The Chronicle January 2020

21 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Tim Hohage OSE

On Pointe with Nutrition Katie Greves, Olympian, English Teacher and Rowing Coach, won silver in the GB women’s VIII at Rio 2016 after fifth

places at Beijing 2008 and London 2012. She visited the Dance Department last term to speak to elite dancers, boys and girls, about the vital role a balanced diet plays in fuelling the activity level of the Dance Programme at Teddies. Sixth Form dancers Josie Piech and Freya Burdon report.

Ms Greves explained that a healthy diet consists of one third carbohydrates (eg pasta, bread and potatoes); one third fruits and vegetables; and one third protein and fats (eg nuts, fish, meat, pulses, soya and dark chocolate). A key point she made was that if you are more active than usual, then the amount of carbohydrates in your diet needs to increase and you should not let yourself get hungry, otherwise you may become sluggish. A very significant piece of information, especially for athletes, was that muscle weighs more than fat. This came as a shock to most of us and we will definitely be taking this on board. Ms Greves reminded us that breakfast function properly and your performance can be affected, not only in sport but also in lessons. This is also the case if you do not eat a sufficient diet. You may feel exhausted and your metabolism may shut down and go into survival mode, which can have a long-lasting effect on your physical and mental health. We were told that replacing meals with caffeine can also is the most crucial meal of the day. Without it, your brain struggles to

Freya Burdon in last year’s Spring Dance Show

have a detrimental effect on your state of mind and can end up making you feel more tired than usual. After exercising, it is important to eat carbohydrates and protein in order to build up and repair muscle, and to replenish your immune system. We heard that you are most vulnerable to infection immediately after exercising, so it is important to eat carbohydrates within 30

minutes of finishing. Furthermore, if you don’t eat sufficiently, you will not benefit fully from your workout. At the end of the talk we had the chance to ask Ms Greves a few questions. We were advised to keep hydrated and to always carry a water bottle. However, the most important thing we took from Ms Greves was that treats are really important, so always make room for them!