Venus Williams was diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome in 2011, and her tennis career almost came to a grinding halt due to the autoimmune disease.
According to Time, after a rough season of injuries and match withdrawals, she announced that she was suffering from the fairly common autoimmune disease that causes dry eye and dry mouth, as well as crushing joint pain and fatigue.
The condition severely hindered athletic performance, ultimately causing her to withdraw from the 2011 US Open in the second round.
Understanding Sjögren’s syndrome
Just like other rheumatic diseases, Sjogren's syndrome can take several years to diagnose, because dryness and other symptoms are common and can present subtly.
Paula Marchetta, MD, president of the American College of Rheumatology said, "Typical symptoms are fatigue and dry mouth or eyes, although those with Sjogren's may experience muscle aches, joint pain, and inflammation of major organs. Often symptoms such as fatigue or muscle aches start to affect daily life, and that’s when a patient seeks help.”
Once diagnosed with Sjögren’s, you'll have it for life, but depending on the course of the disease, Dr. Marchetta says that most patients with Sjögren’s live normal lives.
"They mainly just have to deal with uncomfortable symptoms like dryness of eyes and mouth as well as achiness and fatigue."
How going vegan helped Venus William
After taking time off from professional tennis, Williams was able to step back onto the court with newfound strength, thanks to proper treatment, and a drastic diet change.
She began following a raw vegan diet, which typically involves eliminating all animal products and foods cooked above 118 degrees Fahrenheit.
In an interview with Health at an event for Silk soy milk, Williams spoke about the switch to a raw diet, her best nutrition tips, and how she keeps herself motivated to eat well.
She said, “I started for health reasons. I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, and I wanted to maintain my performance on the court. Once I started I fell in love with the concept of fueling your body in the best way possible. Not only does it help me on the court, but I feel like I’m doing the right thing for me.”
“I literally couldn’t play tennis anymore, so it really changed my life. Because it was starting to take away what I loved, I had to make some changes, I had to change my life. Thankfully, I was able to find something that helped me get back to doing what I loved,” the American player noted.
While battling with Sjogren's syndrome the 46-year-old made a comeback and returned to the court to continue her passion.
It is worth noting that Willaims recently played the US Open women's doubles alongside her sister Serena Williams in September.
