Ever need an on-the-go quick snack or mini-meal? Something you can feel good about eating? Me too. A month or so ago, Jenn Sutherland posted an awesome recipe for a homemade LARA bar over at Loving the Run (it’s great, make sure to check it out if you haven’t already). While I believe many...
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Through my involvement with this year’s North American Handmade Bicycle Show, I was introduced to a new organization called the Texas High School Mountain Bike League. We held a couple raffle draws during the bike show and all proceeds went to the league. Prior to that, I had heard the name a couple times, but didn’t...
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For many months now we have gathered as seething masses in the musty halls of a simple but wonderful night class known only as #bikeschool. Some people pop in to wind down after a day at work, others set their biological clocks to tingle once a week at 9PM EST… and others well, others...
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I’ve seen a lot of people in their 20’s who’ve basically given up on their bodies. They have passed the point where they didn’t have to do any work in order to keep a good looking and pain free body. But when it became something they had to work at…they gave up on it....
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Soy Protein Question: I have recently undertaken a goal to get in shape by cycling. I am suplimenting my nightly rides of 5-10 miles with a diet and counting calories. Recently I have been discussing protein bars and shakes and the topic of “soy” protein came up. Some comrades of mine claim that soy...
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The great folks over at Outside PR represent some smoking good companies, and they recently sent the Loving the Bike team some items for review. Instead of doing a separate post for each one, we thought we’d get all geared up with these great products and let you know what we think. As...
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Fishing around for something to eat tonight? Loving the Bike’s got you covered. Why not soothe your cells, strengthen your heart, and even keep your wits about you with a little tuna? You don’t have to go out to your favorite Japanese restaurant for this yummy dish. Instead, just gather a few healthy...
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In today’s society and North American culture that we live in, it’s as easy as dropping a few thousand dollars, a nip here, a tuck there…..and you can instantly look younger. In the good old days, people had to search (and work) to find the Fountain of Youth….now it’s as simple as hitting the...
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Recent years have seen the sport of cycle racing careering from pillar to post on the subject of doping which have thrown our sport into the mainstream media in all the wrong ways. We have seen some of the most ‘original’ and ridiculous excuses ever spouted by enhanced humans, ranging from Björn Leukemans’ over-active...
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I wish I could just tell the world to stop. Grab hold of the Government and tell them to wise up and focus on humanity. Tap into the bank accounts of the overly wealthy and use it for something important. Find out if the pharmaceutical world really does have the cure. Is it just...
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Boosting Muscle Energy Stores Dear Kelly, I am a competitive cyclist up in Canada, getting ready for the first real dry road races since the snow melt and have been struggling the last year or so with my diet when it comes to nutrition off the bike. I am 23 years old and have...
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I must have missed the day of dietitian-school when we gave up our sweet tooth (teeth) and pledged to forever consider an apple as a decadent dessert. Every day, I have a small treat. And, I recommend that most of my clients do as well. A cyclist’s gotta eat, right? But take note,...
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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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