This bread was concocted in anticipation of a carbo load before a half ironman distance triathlon this coming weekend. I baked the bread last Sunday afternoon and froze it ready-sliced in anticipation of my busy week. I will however admit to a sneaky “preview” slice just to check it was yummy!
Hi all,
I just wanted to announce that over the coming months I will be rolling out a mentorship programme for a select few serious endurance athletes. Places will be limited so if you are interested watch this space or email me to reserve your place (andreacullenhealthsolutions@gmail.com).
Are you a triathlete, ironman, endurance runner, cyclist, swimmer, rower or adventure racer? Are you interested in taking your training and genetics to the next level? Are you SERIOUSLY committed to achieving your sporting goals?
How bad do you want it?
Will you invest in you?
Are you committed to achieving excellence?
I am so excited to introduce a fabulous piece of modern hospital and research quality technology to the new clinic in Castletroy.
I did a lot of research comparing this system against the Tanita brand and although it cost me a LOT more than systems such as the Tanita ironman or Tanita SC-240MA which I was looking at, or more simple devices that have you stand and hold I couldn’t ignore that that these devices are not as accurate or reliable and an aim for my clinic (and myself personally) is honesty and integrity and gold standard when possible; hence my investment.
Dual frequency Bioelectrical Impedance Analysers (BIA) such as the BodyStat 1500 MDD have been shown in clinical settings to be reliable and comparable to the gold standard DEXA test (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry now known as DXA) and a whole lot more practical (have you ever seen a DXA scanner!).
I am currently doing a lot of research into the applications of all the information for elite and professional athletes as well as us Joe soaps so I will have a more extensive blog up in the future; suffice to say it is exciting when knowledge is added to all the data provided by the test.
Hi folks,
I just wanted to add a short blog to provide you with further links to information about the superb PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic wave field) therapy device that I have been using for healing energy treatment with clients for the past number of years.
Not only do I have this superb device but I also added an integrated sound-light relaxation system to the device. This is called the iSLRS; to read more about this system please see here:
After seeing these devices at a top functional medicine seminar in San Diego in 2013 I set about doing further research and some saving as many of the units are $$$. I learnt along the way that this technology originates in Europe with many many years of research. And also most importantly that with these frequencies more is not specifically better; it is indeed a case of less is more. The ideal frequencies being those not generally felt during a session.
I was very impressed by the IMRS 2000 device and so have invested in this for all my patients to benefit from in the clinic.
The healing energies from this device assist the body in healing where imbalances are be they emotional, physiological, pathophysiological or pathological. The pulsed magnetic frequencies assist in the healing and restoration of balance in the various organs and tissues. How long this can take and how significant the healing depends on the extent of the cellular imbalance/ injury, the level to which you support the healing journey with nutrition and other strategies and the amount of committment that you can make to PEMF sessions.
Setting a healing timeline, by Dr Pawluk
Patients attending to see me; time and health permitting will get to enjoy a treatment as part of their appointment. Here is a photo of the bed in my clinic (on the right facing the window); wouldn’t you just love to fall asleep here! And also some photos of a client getting set up for a session. The finger device measures the heart rate (heart rate variability) and feeds back to the machine so that it can customise the frequencies of the treatment as it works through an 8 minute cycle according to the organ clocks and individual HRV according to feedback from finger monitor.
This device has many effects to mitigate the chronic and acute effects that stress has on the body read more here:
If you click the link here you can read more about this system which the company called iMORE – in short:
The iMRS Wellness system now includes the iMORE (Interactive MOnitoring and Regulation System). The iMORE uses Heart Rate Variability (HRV) as a bio- feedback loop to automatically adjust the intensity of the system. This is like putting the iMRS mat on autopilot, as it will intelligently adjust to what the user needs.
Over time, the iMORE technology (in combination with the iMRS applications) is able to train and improve your personal HRV by creating homeostasis in the body. HRV monitors the balance and ability of the Autonomic Nervous System to react to changes in the environment. It’s not a measure of heart rate, but rather the health of the central nervous system of the individual.
Here are some tips to limit the adverse effects of chlorine on your skin and sinuses.
The chlorine in swimming pools can be a real hazard to sanity and a trouble maker to health. ‘Issues’ can run from the itchy scratchies from dry and chlorine irritated skin and bothered sinuses to chlorine allergy, chronic sinus problems, asthma, breathing problems, or chest infections.
For some chlorine, a halogen on the periodic table, can have a negative impact on iodine status and thyroid health. This is a more serious topic that I will not be discussing in this post. If you are concerned please private email me.
If you are pregnant, planning to be pregnant, or suffering with thyroid or chronic health problems it may be best to discuss with a health practitioner ‘in the know’ the impact that chlorine may potentially have on your health.
I don’t recommend ‘just taking’ iodine as it is important to determine your need and optimise your dose and also to determine other individual and specific needs. I will aim to get a blog up on this topic and protecting yourself from the negative effects of chlorine on health and thyroid specifically.
It is always best when you can to get out swimming in the open waters.
However be warned that some inland waterways also come with bacterial, algal, or agricultural effluent problems or worse still sewage issues. KNOW where you are swimming and above all pay heed to safety!
See here for some tips: http://www.river-swimming.co.uk/safety.htm
When is a diet lower in carbohydrates not a smart strategy for the endurance athlete?
And when is lower in carbohydrates during training season NOT recommended for the athlete aiming for weight and body fat reduction? When in general a lower in carbohydrate diet is recommended for that very purpose?
In general endurance athletes do NOT need as many carbohydrates during day to day training as many out dated dietician texts will have us think. Given there will be those on either side of the extreme needing much more or much less carbohydrates to support optimal training, recovery and health.
Carbos like this are not on the plan for my athletes!
I keep meaning to get a blog up about my stay in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and my experience of watching the Ironman World Championships 2014…. and life is throwing so many fabulous experiences at me that I am failing to find the time. I am just back to Ireland now after spending three days in Reno Nevada. It has been a fortnight of every emotion and now jet lag. (PS key to jet lag nutritionally is to stick with protein in the am and carbs in the pm).
It was super to get back to Reno; to reconnect to two precious people, to have some me time, and to indulge in some running time. Reno is at 4,400+ feet above sea level and so I was sucking oxygen on my runs and was grateful for the sun to offset the lungs 🙂
I had an amazing week in Kona watching my loved one, new friends, and all sorts of sizes, shapes, speeds, techniques and training gear flash by that was all the other competitors as they hit the roads in their final preparations. Just walking down the street or sitting in a café provided ample opportunity to watch the athletes train in the sweltering sun; while I knocked back another Kona coffee.
{Did you know they have a coffee here called peaberry coffee that due to its lower acidity is gentler on the stomach? If you cannot get to Kona this is available to buy online in addition to the real deal Kona coffee. I digress; back to the blog. Coffee has a way of diverting me in my writing as well as in person!}
My Kona IronMan 2014 experience…. Written by the biggest fan of a loved one….
Picture this: a heady mix of athletes and supporters drinking Kona coffee laced with almond milk or iced coconut water, or sitting in cafes offering meal options named after the pros or walking through the town as she prepares once more for IronMan. Then imagine the procession of athletes in training passing on TT bikes or running half-naked showing off bodies that are deeply bronzed, fit, toned and yet showing unspoken vulnerability as they glisten drenched with sweat. Add to this the usual mix of locals and heady honey-moon love. Yep…. a potent busy mix!
This place is buzzing; that there is no denying.
Hi folks,
It is YET ANOTHER FABULOUS SEPTEMBER DAY; wow I cannot get enough of this Indian Summer we are having here in Ireland, I am just back from my own little 19km canter around the block in the warm sun (ok 18.95 km my running OCD is kicking myself for the shortfall!). I think every athlete and active person in Ireland will agree that it has been the best ever summer for outdoor training.
I know that speaking for myself, while things are still up in the air regarding getting the new clinic up and running (read here) I have been outdoors a lot; to keep fit, to keep my mind clear, and to help me make decisions about the future. I personally find that decluttering your head with activities such as running, walking, hiking, or biking allow the solutions to float in…. minus the worry and over-analysis. This is probably due to the repetitive nature of these activities putting you into a state of heart sync, a sort of active meditation so to speak. If you have decisions to make get outdoors rather than on a hamster wheel of over analysis; your productivity will thank you for it.
If you are not familiar with where I live;
By Andrea Cullen
April 15th 2014
In support of Cycle Against Suicide 2014
For a full version of this article please follow the link here and here; I will pay forward all monies received to Cycle Against Suicide so I ask you to consider ordering this little e-book to help make a difference OR pay forward my time by clicking the donate button below to contribute to Cycle Against Suicide… and create a chain of thanks.
Hundreds of you are reading this article and very few are generous to donate a few quid towards this fantastic campaign… I am asking you to consider being the difference…. even if it is only the money from your week’s coffee fund it all makes a difference…. thank you 🙂 )
This advice given in this article applies to athletes involved in any endurance cycling event lasting longer than 60-90 minutes that is relatively intense.