HEALTH HUB Latest Articles
Carb unload
Five weeks ago I competed in my first Ironman distance Triathlon race. I had a great experience both in the race itself but also pushing my body in the training sessions leading up to the event. Doing that volume of training requires a lot of calories to maintain energy levels throughout the session and race itself. I found myself consuming way more sugar and carbohydrates that I usually would during sessions in an effort to get quick calories in. My body wasn’t used to this amount of sugar in my diet and I started to feel nauseous at times and [...]
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance called a sterol. It is hard and waxy and melts at 149°Celsius. The name cholesterol originates from the Greek words chole (bile) and stereos (solid), as it was first discovered in solid form in gallstones. Our body manufactures approximately one gram of cholesterol per day; this is predominantly in the liver, but also occurs in the intestines, adrenal glands, ovaries and testes. In fact, every cell of our body has the capacity to manufacture cholesterol if needed. We also obtain cholesterol in our diet by eating animal foods such as eggs, meat and dairy products. [...]
Bowel Polyps
Polyps are just a growth of tissue that develops on the inner lining of the intestine. A polyp can be raised and look like a pea on a stalk, or it can be flat. There can be just one polyp or multiple polyps. Most polyps are benign, but occasionally a polyp may develop into cancer. Not all bowel polyps are harmful, but some have the potential to develop into cancer if not monitored. Polyps tend to occur in the large intestine, called the colon; therefore they are commonly referred to as colonic polyps. The discovery of polyps in your intestine [...]
Electrolytes – Do you need them?
Electrolytes are a "buzz" word in marketed sports drinks, but not many people know what they are or what their role is in the body during exercise. Basically, the body requires four main electrolytes to maintain adequate hydration levels and effective muscle contractions. They are sodium, magnesium, calcium and potassium. Most commercial sports drinks contain the four electrolytes but in relatively small amounts compared to what is required for endurance and high intensity exercise. When completing workouts in warmer conditions where you sweat a lot; and also sessions longer than 90mins, consider sipping on electrolyte drink and water. To maintain [...]
Apple Cinnamon Granola
We are delighted to share a recipe from one of our most favourite recipe books "YUM" by Dr Theresa Nicassio. YUM is a collection of plant based recipes and contains so many awesome recipe ideas. YUM won the 2015 Canadian title as the best diet book for the public and has been shortlisted as a finalist for 2016 Gourmand International's Best in the World competition. Dr Cabot loves this book and thinks it is a masterpiece! If no other recipe in this book transforms your life, this delectable granola will! Once dehydrated and cooled, it can be stored in an [...]
Postnatal depression
Postnatal depression is a serious form of depression that affects 10 to 16% of women who have children. It is precipitated by hormonal, psychological and lifestyle changes. After the placenta is delivered following childbirth, the level of sex hormones in a woman’s body plummets to very low levels and some women are very sensitive to these changes. If breastfeeding takes place the hormone production from the ovaries remains switched off, so that low levels of sex hormones persist. Depression may begin during pregnancy when it is often accompanied by anxiety and thus a more appropriate term may be perinatal depression. [...]
Exercise and fun – all in one!
Mountain bikes (MTB) are a great bike for those people looking for a bike which can handle a bit of dirt, knocks and can be used in a variety of settings. You can cycle on the road, path or trail and the further off the smooth road surface you go - the more you will use your core and upper body to stabilise the bike in rougher terrain. It is a great way to include your whole family in a ride. Trail riding can be challenging or easy depending on the area and is great for improving your bike handling skills [...]
Do You Have a Secret Drinking Problem?
Many people develop a habit of reaching for the bottle as soon as they walk in the front door. They find themselves working around the clock and then drink to try and feel normal. Before they know it, they are drinking more than two standard drinks per day and wonder why they are always feeling tired, agitated, irritable and unable to sleep without their secret alcoholic “top up” after dinner. They go to events or parties and drink the same amount as most other people and then come home and open a bottle of wine. It’s a common pattern with [...]
What causes autoimmune disease?
The short answer is several things. Firstly, you cannot develop an autoimmune disease unless you have specific genes. The tendency to develop an autoimmune disease runs in families. You won’t necessarily develop the same autoimmune disease that someone in your family has; you just inherit an increased chance of developing one of them. Just having the genes isn’t enough though. You need to be exposed to one or more environmental factors that trigger off the disease. Environmental triggers include things like an infection, specific foods that your body can’t tolerate, emotional stress, exposure to chemicals or toxic metals; pregnancy, a [...]
Strengthen Your Core and See the Benefits
There are endless articles out there telling you how to get a six-pack, how to flatten your stomach, how to strengthen your core etc. But for the 'average Joe' person some of these methods are unrealistic and down-right confusing. The benefits of strengthening your core (including back, hip and abdominal muscles) include reduce risk of injury, better posture and a more efficient technique in all movements and sports. My tips to strengthen your core include: Aim to do a 20-30 min session twice per week Focus on engaging your core and deep abdominal muscles by pulling your belly button back toward your [...]