Matt Damon, David Beckham talk about their challenge to the Water.org charity
Matt Damon talks to USA TODAY’s Ralphie Aversa about the challenges of his charity, Water.org, which has provided clean water to 70 million people.
For Matt Damon, gluten isn’t hero food.
The Oscar-winning actor, who plays the Greek warrior Odysseus in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film The Odyssey, appeared on the New Heights podcast on Wednesday, January 7, and candidly talked about the diet that helped him slim down for the action hero role.
“I’ve been feeling really good, and I’ve lost a lot of weight,” Damon, 55, told co-hosts Travis Kelsey and Jason Kelsey. “He said he wanted me, like, someone thin and strong. That’s weird.”
After consulting with his doctor, Damon believed that completely eliminating gluten, a protein naturally found in grains such as wheat, rye, and barley, from his diet was responsible for his significant weight loss.
“I used to walk between 185 and 200 pounds. I played that movie at 167 the entire time,” Damon recalls. “And I haven’t been that light since high school. So I did a lot of training and a very strict diet.”
While the demand for gluten-free products is on the rise, and protein is gaining a “bad rap” among some online health influencers, nutritionist Caroline Thomason previously told USA TODAY that gluten-rich foods like whole-grain bread and barley are actually “good sources of fiber, B vitamins, and prebiotics that can support gut health.”
“The idea that bread is bad for you feels true to some people, especially when tied to dietary culture,” Thomasson said in July 2025. “Cutting out gluten has been glorified as a quick fix for weight loss, bloating, and inflammation. But the truth is, unless you have a medical reason to avoid bread, cutting out gluten won’t magically solve those problems.”
Damon has finished production on the film “The Odyssey,” which is scheduled to be released in theaters on July 17, but said he is maintaining a gluten-free diet.
“It’s over. It’s over. It’s all gluten-free,” Damon said, adding with a laugh. “I found a gluten-free beer. It’s been a while since I’ve had gluten and I don’t know if it tastes good or bad, so that’s a good sign,” he added.
In addition to changing his diet, Damon also credits his consistent exercise regimen with dramatically reducing his weight.
“It’s like part of your day. It’s part of your job, right?” Damon said. “And, yeah, you get really routine about it and really start building your day around all of that stuff.”
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