Men's Health Australia January 2019

menshealth@pacificmags.com.au When I arrived at Men’s Health in 2008, I thought I’d stick around for a year or so. The magazine, I figured, would be a stopgap – the stepping stone to a better job. So I was way off the mark (again). Now that I’m leaving, what I’ve since come to realise is that Men’s Health was actually the stepping stone to a better life. Today, I’m certainly fitter and healthier than I was 10 years ago. I’m more confident at work, I’m a fully engaged father and my hangovers are both rarer and less traumatic. Now I’d love to say all this was down to my good intentions and relentless quest for self-improvement. But that simply wouldn’t be true. What’s really happened is that just being immersed in the MH universe has rubbed…

Is it possible to eat too much protein? SK As the macro of the moment and so-called building block of muscle, protein is fetishised as much by supermarket giants as it is by pneumatic gym bros. While devouring a whole chicken in one sitting has long won you kudos in some circles, now you’re being exhorted to chow down on protein-enriched ice creams and cereals. Sadly, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. According to a consensus of nutritional authorities, you need 0.75g of protein for each kilogram of your bodyweight, so an 80kg man requires around 60g a day – roughly three salmon fillets. But the greater the physical stress placed on your body, the higher its demands. For a man of the same size who trains…

What exactly is a “deload week”, and should I be trying to factor one in? AD A bit tired, are we? We don’t blame you. All that effort to achieve a summer body can take it out of a man. And, with the delights of summer there to be embraced, this might be the right time to ease your foot off the pedal. “Deloading” involves reducing the volume and intensity of your training to support repair and recovery. “Without proper rest, your body’s ability to produce force becomes inhibited and you’ll stop seeing results,” says strength and conditioning coach Sam Pepys. Even if your muscles feel fine, heavy lifting takes its toll on your central nervous system (CNS), responsible for multiple functions within your body. If your CNS is fried, you’ll struggle…

THE POWER OF HEMP Far from its ‘hippie weed’ alter ego, hemp has recently emerged as a powerhouse plant with big health benefits It’s been popping up in health food stores in various forms, including oil, protein, milk and, more recently, as low-sugar, hemp-infused drinks Aussie-based company HempOz has released two delicious new sparkling hemp-based drinks They’re an excellent source of magnesium, omegas 3 & 6 and essential fatty acids, which help to support gut health and your immune system, and provide a great source of dietary fibre PICK A BETTER BEVERAGE Make a better choice and grab a few of these coldies for your next barbecue (and you can drive home, too) Try Hemp Kombucha, containing live probiotics and with less than 2g of sugar per serve; or Hemp Infused Water, a…

10 SECONDS TO DOUBLE YOUR TESTOSTERONE FOR ROAR POWER WHEN IT COMES TO MILK, the merry-go-round of the wellness zeitgeist just keeps spinning. But while the likes of almond and oat milks are respectable, vegan-friendly alternatives, much of their benefits come from being fortified with vitamins and minerals. Dairy, however, is brimming with both and delivers more protein and healthy fats with every swig. For nutrition (and, let’s be honest, flavour), we’ve always believed in sticking with the herd. Until now. According to a new rodent study*, tiger nuts – the latest to be turned into “milk” – could double your testosterone levels. This hormone elevates your body’s rate of protein synthesis, helping you to build muscle mass. The tiger nut’s impact may be related to its high zinc content, a mineral…

THE MEETING POINT is the walkway above the swimming pool at Sydney’s Clovelly beach. Pat Cummins arrives bang on time, exuding bonhomie. His day up till now? He’s walked his new toy poodle – “He’s not a real fast bowler’s dog,” Cummins says, sheepishly – and later chatted with someone from the sporting goods corporation that’s designing a boot for him. So pretty quiet. Suddenly, however, danger looms. The Men’s Health photographer has blithely positioned the pace ace near the edge of a cliff. The two metres of rock between Cummins’ heels and the precipice glistens with rain. Cummins is nonchalant. But should he take a step backwards absentmindedly . . . no, this is unbearable. Granted, it might be a case of transference: just because I wouldn’t dare stand where he…