Novak Djokovic is under fire for an Instagram Live session he held with Chervin Jafarieh, an entrepreneuer and nutritionist for the series “Self Mastery.”
The 80-minute session focused on the philosophies of detoxing and holistic approaches to health. However, the two men made questionable claims during the chat, including that positive-thinking and mindfulness can help make unhealthy foods healthy.
“I’ve seen people and I know some people that, through that energetical [sic] transformation, through the power of prayer, through the power of gratitude, they manage to turn the most toxic food or the most polluted water, into the most healing water,” Djokovic said.
“Because water reacts and scientists have proven that, that molecules in the water react to our emotions, to what is being said. I truly believe that we should continuously, every single day that when we sit, we sit without cameras, without phones … or even worse, having nervous discussions and conflictual [sic] discussions at the table with your close ones during your meal.”
Jafarieh said that scientists have done studies that show different emotions and thoughts could change the molecular structure of water.
“[Scientists] saw, if you had specific thoughts, specific emotions onto the water — if they were happy thoughts, if they were good thoughts, they created a molecular structure that had a geo-prism based on sacred geometry. Meaning, there was symmetry and balance in the structure,” Jafarieh said. “And on the opposite end, when you give water pain, fear, frustration, anger, that water would break apart.”
Jafarieh later promoted a product from Cymbiotika, the company he founded, called “Golden Mind,” an adaptogenic herbal complex. On the Cymbiotika website, “Golden Mind” claims to, among other things:
- “Stimulate growth of new brain cells”
- “Reduce brain fog, mood swings and migraines”
- “Enhance memory and learning abilities”
- “Improve gut brain axis; enhancing mind-body connection”
- The product costs $50 and has recurring payments.
Djokovic previously drew attention in April for saying he would resist a potential vaccine for COVID-19.
“Personally I am opposed to vaccination, and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel,” the world No. 1 said in a live Facebook chat.
“But if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision. I have my own thoughts about the matter, and whether those thoughts will change at some point, I don’t know.”
After his conversation with Jafarieh, several in the tennis community criticized Djokovic for spreading questionable nutritional information on his huge platform. At the time of this writing, the video had 581,431 views on Instagram.
Tennis analyst and former pro Mary Carillo said on the Tennis Channel, “The people of Flint, Michigan would love to hear that news,” of the claims of changing water structure.
“This, I find particularly dangerous,” Carillo said, adding: “I’m very disturbed that Djokovic and that other guy are saying you can change toxic water into drinking water.”
Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim noted on the Tennis Channel that while Djokovic believes in a natural, holistic lifestyle and it’s okay to “challenge conventional wisdom” and “alternative” medicines, this was a step too far.
“He really needs to be careful, there are consequences to this,” Wertheim said. “It’s a very short jump to these conspiracy theories which now, more than ever, are really dangerous.”
