The gluten-free diet routine for Eli Anne Dvergsdal

Eli Anne Dvergsdal is a Norwegian mountain runner. In 2019 she won the prestigious mountain marathon Zegama Aizkorri in Spain. Only four years before, as an adult, she got diagnosed with the autoimmune disease, coeliac disease. Coeliac disease may have taken gluten away from Eli Anne but not her passion for mountain running. Perhaps it’s just that every adversity carries with it the seed to success.

With great pleasure we managed to get an interview with her! Read more below about her disease progression and how she integrates the gluten-free diet into her sports routine.

How and when did you find out you are suffering from coeliac disease?

I was diagnosed with celiac disease in early 2019. After struggling with a lot of stomach trouble for several years, in addition to low iron levels, the stomach problems only got worse and worse. I was very bad with vomiting, great stomach pain and poor general condition for a week in a row, had 2-3 days where I was better, before I became just as bad for a week again. Then we went to the doctor, who took blood samples, and eventually gastroscopy which proved my celiac disease diagnosis

Did the change in diet have an impact on your sports performance? If so, in what way?

Switching to a gluten-free diet has been crucial for me to function both in everyday life, and not least in my sports, training and competitions. I felt a little better already at the beginning of the gluten-free diet, and after a few months I was much better. Now I no longer have major stomach problems, my iron values have normalized, and my energy level is higher both during exercise and elsewhere in the day. I perform well again in both training every day and competitions now that I eat gluten-free.

What does your everyday diet look like?

With a lot of exercise, I need a lot of nutrition. I eat many meals during the day, from breakfast to lunch, dinner, evening, and some snacks before / during / after exercise. The content of my meals is a lot of carbohydrates, as well as some protein and fat. I often eat bread for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and Schär Maestro Cereale, Maestro Vital and Landbrot are my favourites. Ciabatta and Panini are also good options when I want hot and freshly baked bread. For dinner, there will often be rice, potatoes, or gluten-free pasta with vegetables and, for example, fish or chicken. In addition, there are small snacks, such as fruit, biscuits, bars, and especially in connection with long and hard workouts I need a lot of energy replenishment, then for example Schär Snack, Twin Bar, Cereal Bar or Crackers

Coeliac disease can affect anyone at any time, young or old. Eli Anne was affected as an adult, while being an elite mountain runner. She will never be able to run away from coeliac disease. Instead, they will be running side by side throughout life. What is certain is that with knowledge, the right diet and a positive mindset, this disease doesn’t stand in the way of success.