The secret to helping Messi stop dry heaving.

Ten years ago, fans were familiar with the image of a skinny, physically weak Messi, who often vomited when facing unfavorable playing conditions. But the story is different now.

Messi is still in great shape at the age of 38 - Photo: REUTERS

When Messi takes inspiration from Ronaldo

Messi has greatly improved his muscle strength through gym workouts and a healthier diet. But there was one problem that used to trouble him during his peak playing years.

That's nausea. A problem that plagued Messi for a long period, when he was between 25 and 30 years old.

Fans surely haven't forgotten the image of Messi dry-heaving whenever he was put in difficult playing conditions, such as at high altitudes. A prime example was when Argentina played away against Peru or Bolivia.

In an interview, Messi frankly admitted that the main reason for this problem was his unhealthy eating habits, including consuming sweets and sugary soft drinks.

The person who pointed out this problem to Messi was Italian nutritionist Giuliano Poser. He forced the Argentine superstar to give up his habit of drinking sugary soft drinks. Instead, Messi was advised to eat more vegetables, seasonal fruits, fish, drink mineral water, and especially drink yerba mate tea (a traditional Argentine tea).

Messi once had a period where he frequently vomited on the field - Photo: SPORTING NEWS

As a result, after the age of 30, Messi almost never vomited on the football field anymore. The older he gets, the more Messi shows that he is just as fit as Ronaldo – who is famous for his ironclad disciplined lifestyle.

In 2021, Ronaldo also caused a stir when he knocked two bottles of soda off the table during a press conference. The Portuguese superstar stated that he never drinks those kinds of beverages.

Why did Messi give up soft drinks?

According to nutritionist Poser, soft drinks cause the following problems:

1. Causes blood sugar imbalance.

Soft drinks contain very high amounts of sugar, especially fructose and high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), causing blood sugar levels to spike and then drop suddenly.

This causes nausea, dizziness, and rapid loss of energy – especially dangerous during high-intensity activities like playing football.

2. Causes dehydration and digestive disorders.

Soft drinks increase feelings of fullness, increase stomach acid, and can make drinkers more prone to nausea during physical activity.

Caffeine in soft drinks can also cause dehydration if consumed in large quantities, affecting athletic performance.

3. Increased risk of inflammation and injury

According to Dr. Poser, processed foods and beverages (such as soft drinks) increase inflammatory responses in the body, making athletes more susceptible to muscle strain, injury, and slower recovery.

4. Effects on the respiratory and nervous systems

Some studies suggest that carbonated soft drinks increase pressure in the stomach, affecting breathing and the ability to perform strenuous activities, potentially leading to nausea and vomiting, as Messi once experienced.

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HUY DANG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bi-quyet-giup-messi-het-non-khan-20250411194744443.htm