The Health and Sport Show

The microbiome is the plethora of additional organisms in our bodies that perform an array of positive functions for our health. Tom takes his first look at what the microbiome is, the function and importance of good gut health, how we can maintain a healthy microbiome, and the many advantages this can offer us.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Studies have shown that a healthy microbiome can result in weight...

Continuing his deep dive into the meaning and upkeep of core strength, Tom looks into the role of the abdominal muscles and how they help to provide lumbar stability and protect your lumbar spine. He offers some alternative exercises that might improve the outcome of your training efforts.   KEY TAKEAWAYS The abdominal muscles sit in front of your spinal column. They form a barrier of protect...

Today Tom will be talking to you about the much discussed subject of abdominal training. In our quest for a flat stomach, that desirable six pack, or simply as part of our overall core fitness regime, crunches and sit ups are invariably included. Tom is here to challenge the accepted wisdom of these workout favourites.   KEY TAKEAWAYS There is no one main core muscle. They are all important t...

So many of us read stories and hype around foods in the media; one day something is good for you, a week later we are being told it is now bad. Today Tom is going to guide you through some trustworthy nutrition principles so you don’t have to rely on the newspapers to work out what is the best fuel your body.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Avoid added sugar. Do not avoid natural sugars however as they...

Today Tom answers a specific question that was put to him by a client and that is what are the best probiotics to take to improve their gut health? Digging through the data has found some information and answers to help you make an informed decision when choosing which, when, and how often.    KEY TAKEAWAYS Viruses, bacteria, microbes and fungi are all over and inside your body. If kept...

Have you ever said anything in the heat of the moment that you have instantly regretted? Tom walks you through some tips on how to avoid this situation again so you don’t let your emotions get the better of you and cause a situation you cant take back.    KEY TAKEAWAYS When we are confronted by a stressful situation we enter “flight or fight mode”, a natural biological...

Tom delivers some good news/bad news! The goals and aspirations we have fail most of the time. All is not lost, however, so don’t throw your fitness plan in the bin yet as Tom is going to fill you in on some of the most common reasons why this actually happens. We can improve our chances if we concentrate on how we structure and set our goals from the outset.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Failure to...

Tom introduces us to the movement pillar of the principles of health by showing us how to craft your training regime in a way that will help improve your movement and minimise your chance of injury, what action you should take if you are unfortunate and gain an injury and what advice you should follow to ensure you can follow your daily activities without succumbing to physical impairment or pain....

Today Tom addresses some of the principles of mindset, one of the four key pillars of health. Mind and motivation are intrinsically linked and maintaining your driving force is of vital importance when you are embarking on a new health journey. Here are the tips and tricks of attitude that can help propel you forward.   KEY TAKEAWAYS The world of health and wellbeing is constantly changing. R...

When is the best age to start an new health based activity or sport? Tom answers this question and challenges the accepted barriers that our concept of age and health place in front of us. Often its other variables that are in the way of our health goals but for simplicities sake we place all of these under the heading of “age”.    KEY TAKEAWAYS Age is almost never the sole r...

Expanding on the fourth of the 4 pillars discussed in the previous episode, mindset, Tom details a subject first introduced to him by Neil Banfield, at the time head of Arsenal Youth Academy and now First Team coach at Queens Park Rangers and Tony Strudwick, former head of performance at Manchester United and now head of sport science and medicine at Arsenal.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Tom was pointed t...

In this episode Tom describes the four main areas on which to concentrate to significantly increase your chances of reaching your pinnacle of health. These are the areas where you can have direct influence rather than those external factors which daily life throws at us over which we have none.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Nutrition. The quality and quantity of what we choose to eat. Sleep. The correct rh...

Welcome to the first episode of The Health and Sport Show with Tom Butterfield. Today Tom is going to discuss the concept of health and what that concept actually means to everyone. The dictionary definition is “ the state of being free from illness or injury” but if we investigate further is the idea of health a more personal and complex one?   KEY TAKEAWAYS Health is a sliding s...

  Hello everybody and welcome, welcome, welcome to the Health and Sport Show! My name is Tom Butterfield and I'm delighted to be your host today.  So why a podcast? Well we’re delivering this podcast because we fully understand the importance of being an active participant in our health journey...and because you've joined us perhaps you realise that too?! We know we must maintain f...