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The Cost of Inactivity
From birth to old age, our bodies are continually changing. When we do not get regular exercise, our bodies are not only unable to stay fit, they’re fading. Physical activity stimulates our organs and makes them work at their best. If we remain physically inactive for extended periods of time, all systems are affected, right down to the cellular level where our ability to transfer oxygen for energy can be diminished. Inactivity impacts the brain, heart, muscles, blood vessels, bones, liver and other vital organs. It can also cause sleeplessness, anxiety, depression and lack of energy among other negative side-effects.
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Carbs, Protein & Performance
Should I exercise on an empty stomach? How much protein should I eat after workouts? What percentage of my diet should come from carbohydrates? Is whey a good source of protein? These are just a few of the questions addressed at the 27th annual meeting of SCAN, the Sports And Cardiovascular Nutritionist’s practice group of the American Dietetic Association. Over 400 sports dietitians gathered to learn the latest news from prominent sports nutrition researchers. This article wants to give you the information you need to choose a winning sports diet.
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When Athletes Struggle With Food Cravings and Sugar Addiction
Food cravings and sugar addictions are a source of concern and frustration for many athletes who believe that eating one chocolate bar (or whatever food they crave) will lead them to overeating, expand their waistlines, and ruin their health. They avoid chocolate like the plague and, instead, snack on only “healthy foods,” like apples and oranges. While the natural goodness of fruit is indeed the more nutritious and health-promoting choice, some nice chocolate, enjoyed in response to a hankering, can also fit into your sports diet.
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Recovering from Hard Exercise – How to Refuel
What’s best to eat for recovery after a hard workout? That’s what marathoners, body builders, and fitness exercisers alike want to know. They read ads for commercial recovery foods, tout the benefits of a proprietary formula, or emphasize immediate consumption the minute you stop exercising. While these ads offer an element of truth, consumers beware: Engineered recovery foods are not more effective than standard foods. The purpose of this article is to educate you, a hungry athlete, about how to choose an optimal recovery diet.
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A Better Way to Watch TV
Watching TV and playing video games has long been named as one of the culprits for our national obesity crisis. The average American stays glued to the tube between four to six hours daily. Parents may complain about the almost addictive attitude their kids have towards video games, but adults surfing channels are no different.
Now there is a new generation of computer games that encourages players to get of the couch and become more active.
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Embrace the “ESPN” in You
As a resident of Arlington, TX, where the Super Bowl was recently played, I watched like millions of other fans, the gigantic flurry of visitors, and ESPN set-up that descended on our mid-size city that week, in spite of the bad weather we experienced. I wouldn’t be a very good health care professional if I hadn’t asked myself, how many of the people who came here as spectators of the game, actually exercise themselves?
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Gluten-Free Diets
Gluten-free seems to be the latest nutrition buzzword. Gluten is a protein in wheat, rye and barley that must be avoided by people with celiac disease, an inherited autoimmune disorder. Symptoms of celiac vary greatly and can range from digestive problems (diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gas) to serious health problems such as anemia, stress fractures, infertility in both men and women, migraine headaches, canker sores, easy bruising of the skin, swelling of the hands and feet, and bone/joint pain.
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2011 Sports Nutrition News from the American College of Sports Medicine
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) is the world’s largest organization of sports medicine and exercise science professionals. At ACSM’s annual meeting in Denver, May 31-June 4, 2011, over 6,000 exercise scientists, sports dietitians, physicians and other health professionals gathered to share their research. Here are a few of the nutrition highlights.
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Be a Mover and Shaker
As humans, we are designed to move. Look at yourself in the mirror. You have two strong legs, three layers of core muscles wrapping around your middle to stabilize your pelvis and the largest muscle in your body, your buttocks, designed specifically to move you forward. There is a reason why your buttocks cover your backside – and it’s not to provide you with a cushion to sit on.
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Reasons to Be Cheerful!
78 percent of people over 50 say they are empowered with the knowledge that exercise is the key to healthy aging. Yet fewer than 30 percent of all Americans invest a minimum of 30 minutes a day in their physical health. Why this disconnect? We are surrounded by advertisements that sell us every imaginable potion, lotion, pill or surgery to augment the superficial veneer of youthfulness. But the only thing that comes close to preserving true youthfulness is free. It’s exercise.
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Winter Nutrition: Fueling for Cold Weather Exercise
Whether you are a professional athlete or just like to exercise outdoors all year round, you want to pay careful attention to your diet during the cold months. Otherwise, lack of food and fluids can take the fun out of your activities. These tips can help you fuel wisely for cold weather workouts.
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Healthy, Vital, Active, Joyful
Healthy, vital, active, joyful – these are not typically words associated with aging. And yet, an entire generation of healthy, vital, active and joyful people is changing the very paradigm of aging in this country.
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