The type of food Álvaro Morata always avoids: "It makes me tired."

Every athlete should be aware of the importance of eating a balanced and healthy diet . Many have their own methods to obtain sufficient energy and strength. For example, Carlos Alcaraz, one of the best tennis players in Spain—and the world—confessed that he takes a curious ingredient to prevent injuries.

Álvaro Morata, like other athletes, takes care of his diet and is aware of what he needs to avoid. The footballer, who played for Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid, confessed to Men's Health that he has eliminated two types of products from his daily diet . Regarding one of them, he confessed that it "makes him feel quite bad."

The food that Álvaro Morata avoids eating

Alice Campello's partner admitted that his diet includes no sugary foods or gluten . Regarding the first group, he explained that it's "the worst thing there is, not just for athletes, but for anyone."

Regarding the second food group, the Madrid native pointed out that it's a food that doesn't agree with him . In fact, it "makes him very tired." He's not the first footballer to admit to eliminating gluten from his diet. Novak Djokovic, another of the world's best tennis players according to the ATP rankings, did so . In his book, " Serve to Win ," he explains that this decision marked a significant change in his life.

What is gluten and where can it be found?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye , and is also found in foods such as bread and pastries. Many studies have been conducted on gluten, especially for those with intolerances or conditions such as celiac disease.

Differences between celiac disease, gluten intolerance, and gluten allergy

According to data from the Federation of Celiac Associations in Spain, 1 to 2% of the Spanish population suffers from celiac disease . This disease causes both "digestive and non-digestive" symptoms, as Laura Marín, a pharmacist and specialist in psychoneuroimmunology, explained to 20minutos . Some of the non-digestive symptoms she detailed included chronic fatigue, joint pain, and anemia.

Separately, there are people who have gluten sensitivity , which is "different from celiac disease," according to the health website Medline Plus . "It can also cause some of the same symptoms, such as abdominal pain and fatigue. But celiac disease damages the small intestine. Gluten sensitivity does not," the website notes.

Gluten allergy also exists, and it's distinct from gluten sensitivity and celiac disease. "It affects a very small proportion of the population and can develop at any age," the Medical-Surgical Center for Digestive Diseases (CMED) states in an article on its website . The center clarifies that "it is caused by an immediate hypersensitivity immune response ," and some of the symptoms could include vomiting, diarrhea, asthma, cough, or abdominal pain, among other symptoms.