Learning from Dr. Giuliano Poser
The quiet Italian doctor who fixed Lionel Messi—and revolutionized football nutrition
The Story
By 2014, Lionel Messi had a problem.
The greatest talent soccer had ever seen was breaking down. Hamstring tears. On-field vomiting. Sluggishness. At 27, the superstar who could do anything with a ball appeared to be in decline.
Then Martin Demichelis, Messi's former teammate, suggested he visit a doctor in Sacile, a small town in Northern Italy.
Dr. Giuliano Poser's diagnosis: Messi's body was treating his food as poison. The pasta, pizza, and asado (Argentine barbecue) that fueled his culture were destroying his performance.
The intervention was radical: eliminate the "5 Ps"—Pizza, Pasta, Pane (bread), Potatoes, and Protein (red meat/processed). Replace them with "Super Gasoline"—whole grains, extra virgin olive oil, fresh vegetables, and clean proteins.
The result: Messi shed 3-5 kg, stopped vomiting, eliminated his hamstring issues, and led Barcelona to the Treble (2015). He went on to win the World Cup at age 35—the pinnacle of career longevity that seemed impossible a decade earlier.
Who is Dr. Giuliano Poser?
| Credential | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Sports medicine clinic in Sacile, Italy |
| Known For | Transforming Messi, Agüero, and other elite footballers |
| Background | Medical doctor + Applied Kinesiology + Osteopathy + Bach Flower therapy |
| Philosophy | The body is a "Ferrari"—it requires premium fuel |
Poser operates outside the institutional framework of club medicine, providing a sanctuary where athletes can address root causes without pressure.
What ISP Students Learn
Lesson 1: The "Super Gasoline" Concept
Poser views elite athletes as Ferraris—sophisticated machines that require premium fuel to run at peak RPM.
"You cannot put diesel fuel into a Ferrari and expect it to speed."
The Five Pillars of Super Gasoline:
| Pillar | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Water | The medium for all biochemical reactions; maintains lymphatic function |
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil | Contains oleocanthal—a natural anti-inflammatory as effective as ibuprofen |
| Whole Grains | Low glycemic index provides sustained energy without crashes |
| Fresh Fruit | Antioxidants to combat oxidative stress from training |
| Fresh Vegetables | Alkalizing agents to buffer the acid from intense exercise |
What this means for young athletes: Quality matters more than quantity. The same calories from different sources produce completely different results.
Lesson 2: The "5 Ps" to Eliminate
Poser identifies five dietary antagonists that cause "rust in the biological machine":
| The 5 Ps | Why They're Problematic |
|---|---|
| Pizza | Inflammatory combo: refined flour + processed dairy + processed meats |
| Pasta (white) | High glycemic, triggers insulin spikes, can cause gut permeability |
| Pane (white bread) | Functionally sugar; causes energy crashes |
| Potatoes (fried) | High glycemic; fried versions contain acrylamide |
| Protein (red/processed meat) | Hard to digest (72+ hours); high in inflammatory arachidonic acid |
For South American players raised on asado, this is revolutionary—and culturally difficult. But the results speak for themselves.
What this means for young athletes: Some "traditional" athlete foods may be holding you back. Be willing to question cultural assumptions about what athletes "should" eat.
Lesson 3: Sugar Makes You Stiff (and Injured)
Poser identifies sugar as the "arch-villain" of athletic performance.
The mechanism: Sugar molecules bind to proteins in your body, forming Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs). These AGEs accumulate in tendons, ligaments, and cartilage—making them stiff and brittle.
The injury connection: A stiff tendon can't absorb the eccentric load of a sprint or a cut. It's more likely to rupture.
Eliminating sugar effectively "softens" the soft tissues, returning elasticity to muscles.
This is widely credited as the mechanism that cured Messi's recurring hamstring issues.
What this means for young athletes: Sugar isn't just "empty calories"—it literally makes your body less flexible and more prone to injury.
Lesson 4: The Mind-Body Connection Is Real
When Messi arrived with on-field vomiting, medical exams found no structural cause. Poser diagnosed the root as psychosomatic: the immense pressure of carrying Barcelona and Argentina was manifesting physically.
The feedback loop:
- Anxiety releases cortisol
- Cortisol halts digestion
- Food ferments in the gut
- Inflammation and nausea increase
- More anxiety (repeat)
Poser broke the cycle using Bach Flower Remedies—dilute flower essences that address specific emotional states:
- Rescue Remedy: For acute stress
- Mimulus: For known fears (like fear of re-injury)
- White Chestnut: For repetitive worried thoughts
What this means for young athletes: Your mental state directly affects your physical performance. Addressing anxiety isn't "soft"—it's essential for elite performance.
Key Takeaways
| Lesson | One-Liner |
|---|---|
| Premium fuel | Your body is a Ferrari—feed it like one |
| Eliminate the 5 Ps | Pizza, Pasta, Bread, Potatoes, Red Meat |
| Sugar = injury risk | It literally makes your tendons stiff |
| Mind affects body | Mental stress creates physical problems |
How This Shows Up at ISP
Dr. Poser's "Super Gasoline" framework shapes the Bio Skill Tree:
- We teach food quality, not just macros
- Sugar reduction is part of injury prevention education
- The gut-brain connection is integrated into mental performance
- Students learn to distinguish between "athlete culture" and "athlete science"
When ISP students prepare for competition, they think about fuel quality, not just fuel quantity.
The Organic Imperative
Poser is militant about organic food sources. Why?
The hepatic burden theory: Your liver detoxifies both:
- Chemical residues from non-organic food
- Metabolic waste from exercise
If the liver is busy processing pesticide residue, it has less capacity for athletic recovery. The result: "heavy legs," slow recovery, fatigue.
Mitochondrial protection: Some pesticides impair cellular energy production. For a footballer covering 12km per game, mitochondrial efficiency is the holy grail.
What this means for young athletes: When possible, choose organic—especially for produce you eat frequently.
The Client List
Poser's results aren't limited to Messi:
| Athlete | Issue | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | Vomiting, hamstring tears | Treble winner, World Cup champion at 35 |
| Sergio Agüero | Recurring muscle strains | Career-best injury-free periods |
| Gonzalo Higuaín | Overweight, sluggish | Rapid weight loss, improved mobility |
The Italian School of functional sports nutrition—pioneered by Poser and similar practitioners—has become the gold standard in elite football.
Learn More
- How ISP Works →
- Igor Četojević — Djokovic's Doctor →
- Francis Holway — South American Sports Nutrition →
"The secret to longevity in modern football lies not in the gym, but in the gut."