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About two months ago, just after the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine was cleared for emergency use by the FDA, we turned to Dr. Richard Firshein for a side-by-side breakdown and comparison of the three vaccines currently available in the US, including Moderna and Pfizer (read here). Dr. Firshein is one of the leading authorities and practitioners of integrative medicine, and our go-to expert for the most cutting-edge medical news and information.

At that time, there were high hopes for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. It required just one dose and could be stored at temperatures similar to any other vaccine. Unlike Pfizer and Moderna, which require two doses and subzero refrigeration, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine would be far easier to distribute and get into people’s arms… the primary goal of all three.

Fast forward six weeks to April 13th when both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended a pause in the Johnson & Johnson vaccinations after rare blood clotting occurred in six recipients causing serious illnesses, and in one case death. All six were women between the ages of 18 and 48, and all developed the illnesses within one to three weeks of vaccination.

10 days later following a thorough safety review, the FDA and CDC recommended resuming the Johnson & Johnson vaccinations, citing that the vaccine’s benefits outweighed its known and potential risks in individuals 18 years and older. Out of the roughly 7 million people in the United States who had received Johnson & Johnson shots at that time, the chance of these serious and life-threatening side effects was about one in a million. Read More

About 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep problems. Although not always serious, left untreated, lack of sleep can cause an array of problems for daytime function, and lead to other health issues. Physiologically, when it comes to our fitness goals, not getting enough sleep can interfere with performance and even sabotage our weight loss… regardless of whether we are exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet.

Sleep has become one of the buzziest wellness topics, amplified over the past year by the inordinate amount of stress and anxiety the pandemic has caused. More than ever, people are not sleeping well. There is even a name for it, “Coronasomnia”. Here, at the start of Sleep Awareness Week we turned to our resident health and wellness expert, Sarah Wragge, for some answers and solutions to the sleep conundrum facing so many of us.

STYLE OF SPORT: I feel like I could not be talking to you at a better time as you just had a baby a few weeks ago and are the mother of a 4-year old as well!

SARAH WRAGGE: (Laughing)… You could definitely say I’m sleep deprived!

SOS: I know you’re usually on top of your sleep game, so let’s talk about this phenomenon of sleep deprivation and how it’s affecting so many of us. Read More

With the popularity of intermittent fasting, a nutritional tool that can help your body burn fat, that first cup of coffee is often the break-fast meal. For those who prefer training in the morning, while in a fasting state, fueling their workouts can be a challenge. Many athletes and fitness enthusiasts have conditioned their bodies to use fat for energy — as opposed to carbs which were once the norm — and have turned their morning brew into nutritional, fat-burning fuel.

Bulletproof coffee was one of the first fat-packed recipes to gain popularity: essentially black coffee with a scoop of grass-fed butter or ghee, and MCT or coconut oil. The added fat slows down caffeine absorption for more sustained energy. The theory is by adding fat to a cup of black coffee, you can transform it into an energy-boosting, brain-fueling, fat-burning meal. Grass-fed butter or ghee adds high-quality fats and essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids; fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K; and antioxidants. MCT Oil, which is derived from coconut oil, is said to help to increase energy levels, improve cognitive performance, regulate blood sugar, and boost fat burning. Bulletproof manufactures its own MCT oil called Brain Octane Fuel.  Read More

Every January, after a festive month of non-stop eating and drinking, many people decide to go on a “cleanse”. It’s usually a quick fix deprivation program designed to shed those holiday pounds fast, jump start your New Year’s goals, and get you mentally back on track. No sugar, no alcohol, no carbs, no fat, no more fun. It’s short term, so people think it’s doable, and a cleanse does usually result in some initial weight loss. The problem, however, is what happens after the cleanse… or during, should you slip up.

We checked in with our resident nutrition and wellness expert, Sarah Wragge, about whether to cleanse or not to cleanse after a period of indulgence. “Most people decide to do a cleanse because they think they must do something extreme to undo what they’ve been doing,” she says. “It’s an all or nothing extremist mentality, with no room for failure, and so it’s not sustainable.”

So here you are feeling congested, bloated, and confused. The good news, says Sarah, is there are a number of things you can be doing right now to get back to your fighting form and sustain it for the long term. Cleansing doesn’t have to be extreme, and it can actually be a regular part of your daily routine. Here are some healthy ways to kick off 2021, and keep it going all year!
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