Venus and Serena Williams Going Vegan

Venus Williams was diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune disorder, after experiencing unusual fatigue for years. Sjogren’s currently has no cure, so patients are typically put on regimens to try and manage it. In some cases, the condition can progress to cause kidney disease.

Ms. Williams has also been experiencing joint pain to the point she can’t train or play in tennis tournaments at the level she has in the past. In an attempt to decrease her symptoms, she has decided to try a raw vegan diet, and yoga. At this point, it is believed such a diet could reduce inflammation in the body, for some people. Serena Williams will maintain a vegan diet also, to offer support for her sister.

Physicians Committee for Responsible for Medicine says foods like brown rice, green, yellow, and orange vegetables and cooked or dried fruits almost never contribute to arthritis or other painful health problems. They also say meat, dairy, coffee, nuts, citrus and tomatoes are major triggers for arthritis.

Golf champion Phil Mickelson tried a vegetarian diet for five months due to joint pain from arthritis, and said he learned some things about nutrition he continues to practice, but couldn’t stick with it entirely.

The website for Dr. Andrew Weil has compiled a list of foods consistent with an anti-inflammatory diet, if you want to read more.

Curiously, reports about the Williams sisters going vegan tend to overlook the most important benefit: reducing climate change emissions, because research has shown livestock production generates over fifty percent of human-related climate change gases.

Image Credit: Edwin Martinez

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Anna U.

2:11AM PDT on Apr 16, 2013

Good for them I guess. Thanks for the article.

April 16
send a green star

Patricia H.

6:44AM PDT on Aug 7, 2012

healthy way to live

August 7
send a green star

Vicky P.

8:10AM PST on Jan 7, 2012

thanks

January 7
send a green star

Mandi R.

1:52PM PST on Jan 6, 2012

Awesome

January 6
send a green star

Brenda T.

5:31AM PST on Jan 6, 2012

A very sensible decision .

Sarah L.

4:28AM PST on Jan 6, 2012

/good for her

Julia G.

3:31AM PST on Jan 6, 2012

I am very happy that she went raw. I wish her health!! Get better, Venus!

Barbara D.

9:26PM PST on Jan 5, 2012

"Beats taking steroids or methatrexate!" Mara C.
You can say that again! It is a shame that too many athletes seem to turn to drugs to play better, without any thought of what will happen to their futures.