Thinking Nutrition

Athletes are always on the lookout for a new sports supplement that could give them an edge. And there certainly are some sports supplements that deliver on their promises: creatine and caffeine are two clear examples. But a new supplement is starting to gain traction for its performance benefits: and that’s the humble mushroom. There's now emerging science suggesting that certain functional mushrooms, particularly the varieties of Cordyceps and reishi (also known as Ganoderma lucidum), may offer genuine benefits for endurance, recovery and immune function in athletes. In this podcast, I unpack the research behind these fungal supplements to see what's real, what's hype and whether these mushrooms deserve a spot in your supplement arsenal.Links referred to in the podcastReview of the effect of mushroom supplementation on performance in athletes https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1670416/fullEpisode transcriptTo access the full episode transcript, go to the following link and select the individual podcast episode and then click on the ‘Transcript’ tab https://thinkingnutrition.buzzsprout.comConnect with meInstagram doctimcroweFacebook Thinking NutritionX CroweTim

If hearing that athletes are downing shots of beetroot juice to improve their performance makes you exclaim: “What sorcery is this?”, you’re not alone. But this isn’t just another passing fad - there’s some solid science showing that the nitrates found in beetroot juice can boost sports performance. From improving blood flow to enhancing muscle efficiency, beetroot juice has gained traction among endurance athletes and sprinters alike. In this podcast episode, I take a dive into what the research says about this vibrant supplement, its likely benefits, and what it might mean for your performance goals.Links referred to in the podcastIOC consensus statement on dietary supplements and the high-performance athlete https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/52/7/439Review of beetroot juice and physical performance https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40573069Sports Dietitians Australia  www.sportsdietitians.com.auEpisode transcriptTo access the full episode transcript, go to the following link and select the individual podcast episode and then click on the ‘Transcript’ tab https://thinkingnutrition.buzzsprout.comConnect with meInstagram doctimcroweFacebook Thinking NutritionX CroweTim

Cinnamon is a spice that has been used around the world for thousands of years. In addition to its use as a culinary ingredient, cinnamon contains bioactive compounds that have attracted attention for their potential health effects. One of these effects is how it can influence blood sugar levels which could have relevance for people with diabetes. In this podcast episode, I’ll look at what the clinical trials have to say on how cinnamon may help people with diabetes to keep their blood sugar levels under better control.Links referred to in the podcastReview of cinnamon supplementation on metabolic markers in people with T2DM https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article-abstract/83/2/249/7699031Episode transcriptTo access the full episode transcript, go to the following link and select the individual podcast episode and then click on the ‘Transcript’ tab https://thinkingnutrition.buzzsprout.comConnect with meInstagram doctimcroweFacebook Thinking NutritionX CroweTim

Have you heard any of the buzz about NAD supplements? NAD is a molecule found in nearly every cell and sits at the heart of energy production and DNA repair. Our levels of NAD though can decline with age which has led to the idea that this could be one cause of many age-related diseases, chronic inflammation and cognitive decline. Enter the idea of boosting NAD levels by supplementing with NAD itself or its precursors called NMN and NR. A surface level reading of this topic will soon bring someone across all sorts of claims about benefits including extending lifespan, improving metabolic health and many more. In this podcast episode, I explain what these NAD family of molecules are and critique the clinical evidence to see how it stacks up in front of the health claims.Links referred to in the podcastReview of effect of NR supplementation in humans https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adi4862Review of NMN and NR supplementation on muscle mass and function https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12022230Episode transcriptTo access the full episode transcript, go to the following link and select the individual podcast episode and then click on the ‘Transcript’ tab https://thinkingnutrition.buzzsprout.comConnect with meInstagram doctimcroweFacebook Thinking NutritionX CroweTim

Creatine is one of the most well-researched and effective sports nutrition supplements for improving exercise performance. But that isn’t what I’m going to talk about in this podcast episode. Instead, I want to give the spotlight to creatine’s new moment in the sun thanks to evolving research linking it to improving brain and bone health. And then tying all this together, I’ll profile why it may just be one supplement that women could especially benefit from over men during their reproductive lifespan and beyond.Links referred to in the podcastSystematic review of creatine supplementation and cognitive function 2018 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6093191Systematic review of creatine supplementation and cognitive function 2022 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9999677Systematic review of creatine supplementation and cognitive function 2024 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11275561Clinical trial of creatine supplementation and CBT in the treatment of depression https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39488067Review of creatine supplementation and its applications for brain health https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10721691Dr Darren Candow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dr.darrencandowClinical trial of creatine supplementation on bone health in post-menopausal women https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10487398Creatine supplementation in women’s health: A lifespan perspective https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7998865Episode transcriptTo access the full episode transcript, go to the following link and select the individual podcast episode and then click on the ‘Transcript’ tab https://thinkingnutrition.buzzsprout.comConnect with meInstagram doctimcroweFacebook Thinking NutritionX CroweTim