Autoimmunity in sport: case study of a recreational marathon runner – Amy Desborough
Autoimmunity is not a ‘disease’ state specific only to very unhealthy individuals. Integrative nutrition practitioners, like Amy Desborough, are seeing multiple cases of autoimmunity in sport, many of which can be addressed by attention to patterns of nutrition and lifestyle. Dietary diversity matters: Dominique’s limited diet, although macronutrient balanced, lacked phytonutrients, fibres, and antioxidants that […]
Gastrointestinal and performance considerations in a natural Masters bodybuilder – Paul Ehren
Client profile Eddie was a 52-year-old male natural bodybuilder and self-employed builder with over 35 years of training experience, predominantly in resistance training and martial arts. He was married with two adult sons and was supported in his lifestyle and nutritional practices by both his family and his two employees. Eddie had competed at a […]
Musculoskeletal injury problems in a former distance runner – Dr Ruth Wilde
Nutrition can form a significant part of a musculoskeletal injury rehabilitation protocol, especially when other aspects of health are also out of balance. Functional medicine practitioner, Dr Ruth Wilde, showcases the use of nutritional management in this case of a nutritionally depleted former distance runner. She fasted from 8 p.m. until around 11 a.m. each […]
A professional vegan footballer (Part 1) – Ian Craig
This case study by Ian Craig showcases how many dietary cases represent more of a psychological than a nutritional intervention. I revisited his genetics tests, reaffirming his need for detoxification, inflammation and oxidative stress support, plus a little magnesium since he was heterozygous for the COMT 472 gene, which is involved in the inactivation of […]
A professional vegan footballer (Part 2) – Gerard Finnemore
In part 2 of this article, we now gain the perspective from clinical psychologist, Gerard Finnemore, who used qEEG assessment and neurofeedback and biofeedback strategies to support the professional footballer client. Overwhelm is like a computer with too many windows open; it presents as anxiety but doesn’t easily respond well to conventional anxiety treatments” Elite […]
Tailoring nutrition and training to a footballer’s menstrual cycle – Simone do Carmo
The menstrual cycle can affect an athletes’ dietary patterns and their performance capacity. Sports Nutritionist, exercise physiologist and personal trainer, Simone do Carmo shares her experiences through this case study. Ultimately, what matters as a practitioner is the person in front of you, and understanding a woman’s unique experiences around her menstrual cycle.” In a […]
A chronic fatigue case study – Ian Craig
What we believe and how we act profoundly affects our physiology. It’s no accident that many athletes are not reaching optimal health. Ian Craig views a complex chronic fatigue case of a long-distance triathlete. Chronic fatigue is not something you often hear athletes admitting to, but it is an increasingly common occurrence and not just […]
Two challenging cases from two contrasting clients – Ian Craig
Most published case studies detail clear intervention strategies and happy endings. Ian Craig shares two very contrasting clients with challenging cases whom he recently had the fortune to learn from. I might consider sharing with you a perfect case study in which I outline the case history and challenges of the individual, followed by a […]
Plant-based runner with digestive challenges – Simone do Carmo
Gastrointestinal distress is a common issue, especially among long-distance runners. Simone do Carmo shares an interesting case of a competitive plant-based runner, that shows how improving gut health can have a major impact on an athlete’s performance. John was a 19-year-old, competitive long-distance runner and a full-time student with a typical A-type personality: ambitious, determined […]
Stress and overtraining in a cyclist – Ian Craig
Lee was a 42-year-old competitive cyclist who, despite having a well-designed training programme (from his club coach) and being very dedicated to his sport, had experienced deterioration in performance over the past two seasons. He had been putting the same effort into his training but gaining less of a training effect than in previous years […]