Why this millionaire investor eats five cans of sardines every day
Venture capitalist and entrepreneur Craig Cooper has some interesting life hacks up his sleeve.
He says his body automatically goes to sleep every night at 10:24 p.m., he's an exercise rat who never works out in an actual gym, and he takes 22-minute naps in the afternoon to boost his productivity.
If that weren't enough, the millionaire co-founder of telecommunications company Boost Mobile (USA) also hacks his diet: He eats five cans of sardines every day to maintain his health and energy.
"Sardines are the No. 1 superfood for guys," said Cooper, who co-hosts CNBC's reality pitch series "Adventure Capitalists." "They're a powerhouse of nutrition, so I'm kind of an evangelist for sardines amongst everyone I meet."
Indeed, the silver-scaled fish in a can are dense with nutrients. One serving of the oily pilchards packs as much as 17 grams of protein and 50 percent of your recommended daily calcium intake for just 90 to 150 calories. Whether in oil or in water, they also are laden with omega-3 fatty acids (61 percent), which are good for lowering cholesterol levels and preventing blood clotting, and vitamin B12 (338 percent), known for assisting in red blood cell formation.
Cooper said that on the set of "Adventure Capitalists," where entrepreneurs pitch their adventure sport products to investors, he became known as "Sardine" among the production staff. "Not the best nickname, but it stuck."
While a bit unusual, he says his daily sardine habit works. When his blood and nutrition profile was taken by the head nutritionist for Red Bull, who also supervises big-name professional athletes, he said Cooper had the best omega-3 profile of anyone he'd ever tested, according to the investor.
Cooper relies on health and wellness to maintain his packed schedule. He runs a digital media company, CooperativeHealth, and published the book "Your New Prime" last year.
The 53-year-old said his best decades have been his 40s and 50s, and he hopes to inspire other men to reach for peak performance later in life.
"I'm trying to promote to other guys that your 50s and beyond are a time of opportunity," he said. "You can be stronger and healthier and just as active as you were in your 30s and early 40s."
Video by CNBC's Mary Stevens.