Episodes

Episode 140 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition's "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Rugby League: Nutritional and Energetic Considerations" with Dr James Morehen PhD (Liverpool John Moores University, UK). Discussion Topics Include: Overview of Rugby League Growing, building and repairing elite rugby players: the performance nutritionists perspective Physical demands of a Rugby League player Body composition and function in Rugby Energy expenditure...

Episode 139 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition's "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Exercise, Immune Function and Infection Risk" with Dr Richard Simpson PhD (University of Arizona, USA). Discussion Topics Include: General introduction to exercise immunology and impact of exercise on the immune system Moderate exercise and impact on health promotion Arduous exercise and potential impact on immune suppression The open window hypothesis and infection ...

Episode 138 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition's "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Ramadan Fasting and Performance: An Applied Perspective" with Matt Jones MSc SENr (West Ham United FC and UAE Football Association). Discussion Topics Include: General introduction and experiences as a performance nutritionist working with athletes during Ramadan What is Ramadan and Ramadan fasting, and impact on nutrition habits and behaviours Reflecting on Ramadan e...

Episode 137 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition's "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Menthol and Athletic Performance" with Dr Russ Best PhD (Waikato Institute of Technology, New Zealand). Discussion Topics Include: Overview of Menthol and athletic performance Internal application of Menthol and impact on physical capacity and performance External application of Menthol and impact on physical capacity and performance Mechanisms of action on psychophy...

Episode 136 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition's "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Energy Availability: From Health to Performance" with Jose Areta PhD, Liverpool John Moores University, UK). Discussion Topics Include: Energy Availability (EA): an overview Energy Balance, Energy Deficit, and Energy Availability EA and impact on training adaptions incl down-regulation of skeletal muscle protein synthesis and autophagy EA and impact on health (incl m...

Episode 135 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition's "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "The Microbiome" with Dr Jens Walter PhD (University College Cork, Ireland) and Dr Orla O'Sullivan PhD, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ireland). Discussion Topics Include: The Microbiome: An overview Lifestyle-induced microbiome depletion and impact on health The "Fibre Gap": Low-fibre diet as a key driver of microbiome depletion Establishing what constitutes a health...

Episode 134 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition's "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Nutrition Behaviour Change for Professional Weight-Making Athletes" with Dan Martin PhD, Liverpool John Moores University, UK). Discussion Topics Include: Dietary and weight-making practices in weight-making athletes Weight-cutting in the extreme life of professional jockeys Exploring a multi-faceted nutrition behaviour change intervention grounded in behaviour change...

Episode 133 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition's "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Dietary Behaviour Change in Athletes" with Meghan Bentley PhD(c), Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, UK). Discussion Topics Include: Introduction to behavioural science and behaviour change theory Implementation science and practice in sports nutrition Behavioural tools and theory relevant to sport and exercise nutrition Evidence-informed approaches ...

Episode 132 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition's "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Nutrition and Athlete Bone Health" with Professor Craig Sale PhD (Nottingham Trent University, UK) and Dr Kirsty Elliot-Sale PhD, Nottingham Trent University, UK). Discussion Topics Include: Overview of bone, bone health and relevance to athletes Bone as a "nutritionally modifiable tissue" Nutritional influences on bone structure and health Energy Availability and R...

Episode 131 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition's "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Nutrition for Exercise in Hot Environments" with Dr Alan McCubbin PhD (Monash University, Australia) and Dr Ollie Jay PhD, University of Sydney, Australia). Discussion Topics Include: Describing hot and humid environments Overview of physiology of "Exertional Heat Stress" Thermoregulation Gastrointestinal Function and Integrity Exertional Heat Stress and impact on ...

Episode 130 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition's "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Contextualising Fat Oxidation During Exercise" with Ed Maunder PhD(c) (Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand). Discussion Topics Include: Defining and differentiating "fat oxidation" and "fat burning" Fat as a "fuel" for exercise: storage and metabolism Substrate oxidation (fuel use) during enduranc...

Episode 129 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition's "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Protein Quality and the Food Matrix" with Dr Nick Burd PhD (Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA). Discussion Topics Include: Defining protein & diet quality Defining optimal vs recommended intakes for protein Reductionism & protein research The Food matrix: A wholistic view of protein and exercise interactio...

Episode 128 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition's "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Ketogenic Diet and Athletes" with Dr Fionn McSwiney (Dublin City University, Ireland). Discussion Topics Include: Defining ketogenic and low-carb diets Potential benefits, limitations, and relevance of ketogenic diets to athletes Differentiating elite and non-elite athletes and differing types of training and events as it relates to training, performance and metabolis...

Episode 127 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition's "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Time Restricted Eating and Exercise" with Dr Evelyn Parr (Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Australia). Discussion Topics Include: An introduction to circadian biology Modern lifestyle and metabolic health Time restricted eating (TRE) defined Diet and exercise interventions: does timing matter? TRE and exercise training: t...

Episode 126 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition's "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Iron Considerations for the Athlete" with Dr Peter Peeling (The University of Western Australia). Discussion Topics Include: Iron and its importance in health & performance Defining iron deficiency in athletes Contributing factors to iron deficiency Assessing iron deficiency How iron deficiency impacts performance Nutrition strategies to prevent and correct iron de...

Episode 125 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition's "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Protein Supplementation & Resistance Exercise Training" with Dr Rob Morton (McMaster University, Canada). Discussion Topics Include: The role of skeletal muscle mass and strength in human health & performance Increasing skeletal muscle mass The hormone hypothesis Introduction to muscle protein turnover Protein intake and muscle turnover Dietary protein supplementat...

Episode 124 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition's "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Nutrition and Athlete Immune Health" with Professor Neil Walsh (School of Sport and Exercise Sciences Liverpool John Moores University, UK). Discussion Topics Include: Defining Athletes, Immunity and Health Overview of Contemporary View on Immunity Infection Risks, Lowered Immunity, and Consequences Resistance and Tolerance: How Nutrition Influences Immunity and Inf...

Episode 123 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition's "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Nutrition and Single-Stage Ultra-Marathon" with Dr Nick Tiller PhD (The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA). Discussion Topics Include: Defining single-stage ultra-marathon Physiological considerations for training and racing Nutritional considerations for training Nutritional considerations for racing Spec...

Episode 122 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition's "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Nutrition and Altitude" with Trent Stellingwerff PhD (Canadian Sport Institute-Pacific). Discussion Topics Include: Defining and describing elite athletes and altitude Physiological impact and purpose of training at altitude Energy availability and relative energy deficiency in endurance athletes training at altitude Key nutritional considerations and practical conce...

Episode 121 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Protein and Endurance Athletes" with Dr Dan Moore PhD (University of Toronto). Discussion Topics Include: Amino acids as fuel Protein requirements of endurance athletes - overview Exercise-induced skeletal muscle remodelling: impact of training and importance of protein in recovery process Muscle protein synthesis: relevance to endurance athletes "Total, Type, and Tim...

Episode 120 of the Guru Performance "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "American Football: In the Trenches - Performance Nutrition Practice Insights" with Pratik Patel MSc RD CSSD CSCS (New York Football Giants). In this session we get into: The landscape and communities of practice in American Football The evolution of nutrition roles and practice Duties and responsibilities of the team RD / Performance Nutritionist Opportunities and challenges for practi...

Episode 119 of the Guru Performance "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Fuel for the Work Required" with Mark Harris PhD(c) (Liverpool John Moores University & Guru Performance Institute). In this session we get into: Fuelling for the Work Required: Defined & Explored Carbohydrate Periodisation & The Glycogen Threshold Hypothesis Carbohydrate Restriction: An Overview of the Science Twice Per Day Training; Fasted Training; Sleep Low, Train Low Amalgamation...

Episode 118 of the Guru Performance "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Swifter, Higher, Stronger" with Professor Louise Burke and Professor John Hawley (Australian Catholic University). ** NOTE: The sound at times is not perfect, but well worth a listen as was a priceless discussion with 2 of the greats in sports nutrition science ** In this session we get into: Evolution of Sports Nutrition Science Training and Competing: The Relevance of Nutrition Solvi...

Episode 117 of the Guru Performance "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Nutrition & Ultramarathon Running" with Dr Ricardo Costa PhD (Monash University, Australia). ** NOTE: This is 1 of several upcoming ultra-endurance focussed episodes ** In this session we get into: Defining an Ultramarathon Physiological Demands Key Nutritional Considerations Low Carb & Fat Adaptation: What the Evidence Says Gastrointestinal Disturbances & Ultra Sports Exercise, Foo...