Let’s Talk Bikes and Travel

11
Jan
2012

As with all our “Let’s Talk” posts, this one will be built by you.  Give us everything you’ve got on the subject of Bikes and Travel.  Everything from your thoughts on the best places in the world to ride a bike to how to get your bike over there….and everything in between. Have a...
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Ask the Expert: Best Tool for Changing Tires on a Road Bike

10
Jan
2012

I have a question for your expert bicycle technician, what is the best tool for changing tires on a road bike? Our resident expert, Victor Jimenez from Bicycle Lab is back again with the answer found in the video below. If you have questions about the mechanics of your bike or improving the fit...
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#bikeschool: Fantasies

10
Jan
2012
#bikeschool: Fantasies

If you’ve ever screamed at the television in disgust at your favourite team not chasing that race winning break or been disappointed at the amount of water bottles the domestiques are carrying up to the hot-shots then this is your chance to take control. We will be running a Fantasy Cycling leauge with the...
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Make it Happen Monday: Year of the ROCKSTAR

09
Jan
2012
Make it Happen Monday: Year of the ROCKSTAR

2012 may officially be the Year of the Dragon, but we’re deeming it the Year of the Rockstar.  If you caught some of my tweets leading up to the new year, you would have seen some pretty bold statements about all of us over at Loving the Bike (our readers, friends, contributors, teammates) achieving...
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Ideal Carbohydrate and Protein Ratio

07
Jan
2012

It seems like I’ve read about an optimal ratio of carbs and protein while training.  What is it and is it important?  Yes, there is a recommended carb to protein ratio for training nutrition, and it’s 4:1 (grams).  With this ratio, digestion of the fluid or food is not impeded in the stomach like...
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Loving the Commute: Edition #2

06
Jan
2012
Loving the Commute: Edition #2

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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What a Couple Weeks in Hawaii Have Taught Me

05
Jan
2012
What a Couple Weeks in Hawaii Have Taught Me

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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Loving the BITE: Quinoa-Black Bean Burgers Recipe

05
Jan
2012
Loving the BITE: Quinoa-Black Bean Burgers Recipe

It was once known by Incan warriors for stamina and power.  Today, Loving the Bike cyclists can reap the same benefits.  Quinoa.  If you don’t know what it is, don’t worry, you soon will.  Don’t know how to pronounce it?  No problem, we’ll get to that too. For starters, it’s a grain-like seed that’s...
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Looking Good on the Bike

04
Jan
2012
Looking Good on the Bike

What are your thoughts when it comes to cycling clothing and fashion?  Are you concerned about having a perfectly matching kit each time you’re out on the bike, or are you cool with wearing whatever you happen to have around.  Maybe you even make sure you’re always color-coordinated with your bike each ride as well....
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#bikeschool: Twenty12

03
Jan
2012
#bikeschool: Twenty12

Happy New Year to one and all. I’m sure you will have enjoyed the festive season wherever you have celebrated it and I hope you are looking forward to a great 2012. Whilst most blogs and websites have been writing reviews, roundups and summaries of 2011, I chose to stay away from this area...
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Make it Happen Monday: What’s Right?

02
Jan
2012
Make it Happen Monday: What’s Right?

I often catch myself saying the words, “what’s wrong” several times a week.  Whether it’s in the direction of my baby boy who’s crying, my older kids’ upset tone, or a sigh of frustration from my Wife….those two words seem to be the first to pop out. If you believe in the power of...
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Look Who’s Loving the Bike: January 2012

01
Jan
2012
Look Who’s Loving the Bike: January 2012

Happy New Year everyone.  At the top of each month we like to feature the amazing stories and memories of people who are loving the bike.  Please take a look at what our December 2011 lovers have to say.  Hey…..and we’d love to hear from you as well.  Feel free to submit your “Look Who’s...
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Which individual supplements should I take?

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:

  1. Rainbow Light multivitamin (see http://bit.ly/AwnPQ1 - they have a separate multivitamin for men and women).  This is one of my favorite brands as it contains a good mix of vitamins/minerals, probiotics, enzymes and “green” nutrients.  And, it looks like you can get it online in the UK, at least, according to what turned up in my trusty google search.
  2. 1000-2000 IU additional vitamin D (in addition to the amount in the multivitamin and in addition to what you get from sunlight)
  3. 1000-2000 mg DHA/EPA (in combo, and in addition to ~12 oz. fatty fish per week).  Nordic Naturals is a really good brand – you want the source to be small, low-mercury fish such as anchovies, shrimp, sardines, etc.

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