You wouldn’t say you don’t have time for your business, so why aren’t you making time for a good diet? That’s your call to action from nutritionist Jane Clarke.
Creating firm foundations rather than resorting to quick fixes is the only way to use nutrition to your professional advantage, according to food expert Jane Clarke.
She’s worked with some big names – from advising footballer David Beckham during his World Cup endeavours, to partnering with TV chef Jamie Oliver in his school meal transformation.
And she says there’s no difference in the preparation required for physical prowess or boardroom brilliance. The science is the same.
“There are several pillars you can start to build,” she says.
“The first one is to really look long term at your diet instead of this old notion of a quick fix, just to get through the day – whether that’s a caffeine hit, glycaemic index or something sugary. “Gone are the days where we can just have one meeting and then that’s done for the day. Our bodies need long term care with the foundations being laid through the really good food that you need to put inside your body.”
One of the simplest places to start is hydration, and its benefits are measurable. Jane says an extra 20 fluid ounces of water can give an extra 20% of energy. Drinking a glass an hour is ideal – a glass being 200ml, which is around a third of pint for those of us who think in pub measures.
“Coffee and tea will hydrate the body,” adds Jane, “but caffeine is a stimulant. Use it in the short term for an important meeting but you will get a crash afterwards. Tea has a gentler hit.”
When it comes to food, Jane says high protein is the way to go in terms of controlling blood sugar levels.
“If you’ve got a protein rich diet it’s far more supportive for your stamina and mental wellness, things like eggs, fish, chicken, pulses. If you’re vegetarian you’re looking at beans, lentils, hummus and good quality meat alternatives.”
Jane says we can find a downside for eating everything so moderation is always her key advice, though she adds: “The biggest thing you can do is minimise the sugary foods. This is what I’ve been prioritising for the last 30 years. High GI foods like biscuits, cakes, high energy drinks, chocolate and sweets have different effects, but give one hell of a crash.”
I’m working with a company which is investing in the health of its workforce because they recognise that they are the people earning the firm its huge profits…
Intermittent fasting has hit the headlines in recent months, not least because former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is said to be a fan. But Jane says nutritionists have been examining its benefits for decades.
“Fasting reboots what we call the microbiome, the good bacteria in your gut. It eases inflammation, which is a big driving process of many diseases like dementia, fatigue, depression, heart disease and diabetes, so the more we can do to reduce inflammation the better.
“Think of your brain like a muscle. By getting the right fuel for your brain, it’s phenomenal the difference you can make. The brain gets all of its goodness from the guts just as much as any other muscle.”
And could improving nutritional knowledge have benefits for your teams too? Jane says, categorically, yes.
“I’m working with a company which is investing in the health of its workforce because they recognise that they are the people earning the firm its huge profits,” she adds. “They don’t want to lose them to illnesses or depression, and retention of good healthy staff is the best thing any business can do.
“I always challenge execs who say ‘I don’t have time’. You wouldn’t say you don’t have time for your business. You invest in your business so why don’t you invest in your body? Having time off work, being unwell – that isn’t great for productivity.”
