How athletes destroy their health? What to eat to be healthy? Jakub Mauricz

Mauricz argues that mainstream medicine treats autoimmune diseases as incurable and prescribes lifelong drugs, often adding unnecessary ones like antidepressants. He uses the framework from Palmer Kippola’s "Beat Autoimmune" and his own clinical experience to show that many patients achieve remission. He gives the example of a Hashimoto patient prescribed an antidepressant without depression, and another who lost 36 kg, put Hashimoto and PCOS into remission, and became pregnant. The protocol starts with dietary changes, infection screening, gut healing (e.g., addressing SIBO, leaky gut), hormone balancing, toxin reduction, and stress management.

Mauricz clarifies that keto is a tool, not a universal diet. He cites the Inuit as proof it’s not inherently harmful, and 1921 studies showing its efficacy for epilepsy. For SIBO, he explains that excess bacteria ferment carbs into alcohol, which travels to the liver and raises GGTP (a marker of alcohol abstinence). Keto reduces this fermentation. He advises against it for glycolytic athletes like a footballer he works with, because they need glycogen for high-intensity bursts. He also mentions that for an obese, sedentary person, keto can be a good starting point.

Mauricz cites old-school bodybuilders like Wiesław Kruk and Waldemar Nol who said ‘in the legs there’s a different testosterone’. He points out that many men nowadays only train chest and biceps, leading to a ‘stork’ physique and low testosterone. He asserts that heavy squats and deadlifts spike testosterone maximally. He also notes that lack of any strength training is a major contributor to the testosterone crisis.

Mauricz gives examples: a carpenter who worked outdoors had a level of 21 ng/mL (deficient), and a programmer whose level dropped from 42 to 38 over summer after stopping supplementation because his only sun exposure was walking his daughter to preschool. He argues that blanket recommendations to stop supplementing in summer are dangerous. He also notes that vitamin D acts as a panacea, impacting everything from dental enamel to blood pressure and lipid profile.

Mauricz explains that the typical Polish diet is wheat-heavy from morning to night: white rolls for breakfast, pasta or tortillas for lunch, snacks like pretzels, and sandwiches for dinner. This constant intake of wheat, refined sugar, and trans fats (often combined in a single product like a donut) drives insulin resistance and inflammation. He advocates for a flexible approach, sharing that he himself enjoys artisanal ice cream 2-3 times a week as his ‘guilty pleasure’ while otherwise sticking to whole foods.

Mauricz is a self-described ‘legwan’ (iguana) who craves sun. He starts his day with an ice bath and morning sun, feeling it charges his batteries more than coffee. He references Erling Haaland, who removes all standard light bulbs after 6pm and replaces them with infrared ones to preserve melatonin. Mauricz incorporates this into his athlete protocols, along with managing blue light from screens, to optimize sleep and recovery.

Mauricz explains that the F.I.G.H.T.S. protocol tackles all the pillars of immune dysfunction: Food (eliminating triggers, adding nutrients), Infections (hidden infections), Gut (healing leaky gut, dysbiosis), Hormones (balancing thyroid, sex hormones), Toxins (reducing environmental load), and Stress (managing cortisol). He asserts that in his practice, many patients with Hashimoto’s improve dramatically when these factors are addressed. He gives the example of a patient who was prescribed an antidepressant for Hashimoto despite having no depression, highlighting medical overreach. Another patient later lost 36 kg, put Hashimoto into remission, and became pregnant, which he attributes to this protocol. He stresses that 70% of the immune system is in the gut, so gut healing is central.

Mauricz uses this example to illustrate the environmental estrogenic load that men face daily. He argues that soy-derived phytoestrogens can mimic estrogen and disrupt the androgen-estrogen balance, contributing to the observed 25% drop in male testosterone over recent decades. He references the British population, where soy is in everything from sausages to ham, and notes that it’s hard to find a man without gynecomastia. This burger is just one extreme example of a broader problem.

Mauricz explains that Lion’s Mane, while beneficial for nerve growth factors (NGF, BDNF), blocks androgen receptors at higher doses or with prolonged use. Curcumin, celebrated for its anti-inflammatory properties, also has anti-androgenic effects. He shares a case of a male athlete with testosterone at 320 ng/dL (range 280–800) who was considering TRT. After removing these two supplements, along with improving sleep and reducing stress, his testosterone rose to healthy levels without any pharmaceutical intervention. He emphasizes that many people chase a quick fix with TRT when the answer is often hidden in their supplement cabinet.

Mauricz enrolled in 2009 and graduated in 2012. He recounts that a professor declared creatine ineffective, despite 55,000 studies at the time proving otherwise. When Mauricz, who had just written an article on creatine, objected, the professor silenced him and later failed him on an exam, forcing a retake. He also notes that the curriculum was filled with irrelevant anatomy (e.g., learning the clavicle in detail) rather than functional nutrition for gastrointestinal issues. The only honest moment came from a biostatistics professor who told students that after these studies they would know nothing except whether they wanted to pursue the field further. Mauricz says that many current dietetics students message him complaining that their education is worthless and that only a few open-minded students seek real knowledge outside.

Mauricz says he ‘steps into athletes’ lives with boots on’. He requires a 12-page general questionnaire and a 3-page sports-specific one before any consultation. He then optimizes everything: post-training recovery, evening routines, blue light exposure (he cites Erling Haaland, who replaces all light bulbs with infrared ones after 6pm), vagus nerve calming, and even psychological issues. He shares a case of a footballer who was being blackmailed by a partner with debt and immigration issues; Mauricz had to counsel him to cut ties, as the toxic relationship was causing high cortisol, insomnia, and low testosterone. He has also fired athletes who refused to follow the full program, emphasizing that discipline is non-negotiable.