Celebrity Endorsers
Does celebrity endorsements raise awareness for various diets or does it in fact hinder those who actually suffer with allergies, being accused of 'following a fad.' With celebrity endorsements I want to show the influence of social media in not only the way the way we eat but also the way we think.
Are these 'in trend diets' a way for people to be in fashion? Do they think that being a vegan is a good idea because they aspire to be like Miley Cyrus? Or that documenting their new vegan diet on instagram will gain them new followers? It brings in the question as to whether we even have control in the things we do and whether in fact every thing we do is a reflection of our influences - do people see being gluten free as fashionable?
Novac Djokovic discussed in his book Serve To Win how changing his diet saved his life and career after a doctor discovered his sensitivity to gluten. The doctor suggested he cut out his intolerances - gluten, dairy and tomatoes - for 2 weeks and the results were staggering and following the success decided to adopt the diet fully and in the process lost 11lbs. He now feels so passionately about his new diet that he regularly cooks, even on tour he requests a kitchen in hotels in which he can cook.
'If it seems extraordinary that a change of diet could so change an athlete’s life, Djokovic’s example has been followed by plenty of others. Several other tennis players have gone on to similar regimes and many tournaments now offer gluten-free and dairy-free food.Dr William Davis, whose 19-year-old daughter Lauren is the world No 70, has written a foreword to Djokovic’s book. A cardiologist, Dr Davis has written extensively about the problems caused by eating modern wheat, which he says is the product of “genetic manipulations by geneticists and agribusiness”.
Among the physical problems Dr Davis says eating wheat can cause are ulcerative colitis, acid reflux, abdominal stress and rheumatoid arthritis. He also says it can contribute to paranoia, schizophrenia and autism. He says that eating wheat “has the potential to cripple performance, cloud mental focus, and bring a champion to his knees”. Djokovic knows exactly what he means.'
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/revealed-the-diet-that-saved-novak-djokovic-8775333.html
Are these 'in trend diets' a way for people to be in fashion? Do they think that being a vegan is a good idea because they aspire to be like Miley Cyrus? Or that documenting their new vegan diet on instagram will gain them new followers? It brings in the question as to whether we even have control in the things we do and whether in fact every thing we do is a reflection of our influences - do people see being gluten free as fashionable?
Novac Djokovic discussed in his book Serve To Win how changing his diet saved his life and career after a doctor discovered his sensitivity to gluten. The doctor suggested he cut out his intolerances - gluten, dairy and tomatoes - for 2 weeks and the results were staggering and following the success decided to adopt the diet fully and in the process lost 11lbs. He now feels so passionately about his new diet that he regularly cooks, even on tour he requests a kitchen in hotels in which he can cook.
'If it seems extraordinary that a change of diet could so change an athlete’s life, Djokovic’s example has been followed by plenty of others. Several other tennis players have gone on to similar regimes and many tournaments now offer gluten-free and dairy-free food.Dr William Davis, whose 19-year-old daughter Lauren is the world No 70, has written a foreword to Djokovic’s book. A cardiologist, Dr Davis has written extensively about the problems caused by eating modern wheat, which he says is the product of “genetic manipulations by geneticists and agribusiness”.
Among the physical problems Dr Davis says eating wheat can cause are ulcerative colitis, acid reflux, abdominal stress and rheumatoid arthritis. He also says it can contribute to paranoia, schizophrenia and autism. He says that eating wheat “has the potential to cripple performance, cloud mental focus, and bring a champion to his knees”. Djokovic knows exactly what he means.'
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/revealed-the-diet-that-saved-novak-djokovic-8775333.html
'While gluten-free diets seem like the latest trend, for many people with Celiac disease or a gluten intolerance or sensitivity, it’s totally necessary to cut wheat products entirely out of their diets. Take Zooey Deschanel, for instance, who has an allergy to both wheat- and soy-based products, and sticks to a strict gluten-free diet.
But for other celebs like Kourtney Kardashian, giving up gluten wasn’t so much mandated by her doctor as it was a personal decision. The reality star decided to transition to a wheat-free household back in 2016. “I have always felt fine before when eating dairy and gluten, but I do believe that we have one life to live and I would like to live it feeling my best.'
http://www.instyle.com/celebrity/gluten-free-stars
In this way although people acknowledge its benefits, people who undertake this diet are leading those with intolerances to be perceived as not being authentic. However, this brings into the question as to why as a human nature are we so concerned with what others do? Is there a theory I can find which backs up the point that as humans we are all influenced by our environment?
In a way I also think it is really important to raise awareness of such an issue that affects people, some unknowingly, all over the world. These celebrities are not trying to 'preach' a certain lifestyle or diet rather trying to find something that works for them. It also appears that many celebrities have these problems but are much more vocal about it and this may be the root as to why many other skeptic people believe it's a fad.
To conclude I think there are positives and negatives to celebrity influencing and I do believe many people do find inspiration in them, some even copying them such as Beyonce's 22 days of being vegan which was well documented before her tour in order to lose weight has resulted in many people following in her path. I also think it is important to note that these celebrities are raising awareness of this disease none the less and if they are speaking openly about it more people will understand that this is a lifestyle choice which is healthier, rather than a new trend.
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