Archive

What do M&S Percy Pigs, fruit jelly, sesame brittle and bone broth have in common and why should you be interested ? A couple of years ago I noticed that many sports nutritionists, particularly those working elite endurance athletes were including M&S Percy Pig jelly sweets within their diet and provision sheets. The reason for […]

A recent study done by the London School of Economics found that the biggest factor that improved overall life-satisfaction was in individuals who regularly trained and played as part of a team [1]. Meeting friends and participating in activities, with all the banter and laughter that goes with it is also known to increase happiness […]

Diet and Activity Survey. Age 9-19yrs old  ? Play competitive sport ? Please fill in this short survey to help me with my research.

Healthy Diets contain Fruit and Vegetables. Fruit and vegetables are vital elements of a healthy, balanced diet. They are important sources of energy, contain vital vitamins, minerals and fibre and are the only source of important phytonutrients that are potentially incredibly beneficial to health. Population studies that look at the behaviour  across large groups of people have shown that […]

The calculation of Body Mass Index (BMI), (a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters), will be very familiar to most people working in the fitness and health industries. Although BMI does not measure body fat directly, research has shown that adult BMI is closely correlated with direct measures […]

Allium ursinum also known as ramson or wild garlic has a long tradition of medicinal use in many different countries, with reported anti fungal, antimicrobial, antiseptic, anti inflammatory, cytotoxic, antioxidant, expectorant, vasodilatory and cardio-protective effects. It is also used as a tonic for digestion; easing colic, treating loss of appetite and curing indigestion.  However, despite […]

Five years ago I turned up at a nutrition conference with hands died purple from blackberry picking. When asked what I had been doing, I innocently said making jam, not realising the commotion this would cause. For many people jam = refined sugar and anything with a large proportion of refined sugar is seen as BAD. But I […]

If you read my piece ‘Importance of your gut for performance – What GCSE and A-Level Biology doesn’t tell you‘ and wanted to know more, Giulia Enders book is almost certainly the best place to start. Giulia Enders is a doctoral student in Germany studying microbiology. She first came to prominence when a 10minute presentation she […]

Can food and drink affect your exam results? Research shows that eating the right foods can benefit mood and motivation, improve focus, lower anxiety and strengthen memory formation. The wrong choices can make you feel sluggish or jittery making learning and recall more difficult. Powering Performance EATING ADVICE FOR EXAM PERFORMANCE 1. EAT –   Your brain […]

What can we learn from Sports Science ? Mark McClusky’s new book, Faster, Higher, Stronger, which was published at the end of last year, is the best book I have come across at answering the question “what we can learn from sports science?”. A really good review of the latest research and technology, written in […]