal follows his food rule that he shared with his three sons: “If you like one thing, and you like another thing, and you put them together, you’re going to like it a lot more.”
His daily breakfast is more usual, consisting of a bowl of cornflakes with honey drizzled on top and apricots to give him more fuel and iron.
But the unusual sandwich does fit his overall longevity goal, as he mentioned that aging has forced him to get more precise about how food, workouts and supplements affect his body.
“As you get older, your body responds differently to all the inputs,” Cuban explained. “Whether it’s the workout, whether it’s the food you consume [or] the supplements.”
Cuban previously shared his top three tips to feel younger and live longer in his anti-aging-science documentary “Longevity Hackers.” citing walking as much as possible, which keeps him more active than he was more than a decade ago.
He also exercises regularly, typically spending 45 to 90 minutes in the gym, and doing high-intensity interval training alongside Hyrox-style workouts that focus on endurance running with functional strength exercises.
And to round out his nutritional needs, he supplements with vitamin D for calcium absorption and vitamin E to support the immune system and lower inflammation.
He’ll also turn to a nightly melatonin supplement to keep his internal clock regulated for better sleep.
