Supplements are a multi-billion-dollar industry, with the majority of athletes using supplements to support training performance and recovery. However, it is also clear that many supplements are based on wishful thinking rather than evidence, and some supplements on the market have quality issues. Supplements may not contain what you expect, they may also contain ingredients you don’t expect. The label doesn’t always describe accurately what a supplement contains (or the cont

Inflammation has long been portrayed as something inherently bad; a process that needs to be fought or suppressed. In popular media, it’s associated with pain, chronic disease, and poor health. Yet, within the body, inflammation is also an essential initial component of the immune response. Inflammation is a tightly regulated system that evolved to protect us from infection and promote healing. The problem is not inflammation itself, but when this finely tuned biological mech

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, can reduce pain sensations. In a previous blog , we discussed the mechanisms of NSAIDs action. This blog discusses the use, as well as contraindications to the use of NSAIDs in an athletic arena. When used in a sport setting, such as during endurance running, NSAIDs can compromise gut integrity, kidney function and cardiovascular health. Despite these risks, many athletes still use them. Below we outline the risks and describe

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, are a class of drug that is commonly used (worldwide) to reduce inflammation and pain. As we will see in the next blog by Dr Nick Tiller, NSAIDs are also used in sport for performance reasons. To understand what NSAIDs are and how they work, we need to have a basic understanding of the inflammatory response. This blog outlines what NSAIDs are, how they work, and provides the basis of their use in sport. Prostaglandin formatio

There are many health benefits of physical activity, including the prevention of chronic diseases and improving longevity. However, the opposite is also true: physical inactivity can result in many health problems. According to the World Health Organisation, one-third of adults worldwide do not meet minimum exercise recommendations . This is not because we don’t have enough guidelines… There are plenty of guidelines to get people more active, but in a world with cars, electro

Gut health plays a crucial role in athletic performance, recovery, and immune support, with prebiotics and probiotics often used to enhance these outcomes. However, there is growing interest in postbiotics, refering to non-living microbial preparations that may offer similar benefits. This blog explores the science behind postbiotics and their potential role in supporting athlete health and performance. https://www.mysportscience.com/post/probiotics-it-may-not-all-be-positive

Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) is gaining attention as a tool for optimising dietary counselling in athletes. By providing real-time glucose data, CGMs offer the potential to enhance our understanding of how athletes’ bodies respond to training, recovery, and nutrition. In our study, published in the European Journal of Sport Science , we investigated the use of CGMs in Para athletes to explore their potential applications and limitations. New study on CGM in Para cyclis

Although altitude training had been used for many years, the last few years it has become incredibly popular with endurance athletes. Athletes and trainers seem compelled to include hypoxia (real or simulated altitude) in their training regimen expecting additional gains through physiological adaptations (See infographic). The primary aim is to induce adaptations in blood (haematological adaptations: e.g., increase in haemoglobin mass), for an improved oxygen delivery at the