Author: thesportspharmacist

With the warm sunny weather still around its hard to believe it, but autumn has arrived here in Australia. The days are gradually getting shorter, and the temperatures are slowly going to get cooler as winter approaches....and with winter comes flu season. While 2018 was a comparatively mild season, 2017 saw one of the worst… Continue reading Why you should get a flu vaccine →

The vast majority of the time sport and exercise is fun and enjoyable, where you can walk away at the end of the day with nothing but a smile on your face. But sometimes, accidents happen. We all fall over every now and then; and regular exercise can occasionally result in a bit of damage… Continue reading How to treat cuts and grazes →

The use of illicit drugs here in Australia, and indeed around the world, is an ongoing problem. Drugs like ecstasy, cocaine, methamphetamine (commonly known as "Ice") and heroin are all used recreationally by many; which can often turn into addiction. The negative long term effects of these drugs is well documented; but it still, many… Continue reading The AFL’s illicit drugs use policy….have they got it right? →

Good nutrition plays a big role in exercise performance. Doing the hard work during your training sessions is obviously important; but if you don't back it up with good eating habits, the results you get from training might not be as good as they could be. Eating the right things before and during training and… Continue reading Chocolate milk for recovery →

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 →