I’ll take a tennis champion with a side of movie star, but hold the gluten
June 24th, 2011
Today more and more people are being diagnosed with celiac disease, which is a digestive disease that interferes with absorption of nutrients from food and damages the small intestine. People with this disease cannot tolerate the protein in wheat, rye, and barley called gluten. If they do consume this protein it could damage parts of the digestive system and can lead to malnourishment (no matter how much they eat). Because of this growing problem, many grocery stores like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, and even some local grocery stores, have started offering a great deal of gluten free foods. Now a days, many restaurants have begun to accommodate those with celiac disease. The other day I was at California Pizza Kitchen, and the waitress was telling us that they are coming out with gluten-free crust for their famo
us pizzas."At first I thought I would never be able to eat anything again without getting sick. I always had to make sure I ate before I went out or sometimes I even brought a little food with me. I am very excited that more places are offering gluten free foods. Now it's a lot easier to find foods at restaurants and stores that actually taste pretty good." - Zach 24
The number of people with celiac is growing, however there are several people without the disease that have decided to take the gluten-free route. Celebrities like Gwenyth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck have adopted the gluten-free lifestyle. Even Pop Queen, Madonna served gluten-free treats at her most recent birthday party. The trend continues outside the world of paparazzi and red carpet affairs, with some athletes who are trying out this new diet to help them with races and other events. Apparently, those athletes that eliminated gluten from their training diets had no digestion problems during competition, regulated blood sugar, and performed better overall than usual.
"My performance really improved a lot — there was definitely a correlation, I think that my digestion is better, and because of that my sleep is better and my recovery is better.” - Tom Danielson, Tour de Missouri in 2008
Novak Djokovic, a tennis star from Serbia, is another athlete that has taken to this new diet. Even though Novak actually has celiac disease, that doesn't change how much changing to gluten free diet has affected his playing. He is the youngest player to win a Men's Championship (Miami Masters) and to have reached the semi-finals of all four Grand Slam events. Since he switched to a gluten-free diet he claims that mentally, he is fresher and happier; and physically he is stronger and more dynamic. "Your muscles will work better. That's what I feel." According to spectators, Novak Djokovic is really exciting to watch, and has a new found explosiveness.
You don't have to be a professional athlete or famous movie star to reap the benefits of going gluten free. There are several gluten-free foods that are easy to prepare and taste pretty great too. Some of the food ideas are even perfect meals for your next backpacking trip. Things like beef or turkey jerky, nuts, dried fruit, and gluten-free granola bars, make excellent gluten-free snacks for hiking. Online you can even find Gluten-free recipes for macaroni and cheese, blueberry pancakes, and sandwiches (with wheat free bread) that are all gluten-free and only take a little time to get together before you take off on your trip. Going Gluten-free is not for everyone, but if you are interested in trying it or finding out more, the internet is full of information. You can also contact you doctor for more health information.
