Another article about athletes going gluten-free — specifically about tennis star, Novak Djokovic. My only gripe about the article is where the Atlanta based dietitian says the following:
But will going gluten-free give all athletes an extra edge? No… It will only help those who are truly sensitive to gluten, but it won’t benefit those who aren’t.
There is ample evidence available showing that anybody can (and will) benefit from a gluten-free diet and better yet, a grain-free diet. I won’t go into a whole rant about how and why, but if you’re interested in the subject read up on some blogs like those of Dr. Kurt Harris and Mark Sisson’s Mark’s Daily Apple. It’s all makes for interesting reading. It’s frustrating for me when people think of a gluten-free diet as unhealthy for some. It’s only unhealthy if you’re shoveling down gluten-free desserts with the misconception that they’re good for you.
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Novak Djokovic: Photo by Alexander Klein AFP/Getty Images
“Novak Djokovic’s recent winning streak stunned tennis commentators, leaving them wondering, “What’s this guy on?” The better question is: What is he not consuming? The answer: pasta, bread and other foods containing the wheat protein gluten. Djokovic credits his good-to-great transformation to his recent diet change, saying that he “feels sharper and [has] lost a few pounds.” He made the switch last year after his nutritionist determined he was allergic to gluten.
And while the Serbian star was rising through the ranks at the French Open (losing to R-Fed in the semis), another player, Sabine Lisicki, blamed gluten for the cramping and exhaustion that caused her dramatic on-court collapse. “I am sad to say my body let me down,” she wrote on her blog. “Doctors recently discovered that I am intolerant to gluten.” Lisicki speculates that this condition caused the cramping and exhaustion that led to her being carried off on a stretcher.
The recent spotlight on gluten has many athletes wondering if they, too, should steer clear of the stuff…”
Read the full article from ESPN W »
