He turns 40 today, and that’s often considered an age when footballers peak in their careers and gear up to retire from the professional sphere. However, Cristiano Ronaldo only seems to be improving both in football and the fitness game. His age-defying strength and peak athletic performance has been a topic of discussion among both football fans and fitness enthusiasts for long. While it’s no secret that he follows a meticulously crafted strict diet and workout regime filled with protein, complex carbs and healthy fats, there is one traditional superfood that he swears by. Bacalhau a Bras, a Portuguese dish made by sauteeing shredded salted cod ( a mild-flavoured fish) with garlic, onion, scrambled eggs and straw potatoes, is the dish that Ronaldo credits his strength to. These days, we find cod in Indian supermarkets and seafood places, too, in frozen or salted forms. A good, lean source of protein with high Omega-3, iodine and vitamin B12, its a popular choice among fitness enthusiasts while on a strict regimen. 

No ordinary health choice
Many fitness experts and dieticians often say that having foods that are in season, procured locally and can fulfil your nutritional needs, alongside helping you connect with your roots, is the best for your body. While talking about Bacalhau a Bras, Ronaldo once said that the dish makes him nostalgic and reminds him of his childhood. Those in India who are looking for a dose of Ronaldo’s fitness dish can add Indian alternatives like pomfret or bhetki to their diet, as they have similar mild flavours and nutrition like pomfret. In fact, Bhetki is even higher in the Omega 3 content than cod fish and has fewer calories. Pomfret, though low in protein as compared to cod, has more healthy fats and omega-3. 
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