Secrets of the Olympic Diet

The US Olympic Team Diet Carbohydrates are a major part of any Olympic athlete’s diet, making up 55 to 65 percent of their food. Because that’s what gives them access to the immediate energy they need. Dietitians who work with the US Olympic team have created a simple plate system. On easy training days, athletes … Read more

Positive health effects from even short periods of activity

Here’s the least amount of activity – 2 minutes –  for the biggest health effect. You’ve probably seen the latest headlines – ‘Sitting is the new smoking’. It’s true – sitting really does have a negative effect on your health, as does inactivity generally. But here’s the good news for those of us whose jobs involve … Read more

Vitamin D and limb strength

Dr Paul Clayton’s Health Newsletter Autumn 2015 Vitamin D supplementation significantly increases upper and lower limb strength, a review of seven trials has found. Previous research on vitamin D has focused on supplementation and muscle strength in frail, deficient and elderly women. This latest review – compiled by researchers at Queen Mary University of London … Read more

Sarcopenia (muscle-wasting) is a top-5 health risk

Dr Paul Clayton 2013 Sarcopenia – loss of muscle mass – is a very common but surprisingly little-known condition related to bad nutrition and an inactive lifestyle. From early middle age on, most of us lose muscle mass. It’s not inevitable – a very physically active lifestyle can delay or prevent it – but people … Read more

Heart disease driver is not cholesterol

Why is it that some 50% of people who have a heart attack have a cholesterol level in the normal range? Many of these are people who know, and have followed, the basic advice – reduce overweight, build in 30 minutes of exercise at least 5 times a week, restrict your intake of saturated fats … Read more