It's safe to listen to advice about diet if the one giving it is Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Arnold’s Pump Club newsletter is a treasure of tips, advice, and motivational pumps by none other than the legend himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger. And May 5, 2025, wasn't any different. On that day, Schwarzenegger saw him comparing the performance benefits of creatine and beetroot juice on workouts.

“A new study put two of the more-researched options, creatine and beetroot juice, directly against each other in the gym. What they found wasn’t really a winner. It was more like a division of labor.”

According to him, although proper meals are the primary source of nutrition, supplements are also important, as they build muscle and help recover faster, especially creatine and beetroot juice. They have amazing health benefits, so much so that they get the shout-out from Arnie himself.

Studies revealed that creatine helped people perform more reps with greater intensity, while beetroot juice increased lifting speed and improved cardiovascular health.

Schwarzenegger further explained, “This was a small study, so that doesn’t mean the outcomes will be the same for everyone. But with so many supplements lacking evidence of effectiveness, creatine and beetroot remain two options that consistently show positive benefits.”

Besides pumping iron, Arnold Schwarzenegger has always emphasized the role a correct diet plays in building muscles. His approach to nutrition has varied with time, and now, at 78, it is focused on eating whole, mostly plant-based foods.

The Austrian Oak told Business Insider that this transition has helped him maintain muscle, manage his heart, and support joint health after decades of intense training. His diet has kept him energized every day for all these years.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Exercise and Diet Tips

Arnold Schwarzenegger loves to stay connected with his fans offline and online. Besides being active on Instagram and his Newsletter, Arnie once hosted an "Ask me anything" thread on Reddit's "Fitness" forum for five hours.

Fans poured in, and they discussed everything from his workout routines to his favorite protein shake recipe. There, he shared important workout and diet tips

Build muscle via tracking your workouts

Schwarzenegger says routine exercises like squats and deadlifts help build muscles, but you need to keep track of your progress to challenge yourself. Keep increasing the load and reducing rest time from time to time.

Keep your phone switched off in the gym

You can listen to music, but scrolling on your phone will reduce your strength by nearly 30%.

Include protein in every meal

The best advice for anyone wanting to build muscle is to eat as much protein as they can, or as the Terminator says, "Anytime you put food in your mouth, make sure there is a protein source." His favorite protein shake includes raw egg, protein powder, a banana, and cherry juice.

Remember to eat vegetables

Schwarzenegger shifted to a mostly plant-based diet to improve his heart health. His favorite veggie meals include omelets or scrambles with "absolutely every vegetable in them" or a salad, with yogurt and granola for breakfast, and almonds for a snack. His dinner usually consists of a vegetable soup with pumpkin oil.

Build a routine that you enjoy following

Building a stable routine has helped him stay motivated to train for so many years. His advice is to pick something you like and work your way up.

For more such inspirational tips, follow Bodybuilding Bros!

Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil