This is Edition three of a series on bicycle commuting by guest contributor, Aaron Madrid. These posts are all about Aaron’s experiences as a newcomer to commuting, and he’s here to share it with you. We’re hoping this series will encourage you to become a commuter yourself? Be sure to check out the previous editions...
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Beautiful Cuban “work bikes” and a post about cycling in Cuba, by guest writer Kathy Campbell. Viva la Bicicletta – An article and photos on Cuba and their Working Bikes by Kathy Campbell If you love bicycle touring then you must make some time for a bike tour around Cuba. There are so many reasons...
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Ever wonder how “The Love Affair” of cycling is seen through a “non-rider’s” eyes? Today’s guest post by Vania Selvaggi just might be the most beautifully written cycling story ever written by a non-cyclist. Earlier this month, I read an awesome “non-cycling” article online and liked it so much that I asked the writer...
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This is Edition two of a series on bicycle commuting by guest contributor, Aaron Madrid. These posts are all about Aaron’s experiences as a newcomer to commuting, and he’s here to share it with you. We’re hoping this series will encourage you to become a commuter yourself? Be sure to check out Loving the Commute:...
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Ever dreamed about opening a bike shop in the Caribbean? Our friend, Eric shares his personal story (and nightmare) of when he ran a bike shop on the island of St. Croix. The Adventures of Owning a Caribbean Bike Shop by Eric Hutchins For 6 years, I was the owner of a small bike...
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We’ve got Professor @egggman in today with a review of the Caliber Photochromic sunglasses from Ryders Eyewear. Mike is a year round cyclist and experiences all seasons and conditions over there in Ontario, so he’s sure to provide a full review on their performance. Enter to WIN: Oh, and we’re giving away a pair of...
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The bicycle just might be the best Christmas gift in the World. Well, we think it is and so does our guest writer, Mark Beaconsfield. Mark is a cycling fan, cyclist, and a regular classmate at #bikeschool (along with his daughter, Kayla). He hails from Melbourne, Australia and we’re happy to share his beautiful...
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Our good friend, Eric brings his wisdom and talks about being a positive contributor to society in today’s Make it Happen Monday post. Be a Positive Contributor by Eric Hutchins I am a huge fan of the Lovingthebike site and of Darryl, its creator. He recently asked me to guest blog about what the...
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This is the first instalment of a series on bicycle commuting by guest contributor, Aaron Madrid. Who better than a newcomer to the world of commuting to talk about their experiences and suggestions to get you doing the same? Loving the Commute by Aaron Madrid While we are all confident that eventually the great...
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Bike Prices by Aaron Madrid (#bikeschool student and guest professor) Not long ago I was given the privilege of hosting a night of #Bikeschool. The second question I asked pertained to a subject that I personally have very strong opinions on, the price of bikes. Upon asking my question, it became clear that many...
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My good friend Ian is one of the most “Make it Happen” kind of guys I know. He’s been an inspiration and source of motivation for me countless times….both on and off the bike. Yeah, he’s the real deal. Ian leads by example and if there was ever a person to provide you with...
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What do you do when you’re a bike commuter who lives in a city with no bicycle culture? Well, if you’re Steve Shepard you take things into your own hands and start building up that culture. Steve Shepard is a family man and daily commuter in Erie, PA…located in northeast Pennsylvania on the shores...
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I generally eat pretty healthily and stay relatively fit but I wonder if I’m getting enough vitamins and minerals. Is there a product (available in the UK) that contains the right mixes of daily vitamins and minerals and if not, which individual supplements should I take to compliment a healthy lifestyle. (ps… I don’t want to take so many pills that I rattle!)
Kelli’s Answer:
Thanks for the question! First a disclaimer: It’s always important to talk to your personal health care provider about supplements -some should not be taken due to medication interactions and individual conditions.
Now, my general recommendations:
Although a healthy and balanced diet is most important, I do believe that most people, and athletes especially, need a good multivitamin/multimineral, extra vitamin D, and fish oil (or another source of DHA/EPA omega-3s) in addition to healthy foods. Mostly, I recommend this because our soils have been over-farmed (which decreases the amount of nutrients in our foods), our waters are polluted (which is one reason we can’t eat as much seafood as we’d like), and our ability to get outside and get sunlight year round has decreased with more time spent inside and at a desk. And, there’s a lot of exciting research that supports higher levels of vitamin D supplementation than previous recommendations.
Generally, I recommend these daily supplements:
Additionally, individual athletes may need extra iron, probiotics, calcium, etc. But, these 3 pills are a good place to start for most healthy athletes.
As you look for supplements, the keys are to find ones that 1) have what they claim they have (no exaggerated claims) and 2) don’t have anything that’s harmful. You don’t want lead or other dangerous heavy metals, and I try to stay away from colorings, flavorings, and unnecessary additives. Since this industry is not really regulated, it can be hard to find good brands that have support from a 3rd party expert. I often www.consumerlab.com, a completely impartial 3rd party site that tests supplements and reports on their ingredients. They don’t have every brand, but it can be a good starting point. I hope this helps!
Please send us your questions for our Expert Sports Nutritionist, Kelli Jennings to “Ask the Sports Nutritionist“. Kelli Jennings is a Registered Dietitian with a passion for healthy eating, wellness, & sports nutrition. For more information go to www.apexnutritionllc.com.
Nutrition Tips
