Manuka Honey Ingredient in Djokovic Success

In a new book, Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic reveals the diet that transformed his health and that he credits for his recent success, part of which includes a daily dose of New Zealand manuka honey. “The first thing I do out of bed is to drink a tall glass of room-temperature water,” Djokovic writes in Serve to Win. “The second thing I do might really surprise you: I eat two spoonfuls of honey. Every day.”

Manuka honey expert, Dr Peter Molan of Waikato University told the Wall Street Journal that while he didn’t think that the honey would do the tennis player much good – “A whole large jarful would get diluted too much by your system to be effective.” – that the honey has “exceptional” anti-bacterial properties. The honey can also be used topically on infected wounds.

Manuka honey comes from bees that feed on the New Zealand native Manuka tree, a tree capable of thriving in land so devoid of nutrients that no other plants are able to grow.

In addition to consuming the honey in the morning, Djokovic says in the book that he also eats it during matches. “Finding the right foods for my body has made me lighter, healthier, and more focused,” Djokovic writes. Adding that, “it’s made all the difference in my career and in my life.”