Can We Eat That?

Novak Djokovic's Gluten-Free Ascendancy - WSJ.com

Djokovic continues to make news with his lengthy winning streak that some speculate is attributed to a radical change in his diet. I wrote about him a few weeks ago in my post I'm raising an athlete on a special diet.

"The Diet That Shook Up Tennis? 

Starch Madness: Novak Djokovic's Domination of the Sport Has Coincided With His Gluten-Free Turn

How did Novak Djokovic conquer the tennis world? Maybe the answer is as simple as this: Since last year, he's swearing off pasta, pizza, beer, French bread, Corn Flakes, pretzels, empanadas, Mallomars and Twizzlers—anything with gluten."

Read the entire WSJ.com article by Tom Perrotta May 16, 2011

via online.wsj.com

I'm Raising an Athlete on a Special Diet

We are a tennis playing family. I played competitively through high school and in junior tournaments. I loved it so much but I was never quite good enough. Maybe it's because my stamina ran out quickly in large part due to undiagnosed celiac.  My husband also played seriously on his high school team, and then played for a two year college before we met at the University of Georgia. 

My 7 yr old son, Charlie, had a racquet in his hand by his 3rd birthday. He begs to play every day it isn't raining; and he has really big dreams. I joke with my husband, who coaches him, that it's becoming obsessive. But in truth, it's really fun to watch them and I am very proud. So when I told Charlie yesterday that I read Novak Djokovic, the No. 2 player in the world, is now on a gluten free diet, he was so excited. "That's amazing! He's just like me!" 

 Here is the article:

"Feast of titles is largely down to diet change: Djokovic" 

By Zoran Milosavljevic

BELGRADE | Mon Apr 25, 2011 1:14pm EDT

Photo Credit: Reuters/Andrew Innerarity

(Reuters) - A change of diet has played a major role in Novak Djokovic's unbeaten run this year, the world number two said Monday after receiving a hero's welcome from fans in his home town.

The 23-year-old Serb, who has won 24 straight matches to land the Australian Open and Dubai Championship titles and Masters Series events in Miami and Indian Wells, said a doctor who joined his team eight months ago had improved his fitness.

"His name is Igor Cetojevic, he is a nutritionist and he's done a great job in changing my diet after we established I am allergic to some food ingredients like gluten," Djokovic told reporters on the opening day of the Serbia Open.

"It means I can't eat stuff like pizza, pasta and bread. I have lost some weight but it's only helped me because my movement is much sharper now and I feel great physically.

"A lot of people have been guessing and speculating what the secret formula of my good form was but there is no secret, it's just that all the pieces have fallen into place after years of hard work and we are now reaping the rewards," added Djokovic.

The rest of the article is can be found on reuters.com here