I wrote an article about the “ideal” macronutrient ratios for different types of climbing a long time ago—almost four years now! It’s still a good basic overview, but I think it’s time to revisit the topic and provide a little more context. Moreover, I think it might be worth writing an article explaining some of […]
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Can We Convert Fats Into Carbohydrates?
I recently received a question about the potential for humans to convert fat into carbohydrates and thought it was interesting enough to put here on the site, particularly since I’ve been talking about ketosis so much recently (both on ClimbSci with Tom and then in a subsequent article). At any rate, it gives me another opportunity […]
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A Ketosis Biochemistry Primer
Tom and I just finished recording our latest episode of ClimbSci (which you can listen to already on SoundCloud or your favorite podcast app!), and something I kept saying throughout the episode is “I wish I could draw this out for you”. Well, I didn’t have the capability in the episode, but I can provide […]
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ClimbSci Episode 9: The Ketogenic Diet
It’s been a stretch, but the latest episode of ClimbSci is officially out. Actually, if you’re a subscriber, you’d know it’s been out since around last Friday since Tom generally uploads to SoundCloud the day after recording—so if you want early access to ClimbSci, all you have to do is subscribe! We covered the ketogenic […]
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The Times Timing Matters
When does timing matter? Ten years ago, nutrient timing was huge; entire nutrition philosophies arose from the idea that there were “windows” when certain nutrients were more or less important. Today, accumulating evidence suggests this isn’t true—but timing as a concept isn’t quite dead. There are times and situations when timing matters. More specifically, there […]
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An In-Depth Look at Energy Metabolism: Part III
This week we’re finishing up our in-depth look at energy metabolism. In the first segment of this series, we looked closely at the biochemistry of energy metabolism and focused specifically on the equations of the phosphagen system, glycolytic system, and aerobic carbohydrate and fat metabolism. In the second segment, we looked at what does and […]
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An In-Depth Look at Energy Metabolism: Part II
A few weeks ago, I wrote an article exploring the biochemistry of energy metabolism. As I explained then, I think a lot of pseudoscience can be countered with a better understanding of basic science—not basic as in easy, but rather as in the fundamental concepts that have allowed the more specialized sciences to become defined. This […]
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An In-Depth Look at Energy Metabolism: Part I
One thing I’ve noticed across the years is that the better someone understands the basic science about a topic, the less likely they are to have pseudoscientific beliefs on it. It’s just like anything else, I suppose; your skill at the basic movements found in a sport is a good predictor of your overall ability […]
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Why You Need More Oxygen to Burn Fat than Carbohydrates (and How This Affects Your Climbing)
I’ve written before about how carbohydrates are more oxygen-efficient than fat, which is a boon for climbing of all types; what I haven’t really addressed is why. Far from being a dry, biochemical fact of interest only to physiology enthusiasts, knowing exactly how carbohydrates derive their advantage can inform everyone about their diets, as well as […]
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Canola Oil Is Perfectly Safe
A short post today dedicated to debunking a popular food myth: the dangers of canola oil. For whatever reason, canola oil is subject to a great deal of internet hate—despite having an extremely healthy nutrient profile—and you’d be wise to know the truth. Let’s start by looking at the scare tactics employed: Erucic Acid Is Toxic! […]
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