American actor Mario Lopez has made his health and training a top priority after experiencing ‘deadly’ health problems as a child.
The Saved by the Bell alum has been on our screens for more than three decades and he is one of the best-known personalities in the media industry.
Dubbed as ’90s heartthrob, Lopez has often talked about the personal benefits of physical activity and how training helps him keep healthy and fit.
But some of his fans may not know that the host went through a ‘deadly’ health issue when he was a child.
Mario Lopez on health after experiencing ‘deadly’ illness
Born to Mario Michael and Elvia Lopez in 1973 in San Diego, the American host went through a ‘deadly’ health problem when he was a kid.
“I was deadly ill. I was almost going to die,” he recalled in a previous interview. “The priest came and blessed me. I had a condition where I wasn’t retaining any fluid or food. I couldn’t vomit. I lost half my weight.”
In a 2021 interview on the podcast Pardon My Take, Lopez explained that his stomach wasn’t fully formed and he couldn’t digest food properly. He lost half of his weight as a result of the condition.
His father took him a bruja, a Mexican witch doctor, whom his father trusted because she helped him heal his leg after an accident. There, Lopez was given a “crazy concoction with Carnation milk” after which he made a full recovery.
Lopez said that the whole experience made him “a believer in alternative medicine” and to this day he often shares the childhood story about his ‘deadly’ illness.
He says health is ‘gift’
While his childhood story may not be known to some of his fans, they may be aware that training and physical activity is a massive part of the presenter’s life.
In an interview with Men’s Health, the host shared the health and personal benefits of taking Brazilian jiu jitsu as part of his fitness program.
“It instills such a great work ethic and confidence and physical toughness, as well as emotional, psychological toughness, and a lot of confidence,” he told the magazine. “So I love all those things and all those attributes and it’s taught.”
In an Instagram post, celebrating his Men’s Health story, he wrote: “Health is a gift. You don’t earn it but you can definitely waste it.”
Elsewhere in the interview, he shared that his kids are into gymnastics and that he would often take a yoga or spin class with his wife Courtney Mazza.
He partnered up with Real Essentials
In other related news, Lopez recently partnered up with the brand Real Essentials, which offers activewear on Amazon.
“For me, training and staying in shape is always a top priority,” he said in the promotional video on Instagram. “You should always make your health number one.”
The line includes loungewear and activewear sets which the presenter called “the perfect blend of fashion & comfort”.
