When I saw the title of this post, I knew it was going to mention the latest controversy with Chipotle using bacon in their pinto beans. I don’t eat at Panda Express, but I would’ve never guessed that their rice isn’t vegetarian. McDonalds using beef seasoning on their fries isn’t much of a surprise to me though.
Runners have their own preferred methods of optimal hydration during races, but it seems that quite a bit of those people have the wrong idea of optimal.
This is a very interesting interview with Dr. William Davis, who believes wheat should be cut entirely out of our diets. I think anyone out there on a gluten-free diet, but still consuming wheat products, would also find some of the claims from Dr. Davis interesting.
This makes sense, doesn’t it? If you’re trying to get your kids to eat healthy, sit down as a family and eat healthy together. Friendly interaction between parents and children is far more likely to be successful than coercion.
Everything mentioned here is generally healthy, but when we go for ease and buy food in cans or if we don’t read labels properly, we might actually be eating foods that were once healthy, but not any longer.
Every weekend I publish a recap of the best health and fitness articles I’ve read over the past week. Here are my favorites. Have a great Labor Day weekend!
It seems there’s a correlation in longer mortality rates and high intensity cycling. The study shows that it’s not the duration, but actual intensity, although optimal intensity has not yet been determined. I would assume that it’s just like any other exercise – the harder you work, the better the results.
It sounds so easy and looks so delicious. I hope it’s as good as it sounds. I’ve been looking for a reason to get the crock pot out, and this is one mighty fine reason if you ask me! I love chili. I can’t wait!
Ladder-style workouts are always super-challenging, but isn’t that what makes it fun? This one is designed to get your muscle growing after hitting a wall, so do it for a couple weeks and jump back into your regular routine. I can already picture myself “sucking wind” doing this one.
I’ve been lifting weights for a long time and I remember the first time I heard about minimalist training like this. I didn’t believe it and I wouldn’t even consider trying it in fear of losing any progress I’ve made. Then I came across the Stronglifts 5×5 website and all of the testimonials persuaded me to give it a go. I can attest to the progress these types of plans can provide. I’ve never bench pressed or squatted more in my life and I continue to make gains every week. Give it a shot.
Some great information about when and why to use compression clothing. Granted, the information is provided by a company who stands to profit from spreading information about the benefits. It’s still a great starting point for more research.
It’s great when children want to be active and have a desire to be athletic but sometimes we don’t not think of the negative effects sports like boxing can have on the brain at a young age.
Peanut butter is generally considered to be healthy because it contains lots of protein and healthy fats, but as this article points out, it really depends on the peanut butter you buy. Basically, go organic and read labels.
A great article from the P90X newsletter. I actually just read some informative stuff about sea vegetables in the Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide. I’m not a fan of seafood taste at all, but I’m willing to give these veggies a try. They’re so nutritious, I have to at least taste them once.
There is so much good information in here, especially for me since I’m trying to put on weight, but the problem is that I have to try to figure out how to make it work around a vegan diet. I’m gonna work on putting a meal plan together for this.
Wow, take a look at these predictions. By 2030, researchers predict obesity among men to rise from 32% (already a ridiculous number) to 50%. Or how about 539,000 additional cases of cancer per year? Crazy.
Sugar makes foods delicious, but is it really worth all the negative things it does to your body? It makes you age faster, it suppresses your immune system and raises insulin levels, among other things. Limit your intake!
Very handy guide for the new vegan who likes to cook. When I first went vegan I thought I wouldn’t be able to cook or bake much anymore, but then I sought out some cookbooks and learned that there are lots of alternatives. In fact, just the other day I made some awesome cupcakes from the Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World cookbook 😉
I started smoking when I was 15. At one point I was up to about a pack a day and then I gradually cut back to about a pack a week and then maybe only 3-4 cigarettes every weekend. I quit smoking completely last year in August and I feel great.
I’ve never been chased by a dog when I’ve been out running, but I’ve always worried about it. We’re so vulnerable out on the trails and there’s nowhere to go. Here are some excellent “dos” and “don’ts” to prevent being bitten.
According to one study, you can increase muscle protein synthesis more by consuming a large amount of whey protein immediately after exercise as opposed to several smaller doses. A second study shows that muscle protein synthesis is 33% greater when consuming a leucine-enriched protein beverage as compared to a lower-leucine beverage. Obviously being vegan, I can’t consume whey, but this info can certainly be adapted to a vegan diet.
I love infographics because they make statistics interesting and fun to read. This one is no different and it’s one of the most thorough infographics I’ve seen. Great stuff!
I was just looking for information like this for the Warrior Dash last weekend. I did find a few tips before I left, but this article mentions most of what you need to know.
I can’t use the recipes provided here, but I really like the generic meal plan. It’s hard to find information regarding morning workouts, so this is super-helpful for me.
I have to admit that I found this article kinda boring, but skip to the end to get to the recipes. I really need to start including veggies in my morning shakes.
I’m not happy with the title of this post, because it’s definitely not the “ultimate” guide to intermittent fasting, but it is a handy and quick guide for anyone just learning about intermittent fasting. As this article mentions, visit Martin Berkhans site if you want to learn everything there is to know about intermittent fasting.
I always hear people telling others to have a couple beers or some wine before bed to help them sleep, and I always tell them that while alcohol might help you get to sleep, you won’t sleep well and you won’t wake up refreshed. Well, here’s another study proving it.
This explains everything you need to know about gaining weight if that’s what you’re trying to do. It’s a very thorough method too. I also like the way this guy writes. People try to be as politically correct as possible, but the Fit Jerk doesn’t. It’s fun to read 😀
I come across this idea every now and then and I always want to try it out but then I forget about it. Maybe this time will be different? There’s also an Excel spreadsheet download on this page to help you create other workout variations.
I’m too scared to compete in a triathlon for many of the reasons stated in this article, but I’m also not a good swimmer. I’ve only barely learned how to swim a month ago, so it’s not fair for me to pass judgement, but open-water swimming in a race sounds scary to me.
A large study completed in Taiwan shows that just 15 minutes of exercise per day can add three years to your life. This doesn’t have to be crazy interval training either. That 15 minutes of exercise can be anything from lifting weights to a brisk walk – as long as you make it at least a moderate form of exercise.
I know I shouldn’t be eating candy, but once in a while isn’t so bad. It’s good to see there are some vegan options I can eat. I actually just found out about Sour Patch Kids a couple weeks ago on my own.
I’ve been doing barbell rows for a long time but I can never remember which way my hands should go so I decided to look it up on my phone while I was at the gym. I went straight to Stronglifts.com because I’ve gotten such good information from there over the past couple of months. This article explains so much and as it turns out, I’ve been doing rows wrong this whole time. I did my final set at the gym using the explained method and it felt amazing. It was like a revelation.
Here’s the first part in a series of training articles based on pushing your self to the limits without a training partner by using a power rack. I’ve been searching like crazy for an affordable power rack on Craigslist to do some training like this.
I’ve always thought that it was common knowledge that exercise and physical fitness was beneficial to cancer survivors, but I guess I don’t really know how that idea got into my head. It just seems right I suppose. Well at least this report proves it.
It sounds so simple that you probably don’t believe it, but psychology has proven that by using smaller dinnerware, you’re more likely to eat less. If you’re struggling with dieting, give it a try.
If you’re considering barefoot running, you should probably prepare your muscles first. Here are some great tips on getting your feet and calves in shape. I can tell you from experience that just jumping into barefoot running will result in horribly sore legs the next day.
One thing I really found interesting in this article is about how not only are our body composition and cholesterol levels different based on whether we were raised on a healthy or junk food diet, but also our biology. If you were raised on junk food, your brain will find unhealthy foods the most rewarding. It’s a great reason to instill healthy eating habits in our children, but that’s not what this article is about.
Patrik Baboumian has just won Germany’s Strongest Man 2011 and guess what? He’s a vegetarian! People always seem to think that vegans and vegetarians are weak and skinny but as Baboumian stated, “being vegetarian makes you a better athlete!”
The stories about how sitting all day can kill you has been all over the media in recent months, but what can you really do about it? Well here are some simple and easy exercises you can do in your chair to hopefully help keep death at bay for just a little while longer.
This has everything you need to start swimming such as the gear you need, pool etiquette, swim technique and what look like some intense workouts (at least to a beginner swimmer like me).
Not everyone can afford birth control, and sadly that results in many unplanned pregnancies, so I think it’s great that birth control is now completely covered by health insurance.
A study has shown that some smokers who take multivitamins tend to believe that because they take a vitamin, the chances of cancer are reduced so they end up smoking more, negating the positive effects of the vitamin.
The Oatmeal is one of the best viral marketers ever. Just about everything he creates is hilarious and often spreads like crazy over the internet. I make sure to follow his blog so I don’t miss anything and as it turns out, he’s also into fitness, which is something I never knew about him. Read his post about his first ultra-marathon. It makes me never want to try one.
I’ve been reading a lot lately about nutrition and this keeps coming up, so I thought it would be a good time to mention it on the blog. If you get migraines and don’t know why, it’s definitely worth going to the doctor to get tested for food allergens.
Most of these foods should already be in your diet, but if not, the low price might sway you towards buying more of them. I eat a ton of peanut butter, oatmeal, brown rice, beans and potatoes and I can attest to the fact that my shopping bill isn’t crazy.
You know how when you get sick, you just don’t have the energy to get up and do anything? This is your body’s way of fighting the illness, by diverting energy. The symptoms of this battle are lethargy, loss of appetite and fever. Scientist may have figured out a way around this by injecting orexin into rats. This could be great for those who suffer from low energy in cases such as cancer, HIV and other diseases.
Ahhh, I’ve been meaning to look for articles explaining how phytoestrogens in soy are not the the same as estrogen. And then reading through the article, Ginny led me to another article written by Jack Norris, RD who is a genius in the vegan health field. Both are good reads.
I would always go to sleep with music on when I was younger because I believed it helped me sleep better. When I decided to keep the stereo off for a while, I found that I was completely wrong, and I slept so much better. But if you’re the type who just can’t get to sleep without some noise in your ears, try these out. Seems like a really cool idea.
I’ve never knew such a long article about the deadlift was necessary, but it is and this one’s really good. It goes through everything you need to know about how and why the deadlift works.
There are six different body-weight exercises here, each one starting at 3 reps as you go through a set of all six exercises. You go up 3 more reps each time you start a new set until you reach 21. I’d imagine that you’re gonna be really tired after this workout.
This article is not only informational, but also pretty funny. Dave Tate describes his experiences working with Louie Simmons at Westside Barbell in Columbus, Ohio. I would love to be able to work with someone like Louie who could optimize my own squat stance and technique one day.
Bodybuilding.com puts together some great bodybuilding challenges throughout the year and a new one is about to start for military personnel and their spouses. Check it out!
If you need to work on your core (and who doesn’t?) here are some great exercises from Joe Dowdell, a professional trainer to pro athletes and A-list celebrities.
I really like the message behind this article. It discusses how none of us can really be 100% vegan no matter how hard we try, but it’s all about doing what we can.
This sounds delicious. It sounds unhealthy too, but it’s not! I’m going to try to make a vegan version, which I don’t think will be too hard. I can’t wait.
If you’re suffering from chronic pain, fatigue or stress, you should consider taking up yoga. Even if you don’t suffer from any of those you should do it anyway. You’ll feel great!
I’m super strict about my nutrition and I prepare all of my meals for the entire week over the weekend to avoid straying from the plan, but there are some really goods tips here even I can probably use.
Many nutritionists like to criticize soy because of its estrogen content, despite the fact that plant-based estrogen works differently in our bodies than does the “feminizing” estrogen we usually read about. Even so, this article discusses what nutritionist never talk about – the estrogen properties of cows milk and other dairy products.
I saw this video when Tim Ferris’ book, The Four Hour Body, was just released and I immediately went out and bought the supplies to build my makeshift kettlebell. It actually works very well. I just came across the video again and wanted to share it, so here you go!
This article doesn’t go in-depth about the Biggest Loser diet, but it does offer some of the fundamentals. The pros and cons section provides some interesting thoughts.
Despite being such an obvious sales page, this article and accompanying video have some great tips on doing deadlifts correctly. This info comes from Andy Bolton, who was the first man to ever deadlift 1000lbs in a powerlifting competition so he must know what he’s talking about.
Here’s a wild story about a 10-year-old kid, C.J., who has an addiction to fitness. It’s recommended that kids don’t lift weights until at least the age of 15 but he does only bodyweight exercises and cardio. He eats well, has tons of muscle and even trains older kids at the gym, all of his own will. His parents are actually trying to get into better shape because C.J’s work ethic has shamed them into it. Inspiring kid!
I know you hate getting headaches, so read this article for tips on getting rid of or preventing headaches in the future. With the heat wave we’ve been having over the past few weeks, make sure you stay hydrated and maintain your electrolyte balance.
I absolutely hate when someone takes a 5 minute break on a machine and won’t move to let other people use it. My next biggest pet peeve is when people don’t put weights back after using them. Interestingly, it seems the biggest offenders in my gym are regulars who have been there for years. I guess they think they get special privileges.
These aren’t the everyday recipes you come across on the internet. These look like they were made by professional chefs. I’d really like to make these to show my friends and family how good food can be when eating vegan.
Here’s a recipe for a lighter (and vegan) version of banana bread. I’ve already made this and it came out delicious. I’ve also calculated the nutritional information. If you slice it up into eight proportional pieces, each slice contains 229 calories, 5 grams of fat, 44 grams of carbs and 3.4 grams of protein. Not too bad.
Soy seems to be major target of negativity in the nutritional industry. I think this might be the first article I’ve ever read about actual benefits of soy. Interesting!
Being vegan, I didn’t think I’d ever eat a Blizzard again, but thanks to Angela Liddon over at “Oh She Glows,” I can now make my own. I’m super excited for this one.
So it seems that soaking your beans for 24 hours before cooking can reduce the amount of gas they create. Sounds like a win to me. I cook 1-2 lbs. of beans every weekend (to the displeasure of my fiance ;)) so this tip will be put into effect immediately.
I was wondering this exact thing last weekend. I don’t have any canola oil because I always use extra virgin olive oil for cooking, but I was making some banana bread last week and the recipe calls for it. I read not to use olive oil in the banana bread because it can overpower the taste so I had to use some old leftover corn oil I had in the cabinet. While I wasn’t able to use canola oil that time, I was thinking about buying some for the next time I make banana bread when I have bananas that are going bad. Now I know that canola oils is perfectly fine.
Did you know that gelatin is made by using the bones and skins of animals. Gelatin is found in lots of the food people eat such as Jello, candy bars, gummi bears, marshmallows and it’s often the dissolvable shell of drug capsules found on medicine pills and supplements. Well now it looks like human gelatin genes can be inserted into a strain of yeast to produce a form of gelatin that won’t result in harm to animals. Weird, but good news!
I really like success stories like this one. A lot of people, even me, worry that losing a lot of weight will result in dropped numbers on exercises like bench press, deadlift and squats, but this guy cut fat and lifts heavier than before.
This is an excellent article about protein shakes with answers to common questions from four experts in the healthy and fitness industry. The article goes through the types of protein powders you should look for, and other questions you may have such as the difference between concentrate and isolate protein powders and why protein shakes can cause gas.
I just set up a new website for my fiance because she wanted to capture her journey on becoming a competitive runner. This is her first post about running her first 5k.
My fiance was so excited about her new site and having a place to share her journey, she put up another post only a day after the first. This one’s about the upcoming Aquaman race, which I plan to attend to cheer her on and take pictures 😀
It’s weird how the brain and body works sometimes. If you’re deficient in iron, you might have a strange desire to chew ice. Some people even have been also known to want to smell things such as gasoline, ammonia or body odor.
It seems that one of the biggest reasons vegetarians return to meat is because of health reasons, commonly anemia due to a lack of iron. As a new vegan, I can’t speak on experience, but would guess that most of these vegetarians were not eating properly and weren’t taking vitamins. Some of the more disappointing reasons from people in the study are things like getting tired of the lifestyle or social acceptance 🙁
Articles about macular degeneration always interest me because my Grandma has it. She has lost her vision completely in one eye and the other seems likely to be lost too. This new study shows that a diet high in vitamin D could help reduce the risk of macular degeneration. This is good stuff to know now before you lose your vision too.
This huge list is the reason you shouldn’t be eating processed foods. It’s hard not to eat processed foods sometimes, but I try to keep it to a minimum as much as I can. Eat foods that only contain a few ingredients and ones that you can pronounce.
This is a neat idea. Here are three different Italian meals you can make using the same basic ingredients, each with only a slight moderation. And they are all vegetarian too!