Supplements
Understanding Creatine
Creatine is an organic compound with the nominal formula CNCH2CO2H. This species exists in various modifications in solution. Creatine is found in vertebrates where it facilitates recycling of adenosine triphosphate, the energy currency of the cell, primarily in muscle and brain tissue. Recycling is achieved by converting adenosine diphosphate back to ATP via donation of phosphate groups. Creatine also acts as a buffer. Studies in the 1920s showed that consumption of large amounts of creatine did not result in its excretion. This result pointed to the ability of the body to store creatine, which in turn suggested its use as a dietary supplement.
How to optimise your recovery
Over the past few years I have seen a growing interest into the importance of recovery and training.
When I first started training (like many of you reading this I assume) I thought that more was better in the gym. If I do more reps, more sets and train twice a day then surely I must be building more muscle right? I wasn’t sleeping that bad and I was eating a tonne of calories so surely, surely I am gaining muscle? Well, guess what, in hindsight, I wasn’t and my physique hardly changed, but why? I wasn’t optimising my recovery properly. Sure, I had heard that saying ‘you grow when you rest’ but I didn’t really take note of how important it was.
Essential Supplements for Gym Newbies
Joining a gym, and trying to make your way onto the fitness scene can be a little daunting, especially when it comes to choosing the right supplements. Choosing a brand or a flavour is difficult enough, let alone deciding which supplements you actually need! So I've comprised a comprehensive guide to supplements for beginners, roughly in their order of necessity! So take a look and see which supplements are best for you!
Top Rated Protein Drinks for Diabetics
If you are into health, fitness and exercise, it is very likely that you have consumed a protein drink at some point in time. There are obviously many benefits connected with consuming protein drinks and shakes as part of a planned exercise and diet plan. However, if you are diabetic, finding a protein drink to accompany your exercise and diet can be challenging.
Quick and delicious whey protein shake recipes
I'm 99% sure that most of you reading this are aware of and have tried a protein shake at one point in your life. It’s a great way of getting that extra protein in during the day to hit your requirements, whether you use them straight after a training session or as a meal replacement. Whey protein is the most popular form of protein as it is absorbed by the body the fastest and can get repairing your muscles quickly after damaging them during a workout. This is the reason the best time to usually consume a whey protein shake, is just after training or first thing in the morning when you haven’t consumed any nutrients for a prolonged period of time.
Ten Reasons Why Carbs are Good for your Health
In recent years, ketogenic and low carbohydrate diets have been very popular and also very effective for many people looking to lose weight and stay lean. High profile personal trainers, fitness trainers and dieticians who advocate low carbohydrate diets have helped many people lose weight and achieve their health and fitness goals. However, what is important to remember is that carbohydrates are an important macro-nutrient which all people need to include in their diet, and that a low carbohydrate diet is not suitable for everyone.
Fast Burning Carbohydrates: Understanding GI
“Carbohydrates, which ones can I burn off quickly?” This is a question which many gym goers and regular exercisers have asked themselves at one point or another. However, the more important thing to understand is what you mean by ‘burning’ carbohydrates. Hopefully, I can demystify this subject a little for you below.
Which Vitamins are Soluble and How to Dose it?
Vitamins are essential micronutrients which allow our bodies to function correctly. They are important in keeping the immune system healthy as well as other roles in maintaining bone, skin, cartilage and eye health. However, some vitamins are water-soluble whereas other vitamins are fat-soluble. What does this mean exactly and does it have an impact on what multivitamins you should be taking? Read on to find out more.
Ketogenic Diets
Within the last two years, there has been an explosion in the popularity of ketogenic diets. Social media platforms often contain posts about low carbohydrate recipes and people demonstrating their body transformations as a result of their new dietary habits. But what is a ketogenic diet? How does it work? And could it benefit me?
Do Vitamins Provide Energy?
We’ve all heard of the macronutrients such as carbohydrates, fat and protein and most of us understand what these do. But what about vitamins? Most people will have heard of them but what do they actually do? Do they provide us with energy? Read on to find out.