The Ideal Nutrition Blog | Ideal Nutrition

09 Oct 2021

Is High Protein Intake Bad for Kidney Function?

There has been a persistent myth in the nutrition and supplementation landscape for decades that a diet high in protein, or too much supplemental protein can damage the kidneys and even lead to kidney failure. This particular myth dates back decades, and there is a relationship between dietary protein and kidney function. I think that this reoccurring link that keeps getting made between high protein diets and kidney damage stems from a few different areas, which I'll break down below! First: Some Background... The kidneys play various roles in the body, primarily in regulating blood and the waste products in…

06 Oct 2021

By Aidan Muir

RPAH Elimination Diet: A Low-Food Chemical Approach

Food chemicals can play a role in a lot of conditions. Avoiding or limiting certain food chemicals could dramatically improve symptoms in some cases. In other cases, it might just be a frustrating and complex process undertaken for no reason. We often think of food chemicals as things that are artificial or added to foods. But some relevant chemicals are naturally found in food as well. Just because something is “natural” does not mean it cannot cause symptoms. As a generalisation, the stronger the flavour of the food, the higher its chemical content is likely to be. It is also…

01 Oct 2021

By Leah Higl

Does Celery Juice Live Up To The Hype?

I remember when the celery juice craze started. It was mid-2019 and I was still partly working in a hospitality job. It was kind of overnight that we had to start buying up hundreds of dollars worth of celery each week to keep up with the celery juice demand from customers. One large celery juice, hold the ice, was a very popular order. Each customer describes the benefits of celery juice at the checkout whether or not their thoughts were asked for. Common lines were, “ Celery juice is just so hydrating” “I am doing a cleanse and can only…

28 Sep 2021

By Leah Higl

Diverticular Disease: What To Eat & How To Reduce Flare-Ups

Diverticular disease is when small abnormal pouches form in the bowel wall. This condition has two different classifications. Diverticulosis - this is the formation of the pouches in the bowel wallDiverticulitis - is the inflammation or infection of these small pouches in the bowel wall Diverticulosis can be present and remain completely asymptomatic causing no issues at all. However, the issue is when diverticulitis develops. However, only 10-25% of people with diverticulosis will develop diverticulitis. Diverticulitis may present with abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, flatulence and/or blood in the faeces. Management of the active states of diverticular disease often involves…

24 Sep 2021

By Leah Higl

Sodium Bicarbonate As A Sports Supplement? How To Use It

You probably think of sodium bicarbonate or bicarb soda as that ingredient you have stashed at the back of your cupboard waiting for you to bake some muffins. But bicarb isn’t just an ingredient for tasty baked goods, it is also a substance that can be used to improve athletic performance and is even produced by our own bodies. Bicarbonate has an important role in preventing the buildup of acid. One of the largest producers of bicarbonate in the human body is actually the stomach. When we eat, our body rushes to produce as much stomach acid and digestive juice…

22 Sep 2021

By Leah Higl

Complete Food Chemical Elimination Diet List | What To Eat

Welcome To The Food Chemical Elimination Diet Guide! The food chemical elimination diet guide is also available as a searchable (CTRL+F) PDF download. This is based on the elimination phase of what is known as the RPAH Elimination Diet or The Failsafe Diet. Just a few things to note before you move on to the guide. Only eat food listed as low in food chemicals whilst on the elimination diet. Avoid foods that are moderate to high in food chemicals. Although foods that are moderate in food chemicals may not cause symptoms in less sensitive people. You may wish to…

17 Sep 2021

By Leah Higl

Do You Need To Replace Sodium Losses During Exercise?

When you sweat, you are losing much more than water. You are also losing electrolytes. Sodium and chloride are the most abundant electrolytes in sweat with potassium, magnesium, and calcium present in lower amounts. The typical understanding amongst athletes, particularly in the endurance space, is that you need to replace electrolytes (specifically sodium) during exercise alongside fluids to maintain performance. However, the research done in this space is sorely lacking. Currently, there is only one randomized control trial from 2018 that shows an increase in performance with sodium replacement during exercise. But these results have not been replicated since. Despite…

15 Sep 2021

By Aidan Muir

Does Salt Intake Affect Gut Health: Early Interpretations of the Research

Dietary salt intake is typically linked with the impact that it has on blood pressure. Really, that has long been the only major concern I have had with higher salt/sodium diets. Even that point is not relevant for everybody. Somebody who is quite far away from having issues with hypertension can typically have higher amounts of added salt without it really being an issue from a blood pressure perspective. Some people also seem more sensitive to sodium than others. An interesting area of research that has developed recently is the effect of salt intake on gut health. It is very…

03 Sep 2021

By Leah Higl

Should You Go Lectin Free? Reviewing The Plant Paradox Diet

What Are Lectins? Lectins are a type of protein found in a range of foods. Lectins are grouped together based on the fact they are all proteins that bind to carbohydrates. This feature protects plants in nature. Although it may actually cause issues with digestion as it makes lectins stable in an acidic environment. The human stomach is acidic to facilitate the breaking down of foods. Lectins are resistant to being broken down in the gut due to being unaffected by this acidity. There are many different kinds of lectins that all have different effects on the human body. Ricin,…

01 Sep 2021

By Leah Higl

What Is The Best Probiotic For You? Strain Specificity

Probiotic supplementation has been at the center of discussion around gut health for decades. But if you are wanting to try a probiotic supplement, it can be incredibly overwhelming to choose what kind of supplement would be best suited to you. I was in the chemist just the other day and walked by a huge range of probiotics, each claiming to have a very specific purpose: IBS, constipation, mood and stress relief, immune support, women’s health, skin support, and even heart health. So are all of these probiotics really that much different from one another, or is it all a…