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

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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.

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

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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 Alan Aragon (topics include: refeeds, optimising macronutrient targets, contest dieting, "metabolic damage" & n-3 supplementation)

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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]

An Objective Review of the Men’s Fitness 12 Week Body Plan

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An Objective Review of the Men’s Fitness 12 Week Body Plan

Over the past few months I’ve been asked numerous times about my thoughts on the Men’s Fitness 12 Week Body Plan (12WBP). Given the heavy marketing behind it, I already knew its general premise, but never enough to properly comment. Luckily, a former client of mine sent me a copy so I gave it a read. Given its popularity, I thought I’d drag the book through the rigours of science and see if it can make it through the other side in one piece.

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Science vs. Broscience: a matter of economy?

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Science vs. Broscience: a matter of economy?

Many of you will have heard the term broscience thrown around over social media and have a gist of what the term stands for. Everyone who has been involved in the pursuit of muscle gain and/or fat loss would have been guilty of broscience at least once in their lives; I certainly have. As such, the purpose of this article is to try and sum up the differences between science and broscience. In doing so, it will hopefully convince you that some of the things you’re currently doing in order to reach your body composition goals are pointless or ‘bro’. The elimination of these unnecessary practices will therefore make your life easier with respect to attaining whatever goal(s) you may have. To keep this article short, and because I’m a nutritionist, this article will focus primarily on aspects of nutrition, as opposed to the training side of things.

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