During our recent trip to Europe, we had the great privilege of staying at the Hotel Palazzo Manfredi, which was not only attached to the Ludus Magnus, an ancient gladiator training facility, but was directly across from the Colosseum in Rome. Imagining the vigorous training and incredible strength needed to be a warrior of this time, sparked our curiosity about their diets. This led us to the Naples National Archaeological Museum in Napoli, Italy.

We discovered that according to the Medical University of Vienna and a study done by the Department of Forensic Medicine at the University of Bern, uncovered bones from a gladiator cemetery, dating back to the 2nd & 3rd century BC, gave scientists great insight to the diets of the gladiators. Their bones were found during an excavation, in the then Roman city of Ephesus. 

Using spectroscopy, measuring carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur in the collagen of the bones, the results showed that the gladiators mostly ate a plant based diet. WHAT?!? You read it here first-

Their meat-free meals consisted mainly of grains, beans, and were abundant in vegetables. Their nickname "barley-eater" related to their abundant consumption of whole grains. This lead scientists to the conclusion that gladiators, compared to the average citizen of that time, had a much higher intake of minerals with rich sources of calcium. A tonic drink, given after physical training, consisted of plant ash and was consumed to fortify the body and promote better bone healing. Similar to us taking calcium and magnesium supplements today. 

So if you are considering transitioning to a plant based diet and wondering if you will get enough protein and calcium, remember the gladiators! The strongest & healthiest men in history ( till the lions ate them, YIKES!) 

Please seek nutritional truth, eat lots of plants, & strive for optimal wellbeing. 

You Got This! 

Michelle Mohan, NBC-HWC, CNWE