Harnessing your nervous system energy – Ian Craig
It’s long been considered important to balance your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, but in reality, most athletes don’t even try. Ian Craig explores this complex topic, which has some simple take homes. In 2014 (1), I wrote an article on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, primarily focussing on the regulation and support of the endocrine […]
Vitamin D – Simone do Carmo
The last decade has seen an enormous amount of research on vitamin D, particularly with regard to immune function and skeletal and cardiac health. Simone do Carmo expands on the role of vitamin D in athletic performance. Vitamin D plays a pivotal role in bone health by regulating calcium and phosphorus levels, but nearly every […]
Thyroid dysfunction in sport – Ian Craig
Recent revelations that certain high-profile athletes have been taking thyroid medication have made us question whether athletes might suffer from thyroid problems and the impacts had on performance. Ian Craig investigates. In August of 2012, I watched two scintillating performances by British hero Mo Farrah as he strode to victory in the 5,000 and 10,000m […]
Genetics of sport – Ian Craig
Is it a fad, or is it a useful tool in sports training and nutrition? Ian Craig takes a closer look at an industry rapidly gathering steam. Genetics is becoming hard to ignore these days. Discoveries in genetics are regularly in scientific news headlines, genetic testing is increasingly being used by integrative medicine practitioners within […]
Fat metabolism: The LSD vs. HIIT confusion – Ian Craig
As presented at the Sports Nutrition Live conference, Ian Craig has an interest in exercising and eating according to your unique metabolism. He proposes some new research inquiries. We all have a large resource of fat – even us skinnies have enough to run continuously for a few days. So, in order to maximise our […]
The changing face of sports nutrition – Ian Craig
It is no longer acceptable to follow quantitative sports nutrition guidelines without an understanding of individuality. By combining new scientific discoveries with old traditional practices, Ian Craig believes that you can ultimately nourish your athletes. During my time as editor of the Functional Sports Nutrition magazine, between 2010 and 2022, I witnessed an enormous change […]
Top 3 nutritional mistakes by youth football players
You’ve made it into a professional football academy. Congratulations, you’re going to receive the highest level of football coaching available at your age in this country. However, what are you doing about the things that affect your performance away from football? Often lifestyle factors such as nutrition, sleep and enjoying time away from football can […]
The importance of tracking your menstrual cycle
Menstruation is called a cycle for a reason. It’s not a 5- to 7-day period; it’s a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year cycle. Menstruation’s significant role in health and performance should thus not be taken for granted. Having an in-depth knowledge of the highs and lows of your menstrual cycle is a big advantage when it comes […]
A review on protein for skeletal muscle hypertrophy
Optimising muscle mass is a primary goal for many athletes involved in strength and power sports, bodybuilders and recreational gym-goers. From a health perspective, we know that the risk of muscle mass loss and function decreases with age, so it becomes even more important as we get older to focus on muscle mass and to […]
Covid-19 coronavirus – an athlete’s perspective
Published 25 March 2020 This article attempts to bring a voice of reason to you, the reader, within a storm of fear about this so-called rouge Covid-19 virus that has appeared in our lives. The best thing we can do right now as practitioners is reassure our clients and help educate them about how to […]