As an exercise science major here at Sacred Heart University I hope to further my education in graduate school in preparation to become a successful physical therapist. Therefore, we will focus on someone that is directly related to exercise science in this analysis. This individual is named Tim Noakes who is a sports scientist that is located in Cape Town, South Africa. He is currently a professor at the University of Cape Town where is teaches in the Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine.
Tim Noakes’ education started at Monterey Preparatory School in Constantia, Cape Town where he learned as a child. After, he was then enrolled at Diocesan College, Cape Town which was an all-boys school in which he studied and played cricket. Once he graduated he sought a higher education in which he studied at the University of Cape Town and received a medical degree. Seven years after he obtained the medical degree he got his doctorate and in 2002 a DSc in Exercise Science.
During his time getting an education he was asked by the University of Cape Town to create a sports science course in which he later became the head of the “Bioenergetics of Exercise Research Unit of Medical Research Council.” In 1984, Noakes’ research focused on four endurance athletes. More specifically, exercise-related hyponatremia. This is a fluid-electrolyte disorder caused by a decrease in sodium levels. Noakes was able to figure out this discovery due to close analysis of data and results. With this, he was able to conclude that endurance athletes can be more prone to illness due to the excessive amounts of fluids they consume while exercising.
Around 13 years later, his research allowed him to propose a new model of exercise in which the brain is the main organ that control exercise. He believed that the brain controls fatigue and dictates how long and hard humans can participate in exercise for. However, this idea was not only his, but it was proposed by a Nobel Peace Prize winner named Archibald Hill.
In 2005 Noakes began a new experiment that was located in the frigid Arctic and Antarctic. More specifically, he was studying Lewis Gordon Pugh, who was an endurance swimmer, to understand how the human body would respond to cold temperatures. As a result of this experiment, Noakes discovered that the swimmer’s body was able to increase its internal temperature in the preparation for it being exposed to the extremely cold temperatures. Upon discovery of this he titled it “anticipatory thermo-genesis.” Two years later after this experiment Noakes was announced to be the doctor for Pugh’s one-kilometer swim at the North Pole.
After conducting his research Noakes went and wrote several books for the whole world to see his hard-work and dedication. His first book was titled “Lore of Running” that provides insight on physiology, training, injuries and world-class athletes. Many runners enjoyed this book because it helped them understand and improve their running strategies. Another one of his books that he published many years later was titled “Waterlogged: The Serious Problem of Overhydration in Endurance Sports” in which he goes into detail of how athletes hydrate and what they are doing wrong. One of his central arguments in this book is that by drinking too much water after a strenuous endurance activity can have negative effects on the recovery of the athlete.
Tim Noakes’ life was no easy one as the Health Professions Council of South Africa conducted a hearing about the allegations against him. The HPCSA then released an incorrect statement that produced a conclusion stating that he was guilty of misconduct. However, in not even three hours the HPSCA publicly apologized and Noakes was then cleared of misconduct in 2017. Despite this struggle in his life, Noakes did not let this affect him and continues to conduct research to this day.
In the 21st century Tim Noakes is most known for his famous low-carb, high fat diet. Located in South Africa, his diet is very popular, and it has claimed to have helped hundred of thousands of people to transform their lives. This diet was developed by him because he was exposed to adult-onset diabetes which is known as “carbohydrate resistant.” His diet was specifically for him to overcome what he was going through and has now become a very popular diet.
Corry in the House 