Martin Bannister – a young athlete’s coconut cure
When one of our customers asked if we would like to sponsor their cycling son we did not expect to discover such an intriguing story of adversity overcome by courage and coconut oil…
My name is Martin Bannister. I am 14 years old and have lived in the country town of Bundaberg all my life. I started my sporting life in athletics and won numerous medals in middle distance running and javelin throwing at state championships. After lots of injuries I reduced the amount of running I did and started swimming and cycling. I began triathlon and won a bronze medal at state championships in my age group.
Triathlon and cycling have two-year age groups. This means if you turn 15 or 16 in a year you compete as Under 17. My birthday is in October so I give nearly three years to some athletes. The second year I did triathlon I won a silver medal for individual and team events and I was picked for Queensland. I went to nationals and won a gold medal in the team’s triathlon but decided to just focus on cycling - as a result of which I was recently selected for the Queensland State Cycling Team.
However, just three years ago I was a very sick boy and my breathing became so bad that I could not even run 100m. The doctors had me on asthma medication and told me that I didn’t have the lung capacity to ever be an endurance athlete. Eventually they said I had Local Cord Dyspraxia. I needed tablets to control my breathing. This was not working and I was getting worse. We wanted an alternative to medication and went to see John Engelmann. He told me to stop eating food with artificial preservatives, flavours and colours in them and only eat fresh food and also to take coconut oil. I took his advice and three weeks later won a bronze at State Champions in Pentathlon.
I now follow a very specific diet eating only fruit, vegetables, meat and foods without preservatives – basically nothing out of a packet, just like people did 100 years ago. Typically I have eggs for breakfast, salad for lunch and meat and veg for dinner. This works just fine – and the proof is that if I do eat anything with preservatives I get very sick and my cycling suffers.
Unlike other elite athletes I don’t eat lots of carbohydrates for pre-race energy. I stick to my normal food like any other day and then half an hour before my race I eat an energy bar made from Niulife virgin coconut oil, chocolate, mixed nuts and dried fruit. The coconut oil gives me all the energy I need even for the hardest and longest rides. I also use the bars to recover so I am ready to ride at my best the next day.
I have just been picked in the Queensland state team and will be representing Queensland at nationals in September. To get into the state team I had to go to selection races and then attend the state titles. At the state titles I came 6th in the 14km time trial, 6th in the 69km road race and 4th in the “30 min and 3 lap” Criterium event.
My future goals are to ride for Australia, make professional level and ride in the tour de France. I hope to one day win the tour de France and represent Australia at the Olympics.
Well done, Martin. We are proud to be sponsoring you and look forward to following your progress - powered by Niulife Virgin Coconut Oil! Ed.
MARTIN'S ENERGY BARS
Ingredients (to make 4 bars)
- 100ml coconut oil
- 4 squares
Lindt Excellence Cremoso Chocolate bar
- Almonds and Peanuts (unsalted )
- Sultanas, Cranberries and Goji berries (dried)
- The chocolate is really there for flavour so you can use as much or as little as you like (and any brand of chocolate will do). With the nuts and fruit you can use whatever you like - the bar is also great without the fruit and nuts.
Method
- Melt 100ml coconut oil and 4 squares of chocolate in stainless steel bowl over hot (about 50°C) water and mix well.
- Place the fruit and nuts into 4 plastic containers 6cm x 9cm. Use whatever amounts you like but the oil and chocolate should almost cover the fruit and nut mix or the bar will fall apart.
- Pour one quarter of the oil and chocolate mix (about 30 ml) over the top.
- Put in the freezer briefly to cool. They should come out of the containers after about 15 minutes and then be stored in the fridge.
- Put a padlock on the fridge to keep the kids out!
- (NB The freezer is used because if the bars don't go solid fast enough the oil and chocolate begin to separate and they don't look so good - but they still taste fine).
Disclaimer
This information is intended for information and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for personal consultation with your medical practitioner. The content is reproduced from previously published resources As the ordinary or otherwise uses of products is outside the control of Kokonut Pacific Australia Pty Ltd., no representation or warranty, expressed or implied, is made as to the effects of such use (including damage or injury), or the results obtained. Kokonut Pacific Australia Pty Ltd expressly disclaims responsibility as to the ordinary or otherwise use. Furthermore, nothing contained herein should be considered as a recommendation by Kokonut Pacific Australia Pty Ltd as to the fitness for any use. The liability of Kokonut Pacific Australia Pty Ltd is limited to the value of the goods and does not include any consequential losses.