Sports naturopathy, also known as sports-focused naturopathic medicine, uses natural healing approaches and offers many potential benefits for athletes. Naturopathic practitioners (Naturopaths) aim to maintain optimal health through a balanced and yet comprehensive approach. Naturopathy complements other conventional medical and allied health practices. Potential benefits of sports naturopathy for athletes include: Holistic Approach: Sports naturopathy […]
Training fasted involves exercising without food and/or energy drinks for a period of time. The most common fast lasts for 8/12 hours or extended to 16 hours as an overnight fast. During this period, we tap into fat stores in the form of ketone bodies and stored glycogen. Runners often train fasted unconsciously as a […]
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as seasonal depression or seasonal mood disorder, can have many impacts to your way of life, including your athletic performance. While SAD’s prevalence in Australia may differ from other regions, it is still important to explore the experiences of female athletes living with SAD. In this blog post, we […]
Most athletes consider the balance of electrolytes when thinking about hydration and recovery, especially over endurance events. But are salt tablets and electrolytes really necessary? Before we answer this question, let's recap on electrolytes and the role they perform in the body. Sodium is the key electrolyte responsible for controlling extracellular fluid balance while potassium […]
There are many benefits of blueberries for improving overall health. Of particular interest for our athletes is how blueberries reduce inflammation. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) can cause significant discomfort after a race or hard session. This discomfort and heaviness in the muscles are thought to be due to micro tears in muscles and exercise-induced […]
Kate Smyth- Sports Naturopath and Nutritionist It can be difficult to know how to choose the best protein powder. Protein plays a vital role in any athlete’s eating plan. Irrespective of your chosen sport be that running, triathlon, swimming, team sports, cycling or lifting weights, athletes expend more energy than the average person. Athletes also […]
Iron and energy production are integral to sports performance. When it comes to physical performance, many female athletes find themselves caught between balancing dietary preferences and ensuring that iron intake is adequate. This is particularly the case for plant-based athletes or athletes with limited intake of red meat. Intense physical exertion increases the body’s need […]
Have you ever heard of hepcidin? It’s definitely worth understanding particularly if you are a female athlete, or someone who suffers from iron deficiency anaemia.
As we start to experience our hottest months in Australia, some individuals are starting to feel the effects of heat and humidity. This article provides a summation of the latest evidence-based options for heat training and preparation for racing in the warmer months. Most athletes can train in the heat over a normal summer but […]
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport – or RED-S as it is known – is caused when there’s a negative balance between dietary energy intake and the energy output needed to promote optimal health, performance, growth and daily life. Up until 2014 RED-S was referred to as the female athlete triad – disordered eating, menstrual disturbances […]
