A few years back, Seattle Mariners left fielder Raul Ibañez had episodes of severe breathing difficulty. A short strenuous session in the weight room or even just a 30-minute jog was enough to drain him. With a career spanning two decades, Ibañez never had a sore as exhausting as this.
The baseball star’s lung tests indicated no aberrations; an echocardiogram and EKG also did not show any heart problems. Yet, his dilemma continued to plague his game routine. After further medical exams, Ibanez’s condition was finally correctly diagnosed. Clinical nutritionist
Robert Pastore, PhD, worked closely with him and concluded that he had delayed allergies to gluten and a type of dairy protein called casein. Dr. Pastore provided Ibanez with an individual nutrition plan, which allowed him to manage his diet and respond to treatments effectively.
While his nutritional restrictions left him uncomfortable in the weeks following his diagnosis, Ibañez found his changed eating habits an effective means to maintain good health. Bread, pasta, milk, and even pizza were off-limits on his menu, but meals served with bison, grilled chicken, eggs, sweet potatoes, and vegetables made his diet very nutritious. He also started eating organics and those that contain rich amounts of healthy fat, such as nuts and avocado.
It might take an allergy to change one’s lifestyle, but while physical conditions are still at their best, it is best to course through healthy regimens early.
More on biochemistry, nutrigenomics, and human nutrition can be read here.
