EAT WRITEANITA BEAN ANSWESALL YOUR NUTRITION QUESTIONS

Q. Is it true that someone died from drinking too much water during the London Marathon? I'm running it next weekend.

A. You're right, a runner did die from drinking too much water last year, but hyponatraemia (where too much water in the blood causes damage to brain cells) is very rare. That said, instead of advising you to drink as much as you can, experts now say to obey your thirst, but never force yourself to drink. Also, stop drinking if you have a queasy, sloshy feeling in your stomach. Good luck next Sunday!

Q. I've read that Madonna has vitamin injections. Are they better than pills?

A. Madonna reportedly has injections of vitamins B6 and B12 to boost her energy. But taking more than 10mg of B6 a day may lead to numbness and pins and needles. There's no reason why injections should be any more beneficial than supplements.

Q. I've heard some US states have banned unhealthy trans-fats. How come they're still allowed here?

A. Trans-fats are the unhealthiest fats you can eat and are found in fast foods, biscuits, cakes and sweets. They've been linked to a raised risk of heart disease, diabetes and even certain cancers. But UK food watchdogs have no plans to ban them here. So it's up to you to avoid them. Check labels for the words 'hydrogenated' and 'partially hydrogenated' fats.

Superfood of the week: Tofu

It's made from the curds of soya beans and is low in fat. It's rich in protein, minerals and isoflavones, which act as a form of oestrogen, helping balance female hormones. Isoflavones also reduce cholesterol and so help keep your heart healthy.

Comments

[Caroline Moss]

I have been using a gym for years and I eat healthily but I cannot get rid of my stomach. I do have IBS and would love to know how to lose weight as I have been trying hard and cannot understand why I cannot.

Also when I exercise I have trouble when stretching, I cannot stretch as much as I should do. There is a stretching we use when we cross our legs on the floor and stretch our arms and then stretch forwards but I have trouble and would like to know how I can be more supple