ANALYSIS

Finally, I’ve been vindicated – I like to have my breakfast before I exercise and science has proved me right. Apparently, it helps you burn more fat.

And more good news – some of us will never have to pay for expensive gym memberships to get fit. Scientific tests prove we can do all of the resistance training needed during our regular routines at home.

These are just the some of the subjects explored in BBC series Trust Me, I’m a Doctor, which sees medical journalist Michael Mosley and a team of doctors carry out a variety of clinically supervised tests to bring us “health advice we can really trust”.

The doctors answer common questions like, ‘Is olive oil good for me?’. Photo: BBC

In the first episode, the effectiveness of protein shakes and antioxidants are also under examination – with intriguing results.

Should you eat before or after exercising?

First up, how to burn more fat without exercising more. Thirty-one volunteers – male and female – are divided into two groups and undertake a four-week exercise programme. One group eats before working out. The other group doesn’t.

Surprisingly, it turns out that women burn more fat if they eat before exercise while men don’t – they get far better results by eating afterwards.

Why? Probably because women’s bodies burn fat more easily than men, whereas men rely more on carbohydrates and will burn them over fat if given the opportunity. Thus best for men to save the food for later.

Are protein shakes good for you?

Protein shakes are a $14 billion industry worldwide, but how effective are they in living up to their claims they help build muscle?

Medical journalist Michael Mosley has all the answers about sports drinks, weight loss and supplements. Photo: BBC

The doctors prove the protein does go straight to the muscles after exercise, but that’s where the benefits end.

In this case, 24 volunteers undertake an eight-week training regime – half get a protein shake and the other half get a placebo. Will the protein drink make them stronger and fitter?

The exercise certainly makes them all about 30 per cent stronger than when they started and they improve their muscle mass by 1 to 2 per cent. But the protein drinks make absolutely no difference. Both groups achieve the same result.

Do antioxidants really protect your cells?

What about the claims that antioxidants are good for protecting your body cells? Nonsense, say the doctors and researchers after the clinical trial.

Yes, initially antioxidant levels rise after volunteers drink antioxidant-rich smoothies but then they drop away to a lower level than normal and it takes them 24 hours to recover.

Our bodies naturally monitor the level of antioxidants so drinking extra simply makes the body production shut down until it detects low levels and starts up again.

Do you really need a gym membership to stay fit?

Also in the first episode, 12 volunteers are asked to exercise while brushing their teeth, vacuuming, cooking and using the washing basket or broom handle as gym equipment.

Get your gym workout done at home in between chores. Photo: BBC

After just four weeks there is, across the group, a 3 per cent increase in muscle growth, 12 per cent in strength, 13 per cent in power output and 4 per cent in grip strength.

No gym needed – just do your chores!

Trust Me, I’m a Doctor is a fascinating series, which, in future episodes, looks at losing fat by changing meal times, whether chocolate is good for you, whether you catch a cold from being cold, a possible cure for nut allergies and what’s actually in sports drinks.

Trust Me, I’m a Doctor season four premiered on Foxtel’s BBC Knowledge Channel on Thursday, July 28 at 8.30pm.