2 July 2012 Why spend out on a sports drink when a banana and a bottle of water will do an equally good job? US researchers recently published a study (funded by Dole) that found just that. When cyclists were given equal amounts of carbs either as a sports drink or as bananas during a…
29 May 2012 The recent sunny spell has been good news for athletes hoping for a performance boost. Exposure to UVB rays raises levels of vitamin D in the body, which can help muscles function better, say scientists. Vitamin D is well known for its role in bone health but recent research suggests it may…
5 April 2012 If I had a pound for each time I saw someone – typically overweight, unfit – guzzling a sports drink while sitting, standing or walking around, then I would be a multimillionaire. But I’m delighted and amused to read the results of a scientific survey on sports drinks consumption carried out by…
The Paleo Diet has gained an almost cult-like following since the book by Professor Loren Cordain was first published in 2002. No longer is it seen as an offshoot of ‘complementary and alternative medicine’, now many regular exercisers are jumping on the low-carb Paleo bandwagon. So, should we all be switching? First, what’s Paleo? The…
Proper nutritional recovery is vital to performance. Failure to replenish fluids and fuel after training can quickly result in sore muscles, fatigue and under-performance at your next training session. Here’s how to promote full recovery after a hard session in the pool: Priority 1: Replace fluids Your muscles cannot fully recover until your cells are…
One of the most common questions I get asked by parents is how can they help their swimmer gain weight. Understandably, many become concerned when their child looks underweight compared with their peers or struggles to keep their weight up. This is a very common scenario around puberty when children grow at very different rates…
Preparing for a swimming event in which you’ll be racing several times in one day requires a well-planned nutrition strategy. Ensuring your fuel (glycogen) stores are fully stocked and your body properly hydrated will help you put in your best performance. 2 weeks before If you will be racing early in the morning, change your…
What and how much you eat before training can make a big difference to your workout. Choosing the wrong foods, eating too much or too little, or eating at the wrong time can affect your performance and leave you feeling hungry, uncomfortable or unwell. Eating the right pre-exercise meal at the right time ensures that…
Every day we lose fluid by sweating, breathing and urinating. It’s the sweating that exercisers need to pay attention to because as soon as you start exercising you start to dehydrate. About 75 per cent of the energy you put into exercise is converted into heat, and is then lost. Extra heat has to be…
