Fitter Radio Episode 539 - Dr Nicky Keay: Hormones, Health and Human Potential

Dr Nicky Keay is an Honorary Clinical Lecturer in Medicine at University College London and previously Research Fellow in the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences at Durham University. She conducts clinical research in sports/dance endocrinology, resulting in a range of research publications and awards. Dr Keay is a member of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine and the British Menopause Society. She is also the author of ‘Hormones, Health and Human Potential: A guide to understanding your hormones to optimise your health and performance”. In this podcast we discuss the importance of hormones in achieving our full potential in terms of both health and exercise performance.

We explore the connection between hormones, training, nutrition and recovery in relation to athletic performance. We learn how hormones play a crucial role in driving positive adaptations and how our behaviors and lifestyle can affect their effectiveness. We emphasize the importance of finding the optimal balance for each individual athlete and provide tips on how to harness hormones to support training and achieve peak performance. We also explore the concept of allostasis and how it relates to the body's ability to adapt to exercise.

We address the misconception that more training is always better and highlight how stress and psychological factors can affect our hormones. Balancing all aspects of our lifestyle, including nutrition and mental well-being, is crucial for optimizing our hormone levels.

We discuss the pressure athletes face to perform perfectly and how it can affect their hormones. We touch on the effects of stress and anxiety on hormones and offer practical solutions for managing them. We also mention common signs of hormonal imbalances, such as unexplained weight gain and the potential negative effects on the body.

Lastly, we discuss the changes in hormones as we age, particularly the significant decrease in female hormones after menopause. We emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including proper training, nutrition and recovery, as well as incorporating strength training to combat potential muscle loss. Additionally, we highlight the importance of vitamin D supplementation.

LINKS:

Dr Nicky Keay at https://nickykeayfitness.com/

Hormones, Health and Human Potential book at https://nickykeayfitness.com/new-book/