Introduction Developing a well-rounded fitness regimen is not just about hitting the gym every day. It involves equipping yourself with the strength to defend and protect – something that is becoming increasingly important in today’s uncertain world. Self-defence fits within this narrative and offers a multifaceted approach to personal health and safety. Not only does it prepare your body for physical confrontation, but it empowers your mind. Sound interesting? In this article, we are going to briefly discuss how you can incorporate self-defence techniques into your current workout schedule ..read more

Introduction Avitaminosis, aka vitamin deficiency, is the condition of a long-term lack of a vitamin. When caused by not enough vitamin intake it is classified as a primary deficiency, whereas when due to an underlying disorder such as malabsorption it is called a secondary deficiency. An underlying disorder can have 2 main causes: Metabolic causes: Genetic defects in enzymes (e.g. kynureninase) involved in the kynurenine pathway of synthesis of niacin from tryptophan can lead to pellagra (niacin deficiency). Lifestyle choices: Lifestyle choices and habits that increase vitamin needs, such as ..read more

Introduction Megavitamin therapy is the use of large doses of vitamins, often many times greater than the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) in the attempt to prevent or treat diseases. Megavitamin therapy is typically used in alternative medicine by practitioners who call their approach orthomolecular medicine. Vitamins are useful in preventing and treating illnesses specifically associated with dietary vitamin shortfalls, but the conclusions of medical research are that the broad claims of disease treatment by advocates of megavitamin therapy are unsubstantiated by the available evidence. I ..read more

Introduction Hypervitaminosis is a condition of abnormally high storage levels of vitamins, which can lead to various symptoms as over excitement, irritability, or even toxicity. Specific medical names of the different conditions are derived from the given vitamin involved: an excess of vitamin A, for example, is called hypervitaminosis A. Hypervitaminoses are primarily caused by fat-soluble vitamins (D and A), as these are stored by the body for longer than the water-soluble vitamins. Generally, toxic levels of vitamins stem from high supplement intake and not always from natural sources but ..read more

Introduction Glucagon is a peptide hormone, produced by alpha cells of the pancreas. It raises the concentration of glucose and fatty acids in the bloodstream and is considered to be the main catabolic hormone of the body. It is also used as a medication to treat a number of health conditions. Its effect is opposite to that of insulin, which lowers extracellular glucose. It is produced from proglucagon, encoded by the GCG gene. The pancreas releases glucagon when the amount of glucose in the bloodstream is too low. Glucagon causes the liver to engage in glycogenolysis: converting stored glycog ..read more

Introduction Diuresis is the excretion of urine, especially when excessive (polyuria). The term collectively denotes the physiologic processes underpinning increased urine production by the kidneys during maintenance of fluid balance. In healthy people, the drinking of extra water produces mild diuresis to maintain the body water balance. Many people with health issues, such as heart failure and kidney failure, need diuretic medications to help their kidneys deal with the fluid overload of oedema. These drugs promote water loss via urine production. The concentrations of electrolytes in the bl ..read more

Introduction In human nutrition, empty calories are those calories found in foods and beverages (including alcohol) composed primarily or solely of calorie-rich macronutrients such as sugars and fats, but little or no micronutrients, fibre, or protein. Foods composed mostly of empty calories have low nutrient density, meaning few other nutrients relative to their energy content. Empty calories are more difficult to fit into a diet that is both balanced and within total daily energy expenditure (TDEE), and so readily create an unhealthy diet. Research The lack of complete nutrition found in hi ..read more

Introduction The calorie is a unit of energy that originated from the caloric theory of heat. The large calorie, food calorie, dietary calorie, or kilogram calorie is defined as the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one litre of water by one degree Celsius (or one kelvin). The small calorie or gram calorie is defined as the amount of heat needed to cause the same increase in one millilitre of water. Thus, 1 large calorie is equal to 1000 small calories. In nutrition and food science, the term calorie and the symbol cal may refer to the large unit or to the small unit in differ ..read more

Introduction Navigating an obstacle course race (OCR) demands more than sheer willpower; it is a complex dance of endurance, strength, and nutrition. Optimal dietary strategies tailor-fit for OCR can be the linchpin to surpassing personal limits. Yet, crafting such a nutritional plan is not one-size-fits-all. It requires precision – balancing macronutrients and meal timing – to turn food into sustained energy. Varied menu choices rise to this occasion, offering bespoke fuel for the avid racer’s journey. Now, let’s unpack these dietary tactics to prepare your body for the gruelling yet exhilar ..read more

Introduction Lactate inflection point (LIP) is the exercise intensity at which the blood concentration of lactate and/or lactic acid begins to increase rapidly. It is often expressed as 85% of maximum heart rate or 75% of maximum oxygen intake. When exercising at or below the lactate threshold, any lactate produced by the muscles is removed by the body without it building up. The onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA) is often confused with the lactate threshold. With an exercise intensity higher than the threshold the lactate production exceeds the rate at which it can be broken down. Th ..read more