Novak Djokovic had struggled with his health for quite a while.
At first, it was mild things like allergies and asthma, but then it got increasingly worse as his tennis career got more intense. He has said his asthma would be worst while on the tennis court where he would experience the most pressure and heaviest expectations compared to anywhere else in his life.
Things got tough enough for him that he was having mid-match collapses and having to retire matches (end live matches early). He developed somewhat of a reputation for having questionable fitness levels and as a young professional on the rise, this was not a flattering reputation.
Djokovic tried everything he could to improve his fitness: lifting more weights, excessive biking, undergoing a nasal surgery to help him breathe better. None of it was helping him take the necessary step forward.
He found it necessary to try his luck with a doctor, and sure enough, it was the fix he needed.
His doctor suspected that Djokovic had a food allergy and he was spot on because it was a severe one. As it turns out, Djokovic’s diet was really not suiting him at all.
The doctor did a couple simple tests with him to see how he reacted to certain foods and what they found was that Novak Djokovic was allergic to gluten. It was an allergy that noticeably diminished his strength and fitness when compared to him without gluten.
Djokovic went on a 2-week long, strict gluten-free diet and felt significantly better. He instantly noticed feeling lighter, more energized, and was even getting better sleep. He actually tried eating a bagel after the experiment just to test the doctor’s theories once more and found himself feeling fatigued and “hungover” from the bread.
Novak Djokovic has since followed a strict gluten-free diet and would never subject himself to the struggles he once had from food. He no longer has issues with match fitness and at 35 years old, is still arguably the top tennis player in the world.
The diet has obviously served him quite well as it is said by some to improve physical performance, reduce inflammation, improve digestion, and assist in weight loss.
Or if you’re like me, it just helps you eat significantly better and subsequently feel great.
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