Author: thesportspharmacist

Athletes often have it drilled into them to live a healthy lifestyle to get the best out of their bodies. Get plenty of sleep. Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Avoid alcohol. But lets be honest here.....after a long, hard training session or day of competition, who doesn't enjoy sitting down with a nice cold glass… Continue reading Beer for rehydration →

Over the past few years, there seems to have been a rather large increase in the number of gyms in the suburban landscape......and many of these gyms seem to be opening their doors 24 hours a day; allowing people to exercise whenever they want. According to the 2016 Profile of the Fitness Industry in Australia,… Continue reading Green Exercise →

With the warmer weather starting to appear more regularly, and summer officially here in Australia, I thought it was time to write about hydration. While drinking water seems simple enough, many people just don't drink enough to stay properly hydrated. WATER IN THE BODY Water is one of the key substances required by the body… Continue reading The importance of hydration →

With spring well and truly here, and summer fast approaching, I thought it might be a good idea to remind people about using sunscreen while you are outdoors enjoying exercising in the sun. Of course, you should be using sunscreen all year round whenever you are outdoors; but with the warmer weather and the sun… Continue reading A bit about sunscreens →

Participating in exercise and sport has many health benefits, ranging from improved heart health and good weight management to helping with mental health issues. But unfortunately, being active occasionally results in injuries. Treatment for injuries such as sprains and strains is varied, including the application of cold and hot packs, compression and massage, or medications.… Continue reading Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories for athletes →

In part 1 of my post regarding exercise and mental health, I discussed the negative aspects which can result from the stresses of exercise. Fortunately, its not all bad news. There are many positive benefits which exercise can have for mental health, which I will discuss in this article. ENDORPHINS Observations in research studies show… Continue reading Exercise and mental health – part 2 →

Most people would be familiar with the physical benefits that come with exercise...and the physical improvements also come with some great benefits to mental health. But unfortunately, exercise can also result in some negative effects to mental health too. In this 2 part post, I will discuss both the good and the bad, beginning with… Continue reading Exercise and mental health – part 1 →

For many athletes, caffeine is a "go to" before competition. It has long been regarded as an easy, convenient way to get a bit of a performance gain. Cyclists often indulge in a pre-race coffee; and many sports supplements now contain a small amount of caffeine to provide an extra bit of "kick". But does… Continue reading Caffeine – does it really enhance performance? →

The colder weather has arrived here in Australia, and with that comes the winter sniffles. Yep, cold and flu bugs are in the air, and ready to strike! While many people are happy to use winter illnesses as a good excuse to stay in bed for a few days, some people aren't happy to take a… Continue reading Should you exercise while sick? →

Walk into any health food store, supermarket, sports shop, gym or pharmacy.....the chances are that you will find a fairly large section dedicated to sports supplements. A huge range of products exist, such as protein, energy, recovery and electrolyte powders; energy and protein bars; and of course energy gels. The market for these items is continually growing,… Continue reading Nutritional Sports Supplements – Are They Worth It? →