So, Michael Phelps eats 12,000 calories a day. Lucky guy. Not only does he get to eat lots, he reportedly gets to consume loads of junk food. Wouldn't it be great if we could all shovel in whole pizzas without worrying about calorie overload? Well, it might seem pretty great, but it's not really a healthy approach, even for the elite athletes of the world.

Cynthia Sass, Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, tells Prevention.com that while moderation is key, it's more about the 80/20 rule for her.

Eighty percent of the time, we need to fuel our bodies with nutrient-rich, whole, healthful foods. Twenty percent of the time, we get to eat what we want. That goes for Phelps too. Even if he can get away with eating anything weight-wise -- the guy is a calorie-burning machine, after all -- it's still best to make healthy eating a high priority because what you put in your mouth is key to boosting power and strength, pumping up endurance, speeding recovery, reducing injury risk, decreasing inflammation, and bolstering immunity. And while it may seem Phelps is not hurting in any of these areas -- despite his hearty diet -- we regular folks really ought to heed this advice.