Matt Damon Loses 10 Kilos While Filming The Odyssey After Quitting Gluten—Does It Really Make You Lean?

Hollywood

actor Matt Damon said he has lost a lot of weight while preparing for his upcoming movie The Odyssey. The 55-year-old, who appeared in a podcast recently, opened up on the physical transformation he made for the Greek epic, in which he stars as the title character Odysseus. “Yeah, I was in really good shape,” he told Jason and Travis Kelce. “I lost a lot of weight. [Director Christopher Nolan] said he wanted me to be lean but strong. It's a weird thing.”

How did Damon lose weight?

Matt revealed he lost 10 kilos of weight – he proudly announced he now weighs 75 kilograms, the same weight as he was in high school, by quitting gluten. “I used to walk around between 185 and 200 pounds. And I did that whole movie at 167 pounds,” he said. “I haven’t been that light since high school. So, it was a lot of training and a really strict diet,” Damon added. Damon said even after the shoot got over, he did not return to eating gluten. “I’m done. I'm gluten-free everything. I found a gluten-free beer,” he said with a laugh. “It's been so long since I've had gluten, I can't tell if it's good or not. So that's a good sign.”

What is a gluten-free diet?

A gluten-free diet is a meal plan that totally avoids gluten – a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and spelt – which means you need to stop eating bread, pasta, rotis, cereals, and many processed foods. According to experts, focus on eating naturally gluten-free whole foods like fruits, vegetables, meat, and grains such as rice and quinoa. Gluten can also be a thickener or additive in unexpected items like salad dressings, ice cream, medications, and even some beauty products.

Can a free diet help in weight loss and management?

According to experts, those who adopt a gluten-free diet often lose weight, but it is usually because they also cut out a lot of processed foods and refined carbohydrates that contain gluten. If you stop eating gluten to lose weight, it is important to watch your portion sizes, get regular exercise, and eat plenty of whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.

Are there any long-term risks of quitting gluten?

If you cut all gluten out of your diet, there is a risk that you could miss out on nutritious whole grains, fibre, and micronutrients. Getting enough whole grains in your diet is especially important if you are at risk for heart disease or diabetes. Experts say whole grains lower the levels of cholesterol and even help regulate your blood sugar. Also, a few gluten-loaded foods are the best sources of important vitamins and minerals, like B vitamins, iron, and magnesium. Make sure to keep in mind that some processed gluten-free foods contain high amounts of unhealthy ingredients such as sodium, sugar, and fat. Consuming these foods can lead to weight gain, blood sugar swings, high blood pressure, and other problems. So, a gluten-free label doesn’t necessarily make a food healthy.