Professor Timothy David Noakes

The Illustrious Tim Noakes

Meet Timothy David Noakes, a man whose childhood love for cricket in sunny South Africa evolved into a lifelong passion for the science behind sports and nutrition. Born in 1949 in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia – now known as Harare, Zimbabwe – Tim moved to South Africa when he was just five years old. He was a bit of a globetrotter even then, spending a year of his high school life in sunny California as an exchange student.

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Education, Career and Contributions to Sports Science

His journey into the world of medicine and sports science began with his education at Diocesan College and continued as he earned an MBChB in 1974, an MD in 1981, and a DSc (Med) in 2002.

Tim’s career is as remarkable as it is varied. As a seasoned athlete himself, having run more than 70 marathons and ultra-marathons, he’s intimately familiar with the physical demands of sports. As an emeritus professor in the Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine at the University of Cape Town, he’s an authority on the subject. But his contributions don’t stop at the classroom door. He’s also a prolific author, with his books like ‘The Real Meal Revolution‘, ‘Lore of Running‘, and ‘Lore of Nutrition‘ making waves in the world of dietary science.

Back in the 80s, Tim was entrusted with a mighty task: to start a sports science course at the University of Cape Town. From there, he spearheaded the Bio-energetics of Exercise Research Unit, which later evolved into the MRC/UCT Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine. To top it all off, he co-founded the Sports Science Institute of South Africa in the early 90s alongside former South African rugby player, Morne du Plessis.

Pioneering Research

His innovative research has also shed light on some fascinating areas in sports science. He was the first to identify exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH) during the 1984 Comrades Marathon, and he’s known for his ‘central governor’ theory, which suggests fatigue is more of a protective emotion than a physiological state. Talk about a fresh perspective!

One of his most intriguing studies involved South African swimmer Lewis Gordon Pugh, in the chilliest classrooms imaginable—the Arctic and Antarctic. He discovered that Pugh could increase his core body temperature before a plunge, anticipating the icy shock. Tim dubbed this ‘anticipatory thermo-genesis’, adding yet another piece to the puzzle of human physiology.

Key Lifetime Achievements

1. Tim Noakes has published over 750 scientific books and articles and has been cited more than 21,000 times in scientific literature. He has an H-index of 77 and has been rated an A1 scientist by the National Research Foundation of South Africa for a second 5-year term. He has won numerous awards and served on many editorial boards​​.
2. His book, “Lore of Running,” is considered the “bible of the sport.” Other notable works include “Rugby without Risk,” “Bob Woolmer’s Art and Science of Cricket” co-written with the late Bob Woolmer, his scientific autobiography, “Challenging Beliefs,” “Waterlogged: The Serious Problem of Overhydration in Endurance Sports,” “Real Meal Revolution,” “Raising Superheroes” (overseas title: “Super Food for Superchildren”), “The Banting Pocket Guide,” and “Lore of Nutrition”​​.
3. In 2002, Tim Noakes was awarded the International Cannes Grand Prix Award for Research in Medicine and Water for his work on exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH). His work is considered one of the 40 most important “persons or events” in the sport of running in the past four decades​​.
4. He has received Honorary Fellowships from the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine (UK) in 2008 and from the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland in 2015 in recognition of his involvement in the field of Sports and Exercise Medicine​​.
5. He received the Order of Mapungubwe, Silver, from the President of South Africa in 2008 for his “excellent contribution in the field of sports and the science of physical exercise”​​.
6. In 2012, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Research Foundation for his contribution to sports science research. In 2014, he was honored with the Southern African Association for the Advancement of Science (S2A3) Gold Medal​​.
7. After becoming convinced that a high-fat, low-carb diet is the healthiest option for many, Tim Noakes founded The Noakes Foundation in 2014 with the mission to reverse the global trend of declining personal health. The foundation seeks to reveal what genuine healthy nutrition looks like and, in doing so, make a difference in the lives of millions of people​​.
8. Tim Noakes retired as the Professor and Director of the Research Unit of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 2014. He is now an Adjunct Professor at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)​​.

Advocacy for the Carnivore Diet

Outside of his work in sports science, Tim is a vocal advocate for the carnivore diet, a low-carb, high-fat eating plan that focuses on animal products and minimizes plant-based foods. His personal and scientific journey from a high-carb to a high-fat diet has been a cornerstone of his writing and lectures, challenging conventional dietary norms and sparking conversations worldwide.

“My journey into self-experimentation began when I read a book, Good Calories, Bad Calories, by Gary Taubes. This American science writer argued that obesity is not an energy balance disorder, but a hormonal disorder, caused by eating a diet high in carbohydrates and low in fats. According to this theory, known as the carbohydrate-insulin hypothesis, we do not get fat because we eat too much and move too little. We get fat because the carbohydrates in our diet raise our insulin levels. And insulin directs our bodies to store fat.” – quote from book, “Lore of Nutrition” by Tim Noakes

Dirching High-carb orthodoxy and embracing Low Carb High Fat

Professor Timothy Noakes was initially an advocate for a high carbohydrate diet for athletic performance. His early work in sports nutrition followed the prevailing wisdom of the time, which held that muscle glycogen was the key metabolic regulator of human exercise performance. This belief was bolstered by the advent of Bergstrom’s muscle biopsy technique in 1967, which allowed for the measurement of muscle glycogen and reinforced its perceived importance in prolonged exercise. However, Noakes noted that increased muscle glycogen use didn’t necessarily result in better performance​1​.

“I decided to test Taubes’s theory on myself. I reduced my carbohydrate intake, and increased my fat intake, and in two weeks lost 5kg, without hunger or calorie counting. I have maintained my weight at this lower level for the past three years, again without hunger or having to count calories.” – quote from book, “Lore of Nutrition” by Tim Noakes

Over time, Noakes began to question the high-carb orthodoxy. He noticed that before the muscle biopsy technique was developed, athletes primarily relied on a diet rich in fats and proteins, similar to what wealthy people ate at the time. This diet involved less carbohydrate consumption and more reliance on fats as fuel. Noakes found that the emphasis on high carbohydrate diets for performance was largely based on belief rather than rigorously conducted placebo-controlled randomized controlled trials. He saw that studies showing no change in performance in athletes adapted to a low carbohydrate diet were often overlooked or misinterpreted​2​.

Noakes then made a significant shift in his own dietary approach and advocacy. He transitioned from promoting high carbohydrate diets to promoting high fat diets, an approach now commonly known as a Low-Carb High-Fat (LCHF) or Banting diet. This change in Noakes’ stance was not only personal but also reflected in his professional advocacy, influencing athletes to consider this alternative dietary approach for their performance and health.

In terms of important discoveries, Noakes has written several books on exercise and diet, notably “The Real Meal Revolution” and “Lore of Nutrition: Challenging Conventional Dietary Beliefs,” where he lays out his evidence and arguments for a low-carb, high-fat diet.

Conclusion

All in all, Timothy David Noakes is a true trailblazer in both sports science and nutrition. His work continues to inform our understanding of the human body’s capabilities, from the marathon route to the icy waters of the polar regions. And through his advocacy for the carnivore diet, he’s questioning our assumptions and driving us to reconsider our dietary habits.

Disclaimer: The content of this post is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice. It is important to consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle.