What are Nootropics?
What could you achieve if you had a little more focus in your day? What if your memory was sharper or you could organise your thoughts with greater clarity? Nootropics are one way to support your brain’s full potential. Towards the Mind In 1972, Romanian scientist Corneliu E. Giurgea coined the term nootropic following years of research into what he referred to as the brain’s “higher integrative functions”(1). His concept of nootropics was derived from the Greek words nous, which means “mind” and tropē, which means “turning” or “towards” to highlight the benefits of nootropics for enhancing thinking and mental performance. Dr. Giurgea proposed a set of criteria for a substance to be considered a nootropic, including a requirement that it must help to enhance [...]
Tips on Portion Control
If your eyes are sometimes larger than your stomach, then you’ve probably discovered how difficult it is to navigate restaurant menus and supermarket aisles. Seemingly everything is ‘family size’ or ‘20% off!’ Then there’s the nutrition and serving-size label on the back: who can really eat just three squares of chocolate? But, fear not, despite food continuing to be served in bigger packages, you can keep your portions under control without feeling hungry or being tempted to consume too many calories. How much you eat can be nearly as important as what you eat, so here are some tips and strategies for portion control to help you maintain control of your weight-loss goals and healthy lifestyle. Mind Your Meals Planning [...]
Intermittent Fasting with Type 2 Diabetes
As fasting can raise the risk of low blood sugar in those with Type 2 diabetes, it’s generally recommended that those with the health condition consult their doctor before attempting any type of fasting regime. For those with Type 2 diabetes, it’s also important to evaluate the appropriateness of performing consecutive fasting days as it may further increase the possibility of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Any decision about modifying medications during fasting days should also be made with a doctor. However, a recent study from New Zealand offers some encouraging results for those with Type 2 diabetes looking to adopt a fasting regime for the purposes of losing weight. The study found fasting two consecutive days was associated with a [...]
How can AMPED™ Hydrate Support your Workout?
With its blend of energy-supporting vitamins and minerals, AMPED™ Hydrate can benefit anyone— from the newbies to the weekend warriors, and the athletes..
Stay on track during your summer holidays
Summer is approaching, and normally the sunnier days make eating healthily and exercising regularly a little easier. But for those travelling, spending time away from home and out of their routine, it can be a challenge to achieve your goals. Spending your days relaxing on the beach, exploring new places or hosting summer barbecues doesn’t mean that weight loss and fitness must be challenging. Prepare for success this summer with these tips. Eating well Prepare meals and snacks ahead of time A little preparation with a few nutritious meals and snacks is helpful whether you’re flying or driving, staying in a hotel or renting a holiday home. Pack enough dry snacks and meals so you can be sure to get [...]
Can protein at bedtime help muscle recovery?
The way your muscles respond to exercise training can depend largely on the availability of amino acids from protein. This is why many athletes and active individuals ensure they consume some whey protein within the first couple of hours after their workouts to accelerate muscle gains and recovery. That time frame has been called the post-exercise “protein window.” Recent research has been looking at overnight protein synthesis and its response to dietary protein before sleep, which is the subject of a recent review by researchers at Maastricht University in the USA. The review’s authors John Trommelen and Luc van Loon discuss their recent work evaluating overnight muscle protein synthesis rates and suggest that taking a greater dose of protein, around [...]