The
rapid rise of Novak Djokovic to #1 in the tennis world after he
adopted a gluten-free diet shook up the tennis world (The
Diet That Shook Up Tennis?), but a single case could be dismissed
as a fluke. Now other tennis pros like Sabine
Lisicki and Andy Murray and other prominent athletes like Steve
Nash, Raul Ibanez, and Cedric Benson
(http://edwardandsons.com/blogpages/?p=85,
http://glutenfreeworks.com/blog/2011/08/08/gluten-free-spells-success-for-big-time-athletes/)
have
reported that they avoid gluten and experience benefits as a result.
Jefferson Adams of Celiac.com rightly foresees where this is likely
heading in the tennis world:
"After
five months on a gluten-free diet, top professional tennis player
Andy Murray has more energy than before, a faster recovery time, and
a new-found ability to wake up early, according to comments Murray
made when asked by reporters.
The Scot says that he is amazed by the energy he's gotten from his gluten-free diet. He also says that his change in eating habits is proving beneficial on the court. ….
[I]f
Murray sees anything like benefits experienced by Novak Djokovic, who
credits a string of big victories to his gluten-free diet, the tennis
world is in for some gluten-free excitement!"
(Gluten-free
Diet Now Fuels Tennis Star Andy Murray)
Once
other athletes realize that not just people with celiac disease or
severe gluten intolerance, but most people, can experience
performance benefits from eliminating gluten-rich processed foods
from their diets, it will likely become a craze amongst athletes, and
once most people's favorite sports stars are touting gluten-free, I
expect it will become a societal craze.
Most people
don't pay much attention to scientific studies, but many do pay
attention to their sports idols. Sales of gluten-free foods will
likely skyrocket, with resulting temporary shortages and increasing
prices. Eventually many folks will figure out that processed
gluten-free foods aren't all that great either and natural, whole
foods like meats, seafood, fruits and veggies are better.
