Exercise

S2E41: Athletes, Exercise Immunology & Immuno-Nutrition w Dr. David Pyne PhD

Season 2 Episode #41

Dr. Bubbs interviews expert physiologist Dr. David Pyne PhD to talk exercise immunology and keeping athletes cold and flu free. In this episode, Dr. Pyne reviews the fundamentals of immunology and how the immune system is regulated by exercise and nutrition. He’ll discuss how training volume, intensity and load impact immunity, and more importantly, why keeping athletes cold and flu free is paramount for athletic success. Dr. Pyne also discusses the key immunity biomarkers and how effective they may (or may not) be at flagging at-risk athletes. Finally, he dives into the topic of immune-nutrition and how the food you eat, and supplements like probiotics, can impact athlete immunity and therefore ability to train and compete. 

Summary of Episode

2:40 – Immunology 101 – Review of the fundamentals

8:00 – How exercise impacts immune function

9:45 – How to manipulate exercise to support immunity

13:00 – Immunity biomarkers and assessment

16:00 – Importance of lifestyle factors in supporting immunity

18:30 – Impacts of probiotics on immunity

21:45 – Can probiotics reduce severity and/or duration of infection?

26:00 – Impact of carbohydrate on athlete immunity

28:00 – Impact of omega-3 on inflammation and immunity

31:30 – Role of supplements in immunity – research & practice

33:00 – Extreme temperatures and impact on immunity

36:00 – Recovery strategies and immunity

38:00 – Dr. Pyne’s reflections on 30 years of work in exercise and immunology


About Dr. David Pyne PhD

Dr. David Pyne PhD is a sports physiologist with 30 years practical and research experience across a range of individual and team sports such as, basketball, rugby union, rugby league, Australian Football, cricket and swimming at the Australian Institute of Sport and national levels. David has attended four Olympic Games and numerous international competitions with the Australian Swimming Team.  Between 2013 and 2017, David served as the Discipline Lead – Physiology for Swimming Australia.

Dr. Pyne's research work in the areas of exercise and the immune system, environmental physiology, the applied physiology of swimming, and fitness and conditioning for team sports is recognised internationally. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers in exercise and sports science journals and is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine.


Links to Research Papers

Probiotics supplementation for athletes – Clinical and physiological effects

Exercise effects on mucosal immunity

Position statement part two: maintaining immune health. Exercise Immunology Review

Salivary IgA levels and infection risk in elite swimmers.


S2E27: The Microbiome, Gut-Brain Axis & How To Build A Healthy Gut w/ Miguel Mateas PhD(c)

SEASON 2, EPISODE #27

Dr. Bubbs interviews Miguel Mateas PhD(c) to talk about the gut microbiome and the implications on the gut-brain axis. In this episode, Miguel discusses the dynamic ecosystem that makes up the gut, how specific bacteria are attracted to certain conditions and the impact of processed food on the gut microbiota, as well as how exercise impacts gut microbial diversity (including new research on how the mindset may play a role), and then dives into the many ways the gut microbiota communicates with the brain and implications for health and performance. Great insights and metaphors to explain complex topics from Miguel!


About Miguel Mateas PhD

Miguel Mateas is a  Nutritional Medicine graduate with a prior long-standing professional background in scientific publishing spanning from the late 90s and post-graduate studies in International Business (MSc), Environmental Decision Making (PgDip) and Clinical Neuroscience (MSc). 

He was awarded a prestigious Santander Bank Work-Based Learning award for his doctoral research proposal in 2016 and is currently a doctoral researcher at the Faculty of Health and Education, Middlesex University, studying the effects of nutrition and lifestyle the gut-brain axis ageing and developing a mixed methods approach that uses real world evidence to inform clinical decisions. 

Miguel is also a Research Innovation Consultant at the London Agri-Food Innovation Clinic where he is currently designing human interventions to assess the effect of fermented foods (kefir, kombucha, etc.) on mental health, particularly on mood and cognition. Miguel has been in clinical practice for over 10 years and has been the Chair of the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) from 2012.  


Research Paper

Harnessing the Power of Microbiome Assessment Tools as Part of Neuroprotective Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine Interventions

S2E1: Fat Loss Nutrition, Overcoming Roadblocks & Achieving Compliance w/ Danny Lennon

SEASON 2, EPISODE #1

Dr. Bubbs chats with Danny Lennon MS, founder of Sigma Nutrition, about all things weight loss: foundational principles of weight loss, food quality, the impact of fiber and protein on palatability, is low-carb superior to a low-fat diet, behavior change secrets, and strategies for promoting successful, long-term weight loss. Great insights and practical tips from Danny!


About Danny Lennon

Founder of Sigma Nutrition and the popular podcast Sigma Nutrition Radio. He has a formal scientific background in academia, completing a master’s degree (MSc.) in Nutritional Sciences at University College Cork. During this time Danny researched vitamin D, directly under the world-renowned researcher Professor Kevin Cashman.  Danny also works as a performance nutritionist to professional MMA fighters, professional boxers and competitive powerlifters. He has consulted w several teams in a number of sports ad has an online coaching service helping a wide array of clients with nutrition related issues. Outside of the nutrition world, Danny is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt, raw powerlifter and a life-long Arsenal fan.