For most professional athletes, the path to peak performance involves rigorous training, strict diets, and countless hours of practice. But for golf legend and For Wellness founder Phil Mickelson, one of the most transformative changes to his health and career came from an unexpected source: coffee.
The Good Stuff - Focus
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Stimulates cognitive function and mental clarity.
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Slow-release energy and mood enhancer.
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Delicious mocha flavor you have to try to believe.
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Unique formula, only available at For Wellness.
A Health Wake-Up Call
Around his 40th birthday, Phil faced a life-changing health battle that would alter his approach to diet and wellness forever. Diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, the professional golfer realized he needed to take control of his health in ways he never had before.
"It really wasn't until about Liquid error (snippets/shortcode line 78): Could not find asset snippets/shortcode-2010.liquid that I became accountable for my own health. When I got diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and I needed to make life changes and the way I was going about eating and so forth, I started to become educated on some of these areas."
The turning point came when his first health practitioner delivered some surprising advice. After discovering that Phil's TH-1 immune cells were low while his TH-2 levels were too high, the doctor recommended something unexpected: "He said I needed to drink coffee all day long, which I had never drunk before."
From Coffee Skeptic to Daily Devotee
This recommendation marked the beginning of a remarkable transformation. Phil, who had never been a coffee drinker, embraced the change wholeheartedly. The results speak for themselves: "Now I drink it every day. And I have not been sick a day in 10 years."
For Phil, coffee became more than just a beverage—it became the cornerstone of his entire wellness philosophy.
"I look at coffee and The Good Stuff as being the foundation of my overall wealth and health and wellness."
Dave Phillips Takes Things to the Next Level
While Phil was just embarking on his coffee journey, his close friend, performance coach Dave Phillips, had been a coffee connoisseur since childhood.
To save Phil from putting inflammatory creamers, sugar, and additives in his coffee, Dave set out to create a delicious formula that would not only improve the flavor of Phil's brew, but transform it into an energy and focus-boosting elixir.
Drawing on decades of experience at the forefront of sporting technology, Dave began experimenting with functional ingredients to see which would provide the best benefits and the most flavor.
Concocting in his kitchen at home, Dave eventually settled on L-theanine (to reduce the caffeine jitters), collagen (for joint health), cinnamon (for antioxidants and flavor), MCT (for energy), and Himalayan salt (to ease coffee's acidity).
After years of using this formula daily, Phil and Dave realized "The Good Stuff" could change the lives of others, too. Thus, For Wellness was born.
The Psychology of Healthy Choices
What Phil discovered goes beyond the physical benefits of coffee. The psychological impact of starting his day with a healthy choice created a powerful ripple effect throughout his daily routine.
"When I'm putting the healthiest thing in my body, first thing in the morning, I am much more committed throughout the day to make better decisions."
This morning ritual of wellness sets the tone for everything that follows.
The impact on his eating habits has been profound. By starting with coffee instead of a heavy breakfast, Phil finds himself making better food choices throughout the day.
"If I haven't eaten till 11 o'clock and I say, 'gosh, I've had my coffee, I feel great. I'm going to eat,' I'm more inclined to have a salad or vegetables or fruit or something, or a healthy bar than I am to order the cheeseburger."
The Science Behind the Success
The effectiveness of Mickelson's coffee routine isn't just anecdotal—it's backed by carefully selected ingredients that serve specific purposes:
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Collagen supports muscle, ligament, tendon, and joint repair
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L-Theanine, an amino acid derived from green tea, works synergistically with caffeine to eliminate jitters—crucial for a man who relies on his motor skills to dominate on the golf course.
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MCT powder enhances cognitive function
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Cinnamon contains antioxidants, which have anti-inflammatory properties
- Sea salt aids hydration and supports performance
Intermittent Fasting and Athletic Performance
Phil's coffee routine is paired with intermittent fasting practices. Instead of the large breakfasts he used to consume, which left him feeling "tired and lethargic and sluggish" with "brain fog," he now starts his day with The Good Stuff in his coffee and perhaps a handful of nuts.
"I'm full until one, two, or three o'clock. I feel like I have much better focus, much better energy. I perform better on the golf course, as well as maintain a better overall health and wellness."
This shift from heavy morning meals to strategic coffee consumption has eliminated the energy crashes that previously plagued his performance, allowing him to maintain peak focus throughout long tournament days—and it works. Phil is currently the record-holder as the oldest major winner ever, and the oldest player on the LIV Golf tour aged 55.
A Foundation for Wellness
For Phil, coffee has become much more than a morning beverage—it's the foundation upon which all his other healthy choices are built. By starting each day with intention and making the healthiest possible choice, he has created a framework for sustained wellness that has kept him competitive at the highest levels of professional golf well into his fifties.
"Coffee and For Wellness are the foundation, and then I have made smarter choices throughout the day because of it."
To make his morning coffee, Phil blends two single-serve coffee pods with two packets of The Good Stuff, one teaspoon of Manuka Honey, a pinch of sea salt, and a dose of unsweetened almond milk.
