When the chance arises to assist in restoring some balance to the healthy eating debate, I’m all in! It’s difficult to know what to eat. A glance at Instagram suggests that we should all be ‘clean eating.’ It has no precise definition – it basically translates to “eating natural, unprocessed food” – but it often entails avoiding (most) carbs, gluten, and sugar in favour of green smoothies and cauliflower “cous cous.” There were more than 48 million Instagram posts with the hashtag #cleaneating when I last checked. Of course, the clean eating movement promoted by bloggers with no scientific cre ..read more

Nutrition and health is a concern nowadays. We’re all that little bit more conscious of what we’re putting in our bodies and what can help us to be happier and even to live longer. However, not all of us can stick to a healthy diet. It’s also difficult to know what our bodies need when it comes to nutrition and eating the right foods to get those nutrients. A nutrition coach may be an ideal solution What does a nutrition coach do? A nutrition coach is a personalised service that helps improve your health and encourages a change in your lifestyle. This lifestyle isn’t just for the time you hav ..read more

When the chance arises to assist in restoring some balance to the healthy eating debate, I’m all in! It’s difficult to know what to eat. A glance at Instagram suggests that we should all be ‘clean eating.’ It has no precise definition – it basically translates to “eating natural, unprocessed food” – but it often entails avoiding (most) carbs, gluten, and sugar in favour of green smoothies and cauliflower “cous cous.” There were more than 48 million Instagram posts with the hashtag #cleaneating when I last checked. Of course, the clean eating movement promoted by bloggers with no scientific cre ..read more

We lose fluid every day through sweating, breathing, and urinating. Exercisers should be aware of their perspiration because they begin to dehydrate as soon as they begin to exercise. Around 75% of the energy you expend during exercise is converted to heat, which is then wasted. To keep your core body temperature within acceptable limits — around 37 to 38 degrees Celsius – extra heat must be removed. Sweating is how your body keeps cool, therefore fluid replacement is critical. Dehydration If you don’t drink enough water, your blood will thicken, lowering the effectiveness of your heart, incre ..read more

Cramping was once thought to be caused by dehydration or electrolyte depletion, according to experts. However, no studies have been conducted to link the assumption that dehydration or electrolyte depletion is the reason one athlete cramps while another does not. There isn’t enough experimental evidence to support either theory. Researchers from the University of Cape Town examined 209 Ironman triathletes before and after a race in 2011 to see whether there were any differences between the 43 who suffered muscular cramps and the 166 who did not (1). The main conclusion was that there was no si ..read more

Many sports supplements make dramatic promises about improving performance, but only a few of them are supported by solid studies. In the first in a five-part supplement series, I examine the evidence for whey protein. What exactly is it? Whey protein is by far the most researched substance for muscle growth. It is a byproduct of cheese production that contains all nine essential amino acids and is swiftly digested and absorbed into the bloodstream, allowing it to reach muscles quickly. What exactly does it do? “The major benefits for athletes include speedier recovery, increased muscle synthe ..read more

Cramping was once thought to be caused by dehydration or electrolyte depletion, according to experts. However, no studies have been conducted to link the assumption that dehydration or electrolyte depletion is the reason one athlete cramps while another does not. There isn’t enough experimental evidence to support either theory. Researchers from the University of Cape Town examined 209 Ironman triathletes before and after a race in 2011 to see whether there were any differences between the 43 who suffered muscular cramps and the 166 who did not (1). The main conclusion was that there was no si ..read more

The notion that organic foods are healthier is undeniably appealing. However, there is little evidence to back this up, with some studies showing higher quantities of particular nutrients in various fruits and vegetables and others finding no difference. A study of 237 studies discovered that, while organic product contains lower pesticide residues than conventional produce, there are no obvious nutritional benefits to buying organic produce.  What about the health advantages? Surprisingly, despite fear-mongering headlines, there is no proof that consuming organic food lowers your risk of ..read more

Are you fed up of feeling under the weather? Coughs, colds, viruses and stomach bugs aren’t just a winter occurrence, they can occur all year round. A healthy body is dependent on a strong immune system, here are 7 simple strategies to help support your immune function and build resilience… 1. Support Your Gut Did you know that 70% of our immune system lies within the gut? Our gut bacteria can communicate with immune cells influencing their function. As of yet, we don’t know what an optimal gut microbiome looks like, however it appears the more diverse the better. A fibre-rich is key for feedi ..read more

Heartburn is one of those frustrating yet common symptoms affecting approximately 21% of the UK adult population.[1]  It is characterised by a painful burning sensation, in the upper abdomen or below the breast bone which, can put a dampener on anyone’s day! Eat smaller meals more frequently, rather than two or three large meals. Eating until your full to bursting isn’t advisable for anyone, but particularly those suffering from heartburn.[2] Heartburn can be down to a lower oesophageal sphincter that doesn’t tighten as it should. Put simply overeating, can put internal pressure on t ..read more