Gluten Free Tennis Champion
Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal last week at Wimbledon’s men’s final, and I was all ears when I heard the commentary discussing Djokovics “diet,” his “nutritionist” and the phrase “gluten free”.
Turns out Djokovic has been gluten free for the past year, and his tennis game has gone wild. The guy has tightened up his serve, and is mentally a force to reckon with. His 2011 wins have planted him firmly in the #1 slot for Men’s Tennis.
Lots of credit is being given to his new Gluten Free Diet, and I noticed him pointing to his brain during the match, as if to say,”it’s strong.” He sure looked it.
Djokovic is allergic to the protein in gluten, and depending on which statistics you read, anywhere from 10-30% of the US and British populations are allergic or intolerant to gluten. It’s also commonly understood that many people don’t know they’re intolerant to gluten, and think that symptoms like chronic gas, irritable bowel syndrome, brain fog, headaches and fatigue are a way of life.
Gluten is the protein in many common grains that we eat in America, like wheat, barley and rye and is added to many processed foods (think canned and packaged soups, candy, snack chips, even tomato sauce). It’s one of the most inflammatory food groups along with Dairy and Soy.
I’ve seen lives turn around after giving up gluten, depression lifting, chronic runny nose clearing, and most importantly the quality of life improve significantly.
I often recommend eliminating gluten for a limited time to see how you feel. While you may not win Wimbledon next year, giving up Gluten might allow you to win at your own game,whatever that is.
P. S. Nadal, give me a call. Let’s see what we can do to get you back to #1!
Norma Leticia Trevino / 8.5.2012
Thanks again Holli for the information; why can’t we make testing for food allergies part of a yearly/regular check up in children? so they can grow healthier and happier. My personal opinion is that the FDA does not want to admit that many foods on the market are damaging our youth’s brains, which affect their lives in different ways, including doing bad things to society and to themselves.
Holli / 8.5.2012
Hi Norma,
Indeed, how wonderful it would be to have schools and doctors more sensitive to food intolerances and how food can profoundly effect kids brains, behavior, learning and overall health!
I agree that everything is tied into our economy, and we are rewarded with a very sick nation.
XO
Holli