Why this elite sports nutritionist has launched his own consultancy

Charlie Binns has launched his own consultancy in York called CMB Performance and Nutrition. Mr Binns, who is making a name for himself working with elite athletes, believes that ordinary people are becoming more aware of the importance of nutrition.

Speaking to The Yorkshire Post, Mr Binns said: “You can obviously see what’s happening in the world at the moment. A lot of people’s ears pricked, especially in lockdown, when it comes to looking after themselves.

“Not being able to get out of the house, they’ve been trying different things like cooking more regularly at home using fresh ingredients.

“I know a lot of people who have said that they feel much better now that they are cooking and looking after themselves through nutrition.”

Mr Binns has been working with the likes of teenage football sensation Jude Bellingham and World Cup winning cricketer Liam Plunkett. He has also been doing consultancy work with Birmingham City Football Club.

The sports nutritionist would like to get businesses involved - putting in strategic plans for staff members as he feels it is an “untapped area”.

“It has been shown through research that improved nutrition does improve cognitive skills and productivity in the workplace,” Mr Binns said.

He added: “It’s essential for companies and businesses for all staff to stay on top of their health and wellbeing through nutrition.”

Nutrition has become an integral part of all sports at the elite level and this importance is then filtering through to ordinary members of the public who look up to athletes as role models.

“Elite professionals now want to chase those fine margins and fine percentages,” Mr Binns says. “The sports science department of an elite sporting organisation is massive now. Sports nutrition over the last five to ten years has become really big.”

It’s not just to do with performance on the field, Mr Binns says, with many athletes wanting to extend their playing careers and also avoid health issues after they have finished.

Mr Binns has worked with footballer Sam Byram, ex-Leeds United player and current right back for Championship team Norwich City.

He said: “Charlie has really helped me with my nutrition when it comes to what I should be eating before and after both training and games to match my energy output and also best aid my recovery in between. He also gave me lots of information on what to eat during my time off with a serious knee injury. I really believe this helped aid my recovery and the healing of my knee as well as keeping me in the best shape possible whilst I was unable to train.”

CMB Performance and Nutrition will offer its services to the general public, performnace athletes, businesses and sports teams.

“I want to help people realise the potential that they have and the health and wellbeing and performance levels that they can enjoy from nutrition,” Mr Binns said.

Mr Binns will be holding his face-to-face appointments at the Yorkshire Sports Clinic in York.

The sports nutritionist says people should have no concerns about face-to-face appointments despite the current situation with Covid-19.

Mr Binns said: “We have daily extensive cleaning done in there because it is a medicine clinic - doctors and GPs are working out of it as well.”

Starting off on personal plans

Charlie Binns decided to become a sports nutritionist while playing semi-professional football.

He studied at Leeds Trinity University before going onto do a masters at St Mary’s University in London.

Mr Binns, who is originally from York, has been working as a sports nutritionist for the past two years. He started off by working on nutrition plans for himself.

“I was always dialing in on my own nutrition and stuff to see how the different strategies helped me,” Mr Binns said.

He added: “I’ve transferred that into working in an elite environment with professional players.”

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