Today on coffee & questions I answered Shane & Bec's questions on alcohol and its place in the week when it comes to exercise and performance.

Can I have a drink after my race?

Is there a way to be sensible with alcohol intake?

What effects does alcohol have on exercise performance?

I'm not here to say don't ever drink but from the perspective of a dietitian... Alcohol is a toxin. 

We don't store it anywhere - it gets processed in the liver and burnt off in preference to anything else as we try and get rid of it out of the body

It's used as a social lubricant and is a socially acceptable toxin

My advice will differ depending on who you are and what your overall goals are. Find a balance between drinking and exercise performance depending on who you are and what your goals are

Alcohol equals energy - calories or kilojoules

Alcohol = 29kJ/gram

It also depends on what calories you're drinking it with - e.g. soda water or full-fat coke

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What is a Dietitian vs. a Nutritionist?

We constantly get asked to explain the difference between a Dietitian and Nutritionist. Yes, they’re different and yes we will always correct you when you call us a Nutritionist. Read on to find out why we get slightly offended

Australia currently does not regulate the professional titles ‘nutritionist’ or ‘dietitian’, leaving a wide market for misinformation if you do not do your own research. The media also tends to use the two terms interchangeably, making distinctions between qualifications increasingly difficult.

Read on as we break down the differences between these professions, their relevant qualifications, what they can do for you and what to look for when looking for a professional to help you.

Nutritionist

This term can be the most confusing of the three as there are varying levels of qualifications that result in the title ‘nutritionist’. Nutrition is a three-year university degree,...

As part of our Healthy Lifestyle Challenge, participants strive to include 2 serves of fruit and 5 serves of vegetables each day. So what exactly is a serve?

Fruit

1 standard serve of fruit is approximately 150g (350kJ)

1 serve = 

• 1 medium piece of fruit e.g. 1 apple, orange, pear, small banana
• 2 small pieces of fruit e.g. 2 kiwi fruit, apricots, plums, nectarines
• 1 cup diced fruit e.g. fruit salad, melon, berries, pineapple
  
  

Fresh is best but occasional sources include:

• 30g Dried fruit e.g. 1.5 tbs sultanas, 2 dried apricots
• 125ml Juice (100% juice, no added sugar)
  
  

These should not constitute your fruit serves of a daily basis but are OK to include occasionally.

Vegetables

1 standard serve of vegetables is approximately 75g (100-350kJ)

1 serve = 

Non-Starchy Vegetables:

• ½ cup cooked vegetables
•  1 cup raw salad vegetables

Starchy vegetables:

•  1 medium potato
• ½ cup corn kernels
• 1 small sweet potato
  
  

We challenge you to use at...