Fasting and Fitness: Keeping Athletes Healthy During Ramadan
As Ramadan, the most sacred month of the year in the Islamic faith, begins Monday, I wanted to share an article I wrote for Soccer Wire in 2015 when the Men’s World Cup was being competed. As an exercise physiologist, I found it concerning that athletes would engage in extreme levels of physical competition while intentionally abstaining […]
Nutrition for the Serious Endurance Athlete
Good nutrition is just not that simple. But there is good research and there are reliable recommendations available. If you’re an endurance athlete, here is a comprehensive article from researchers at UCDavis on Energy Availability, Macronutrient Intake, and Nutritional Supplementation for Improving Exercise Performance in Endurance Athletes.** It is a detailed look at today’s science for endurance performance. […]
Top 10 Fitness Trends for 2017
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has announced its annual fitness trend forecast and, unsurprisingly, exercise pros say wearable technology will again be the top fitness trend in the coming year. The results were released in the article “Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2017” published today in the November/December issue of ACSM’s Health […]
Nutrition, Body Composition and Health: 5 Talking Points with Teens
Coaches boldly tackle teams, players, parents, administrators and opponents head on. But there’s one thing most of them won’t touch: the “nutrition talk.” Especially male coaches of female athletes, either out of personal discomfort or for fear of raising the risk of eating disorders, avoid the conversation all together. That leaves overweight, obesity, and body […]
Young Athletes Need Help with Nutrition and Body Image
America has a weight problem, and it’s not limited to adults. Many of our young people are overweight, and a rising number are obese. (Some put this percentage as high as 30 percent). On the flip side, an increasing number of young people have eating disorders. According to CNN Health, a study conducted by the […]
Healthy Nutrition for Young Athletes
None of us has the perfect diet. But the demands on our athletes require that we help them make what they eat count. Consistent training and performance depend on it. Here are some quick ways to check on how healthy your athlete’s diet is. Do they eat in moderation? (quantity and portion size to maintain […]
Quick Meals for Hungry Athletes
Are you always looking for quick, healthy ways to fuel your fast-moving athlete? Me too. Registered dietitian, Judy Caplan, has three great meal suggestions in the February issue of WashingtonFAMILY.com. Meal 1: Stir fry chicken and veggies with toasted sesame oil. Add cooked rice. Serve with a romaine salad topped with avocado slices and drizzle with […]
Got Milk?
A popular ad campaign, used to ask, “Have you had your milk today?” It was spoken in pictures of celebrities, sports figures, models who wore a milk mustache. Drink your milk because it builds strong bones and strong bodies, they tell us. I think to myself: I hope my kids are reading this and listening. I have pleaded with […]
