CBD (cannabidiol) seems to be all the rage among athletes and regular exercisers. Among other things it purports to help relieve pain, reduce muscle soreness and inflammation, improve sleep quality and ease anxiety. Approximately 4 – 6 million UK adults have tried CBD. However, research to support its use is sparse and manufacturers are not allowed to make explicit health claims for it. Here’s what you need to know about cannabidiol.
In this article I cover supplements that may be worth considering and those that have no or limited benefit. Cherry Juice, Blackcurrant extract, Collagen, Turmeric/ curcumin, ‘Greens’ powders, Branched chain amino acids, Cannabidiol (CBD), Nootropics
This article (part 1) covers sports supplements supported by solid evidence: vitamin D, caffeine, beetroot juice, beta-alanine, iron, vitamin B12 and iron
The start of a new year always gets me thinking about the nutrition and food trends for the months ahead. Now, with a new decade to look forward to, here are my predictions for what you can expect to be eating in 2020: Plant power The vegan trend will continue for 2020. One third of…
More than ever, young high performance athletes I advise are keen to give protein supplements a try. After all protein products are everywhere – in local shops, sports centres and cafes – and so widely promoted that it’s hard to believe that anyone isn’t taking them. Will they make me stronger, help me…
18th April 2016 Many sports supplements make bold claims about boosting performance but only a few are backed up by credible research. In the second article of this 5-part series on supplements, I look at the evidence for beetroot juice. What is it? Beetroot juice (and beetroot) is a rich source of nitrate. It’s worth…
26th August 2015 I am sceptical about sports supplements – most have little solid evidence to back their claims – but I must admit to being more than a little intrigued by the new generation of food-based performance-enhancing supplements. I wrote in a recent post how antioxidant supplements (namely vitamins C and E) can…
10th August 2015 Swig a protein drink after your workout? And another one mid-morning to boost muscle growth? Then again before bedtime to ensure your muscles continue growing while you sleep? Well, you’re not alone. More and more men are gearing up their use of protein drinks and other legal bodybuilding supplements in their quest…
27th February 2015 Could you be a cheat (without knowing)? The recent doping scandal in swimming involving Olympic medallist Park Tae-Hwan should serve as a warning to all athletes. As should the case of Welsh rugby player Lee Evans. Both were tested positive after taking supplements. It seems the biggest problem facing top athletes at…
