The ingestion of casein before sleep, or any other protein for that matter, has been a popular strategy for bodybuilders, athletes and fitness enthusiasts for as long as I can remember. In this article, I will examine what the scientific literature has to say about the matter and whether it lives up to its hype.
Read MoreRationale for fasted cardio for fat loss
A common strategy among those competing in aesthetic sports (e.g. bodybuilders, fitness competitors etc.) and those competing in weight class sports (e.g. boxing, wrestling, judo etc.) is to perform cardiovascular exercise after an overnight fast, waiting until after the exercise bout to consume breakfast. The basic premise for this practise is that low levels of glycogen (and/or glycogen depletion during the exercise bout itself) and insulin, shift energy utilisation away from carbohydrate for fuel, thereby allowing greater mobilisation of stored fat that can be used for fuel (fat oxidation).
Read MoreIt seems like you can't open a cycling magazine, read a running forum or speak to an endurance enthusiast without being drawn into a discussion about beetroot juice. With article headlines such as, “Power to the beetroot - PB up, BP down” and “Beetroot Juice: The Drink of Champions” becoming evermore common, I thought it would be a good time to take a look at some of the research and determine whether these claims are justified. As such, the aim of this article is to discuss all things beetroot and try to find out if it really is “The Drink of Champions”.
Read MoreVitamin D is a fashionable supplement to have in your cupboard. A quick online scout of popular sites sees headlines such as…
“Vitamin D the most underrated vitamin on the planet”
“Get lean by taking vitamin D – it raises testosterone and elevates metabolism”
“D is for domination” (personal favourite)
So, does it live up to the hype?
Here, we will briefly critique the current evidence regarding vitamin D supplementation and athletic performance.
Read More
This month's post is another video. This time, it's one of me delivering a presentation rather than interviewing a fitness industry professional.
The presentation was recorded just over a month ago in London for the ISSN Diploma in Sports & Exercise Nutrition organised by Laurent Bannock of www.guruperformance.com.
Given the caliber of guest speakers, as well as Laurent himself, it was a privilege to talk in front of an audience who share an enthusiasm for nutrition. For anyone looking for an evidence-based qualification to pursue, I'd highly recommend the looking into the course as it perfectly bridges the gap between a degree and becoming a solid practitioner.
In the presentation, I discuss the tools available for recognising and avoiding 'broscience' and talk through some popular examples in the fitness industry, picking them apart from several angles.
Topics include:
1. Biosignature Modulation
2. Carb Back-loading
3. Metabolic damage
4. Pre-bed casein
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did putting it together...
Edit: the video has been removed by the user. Not to worry, here's a link to a PDF version of the slides.
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