Pre-bed casein ingestion: is it really necessary?

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 More

Vitamin D and athletic performance: do you need to supplement? (Guest Post by Joe Matthews)

Vitamin D and athletic performance: do you need to supplement? (Guest Post by Joe Matthews)

Vitamin 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

Video Presentation: Recognising & Avoiding The Plagues of 'Broscience'

Screen Shot 2013-11-25 at 21.06.27This 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.

Video Blog: Skype Q&A with Brad Schoenfeld about Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy

Like my last post, this one will also be in the form of a video. This time, Brad Schoenfeld is the featured guest and he answers a series of questions from the fitness community regarding muscle hypertrophy.

For those of you who don't know him, Brad Schoenfeld, MSc, CSCS, CSPS, CPT is an internationally renowned fitness expert and widely regarded as one of the leading authorities on body composition training (muscle development and fat loss). The 2011 NSCA Personal Trainer of the Year is a lifetime drug-free bodybuilder who has won numerous natural bodybuilding titles, including the All Natural Physique and Power Conference (ANPPC) Tri-State Naturals and USA Mixed Pairs crowns. As a trainer, he has worked with numerous elite-level physique athletes including many top pros.

Brad is a best-selling author of eight fitness books including his latest “The M.A.X. Muscle Plan.” He has been published or featured in virtually every major fitness magazine (including Muscle and Fitness, MuscleMag, Ironman, Oxygen, and Shape) and has appeared on hundreds of television shows and radio programs across the United States. Certified as a strength and conditioning specialist by the NSCA and as a personal trainer by the ACSM, ACE, and CanFitPro, Brad was awarded the distinction of master trainer by IDEA Health and Fitness Association.

Brad is a lecturer in exercise science at Lehman College in the Bronx, NY, is the director of their human performance lab. As a scholar, Brad has published over 40 peer-reviewed journal articles in exercise and sports nutrition and serves as the Assistant Editor-in-Chief to the Strength and Conditioning Journal. He is currently pursuing his PhD in health science at Rocky Mountain University where his research focuses on the mechanisms of muscle hypertrophy and their application to resistance training.

In addition to his impressive CV, Brad will be coming to the UK early next year to deliver two seminars (one in Bath and one in London). See here for more information and to purchase a ticket!

Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCsUR6NoR7g

Video Blog: Skype Q&A with Alan Aragon (topics include: refeeds, optimising macronutrient targets, contest dieting, "metabolic damage" & n-3 supplementation)

Instead of a written article, this month's post is in the form of a video blog with one of the most respected nutritionists in the word, Alan Aragon.

Alan Aragon has over 20 years of success in the fitness field, and is one of the most influential figures in the movement towards evidence-based information. He is a continuing education provider for the Commission on Dietetic Registration, National Academy of Sports Medicine, and National Strength & Conditioning Association. Alan writes a monthly research review focused on providing cutting-edge theoretical and practical information to health and fitness professionals. Alan’s work has been published in the popular media as well as the peer-reviewed scientific literature, including the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. He maintains a private practice designing programs for recreational, Olympic, and professional athletes. Alan is the nutrition adviser of Men’s Health magazine.

To view a sample of the research review click here.

Alan will visiting the UK for the first time in October to deliver a 2-day conference about all aspects of nutrition for body composition. For more information about the conference, click here

I hope you enjoy the video as much as we did making it.

 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1wIlDVO9w4&feature=youtu.be]