- US Olympics hockey star Strauss Mann did his best to carry Team USA in Beijing.
- Mann was one of the top-performing goalkeepers before Team USA's elimination.
- His journey to Olympics stardom includes finding his strict diet that rules out food in Tupperware.
Strauss Mann led Team USA's push in men's hockey at the Beijing Olympics with his poise and discipline as a goalkeeper. But he also applies that discipline to his Paleo diet.
The 23-year-old goalkeeper was one of the team's top-performing players in the Olympics. His heroics include a game-changing performance in the team's 4-2 victory over Canada, in which he had 35 saves, the most by any goalie in the Olympics this year, though he will go home without a medal.
Mann, a first-time Olympian this year, qualified for the Beijing Games in his first year out of college at the University of Michigan, where his reputation as a player was overshadowed by the reputation of his high-maintenance diet, according to ESPN.
Mann spends five hours per day in the kitchen planning his Paleo-friendly meals, which can't contain any sugar, dairy, or olive oil, and then must store them without using plastic Tupperware, he told ESPN. He's been following that diet since he was 16 years old.
"I wasn't overweight or anything, but I wanted to get into better shape. I found this meal plan at the gym. It was a habit that started to discipline a lot of areas in my life. I got in shape and started to really care more about sleep and training and video work and all of these other things," he said. "For me, it was a jumpstart to really focusing on hockey. Not long after that, results started to come."
Mann's restrictions are a symptom of his discipline as an athlete, but that doesn't necessarily mean avoiding all of his restrictions will make or break his career.
Dairy and sugar are common restrictions among athletes, but olive oil is considered a healthy fat
Mann's dairy and sugar restrictions line up with other elite athletes with strict diets, including Tom Brady, Kevin Love, and Troy Aikman.
Some mixed research suggests dairy may increase inflammation, a risk factor for sports injuries, though some studies have found that might be an overblown concern.
Sugar, especially processed sugar that doesn't come from natural sources, can pose it's own dangers to athletes. Research suggests athletes generally have an enhanced ability to process sugar due to their metabolisms being sped up from constant physical activity, according to studies. But too much processed sugar can still cause adverse effects on the body of an athlete, including energy crashes, mood swings, nausea and migraines.
Olive oil, which is also ruled out of Mann's diet, is often considered a healthier substance to eat for athletes. A wealth of research suggests, it is much healthier than refined oils like vegetable oil and canola oil, helping to help reduce inflammation and lower the risk of heart disease, according to Healthline.
Avoiding plastic Tupperware might be helping Mann avoid toxic chemicals
The Paleo diet focuses on eliminating exposure to ortho-phthalates — a chemical often found in plastic.
Plastic food containers and Tupperware can be dangerous sources of ortho-phthalates, which has been linked to increased risk of heart disease, hormonal disruption, and a weakened immune system, Insider's Andrea Michelson previously reported.
Keeping food in these containers is not guaranteed to cause health problems, however, according to a study.
Still, risks associated with ortho-phthalates can be reduced by keeping food in glass, stainless steel, ceramic, or wooden food containers.
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