This is pretty much the first time I’ve mentioned our Hawaiian Christmas Holiday Getaway. I didn’t blog, tweet, facebook, or G+ about it….and did my best to stay offline as much as possible. For the past two weeks in Kauai I enjoyed some incredible Family moments, and had more than a few life lessons....
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Would you like to go cycling on and off road in Bonaire this winter? Your Caribbean Cycling escape has arrived. The price is incredible, the location is about as bikey exotic as you can get, and where else would you rather be this February than Bonaire? Bonaire is basically one incredible tropical oasis found...
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Today’s guest post comes from Deb Keiser. She is a New York-based journalist who wrote this article about one of my favorite places on Earth, so I just had to post it. Formerly a staff travel writer for the New York Daily News, Deb contributes regularly to newspapers and magazines of the Hearst Conn. Media...
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I have spent most of June chilling (and cycling) around the country of Belize. A lot of people have never heard of this place or know where it is, and those that have probably don’t think of cycling when they refer to the country. Little does the world know that cycling is huge over...
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Sixteen miles of natural sandy beach, a virgin mangrove-fringed lagoon, a wonderland of coral-studded cayes, nearby jungle rivers and pristine rainforest Garifuna, Creole and Mayan cultures and ancient Mayan ruins make Placencia the ideal location for the adventure traveler! Sounds pretty nice huh? Well, they forgot to mention something that makes this place even...
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If I were to ask who your cycling heros were, how would you respond? I’m sure some might bring up Lance Armstrong, or one of the other great cycling legends. Others would likely mention their Dad or another family member. No matter who your cycling heros are, what’s most important is that you look...
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There is a little known island about half way between the Caribbean islands and the coast of Africa. Its name is Arcanum pāx, meaning “the secret peace”. On this island, the only means of transportation is by bicycle. The only relationships they know are love and peace. And the only thoughts that flow are...
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I’ve had some pretty cool jobs in my time, but nothing can compare to the position of Mountain Bike Tour Guide that I once held….oh, and I should also mention that this job was located on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. Okay, so having a job that puts you on the seat of...
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It’s my Anniversary today. Yep, seven great years with “the cyclist’s wife” and still going strong. It all started with our first date on Friday the 13th of July, 2001 and we continued with the theme of the 13th by tying the knot on Sand Bank Beach in St. Kitts on Saturday December 13,...
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It might be a tiny little island, but the Caribbean island of St. Kitts is home to some of the West Indies best cycling. Actually, it’s sister island Nevis is pretty dang good for cycling as well. The area of the twin-islands is 261 square kilometers (101 square miles), with St. Kitts occupying 168 square kilometers...
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There is no shortage of blog posts, Twitter threads, and Linkedin comments talking about cycling with your iPod….but I wanted to join in on this one for a minute. I’ve been listening to music while biking ever since I got my first mp4 player six months after becoming a road cyclist. The first day...
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Have you ever arrived in a city or town that is new to you and been unsure as to where to ride? Not knowing which streets and highways are “cycling friendly” can make it tough when taking that first ride in a new location. Arriving in Florida this week, put me in this exact...
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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.
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