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Summer is coming to an end and for most kids that means back to school. Some kids thrive in the traditional school environment but unfortunately, many kids are not cut out for the rigors of the traditional classroom. Long hours sitting in a chair, inactivity, lack of sunlight and natural …
Athlete Health Concerns, Issues, & News
These articles discuss common athlete health concerns, current health issues, and related news. The aim is to provide insight as to why these athlete health problems occur and how to correct them rather than medicate the problem or pass it off as "just normal." Athletes have concerns that will affect not just their health and fitness, but their overall quality of life. As fitness improves, ideally an athlete's health should too, but unfortunately for many the opposite occurs – as fitness improves, athlete health suffers. Poor athlete health can manifest itself in various ways: low energy, sleep problems, medical symptoms such as asthma, allergies, low libido, and even mental problems such as irritability and concentration difficulties.
Why the Minimalist Footwear Trend Won’t Last
If you haven’t heard, the minimalist footwear industry has taken a turn for the worse. Shoe sales aren’t booming like they used to and companies are starting to add more material to their shoes to try to stay with the current market trend. After all, that’s what it’s about – …
Become a Better Athlete: Sex and Athletic Performance
What’s that – you’re too tired? Got a headache? Just not in the mood? Would you say the same thing for a workout and bail on that activity too? Just as a proper diet, restful sleep, and adequate exercise are necessary for optimal health and athletic performance, so is sexual …
Are You On Drugs?
Doping in athletes and PED in sports is once again prevalent in the news. Not simply because of the recent London Games, but the downfall of Lance Armstrong, who, as I write this, has stepped down as chairman of the Livestrong Foundation and dropped by Nike, RadioShack, and Anheuser-Busch. ESPN …
Let Your Kid Thrive Outside
I wrote this article for the June/July 2015 edition of Paleo Magazine. Grab one at Whole Foods or other locations or a digital copy here. The typical kid in today’s world isn’t outside much, and when indoors they’re not moving as much as they should, if at all. As a …
Grinding Away: Bruxism
The Night Grind: Bruxism Bruxism – it’s clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth sometimes to the point of actually breaking a tooth. When you’re awake, and conscious, the force your body can produce by grinding your teeth together is around 250 psi (pounds per square inch) in the back …
NSAIDs – I Still Say Never
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – the infamous NSAIDs – touted by many to curtail inflammation, accelerate healing time, and even improve performance. But over the past several years there’s been more and more research supporting why you probably shouldn’t take an NSAID, due to the inherent dangers and the fact that …
Aging Athletes: Your Excuse Is Getting Old
See the attached PDF for my recent article in Paleo Magazine, June/July 2014 edition – “Your Excuse Is Getting Old“. Check out Paleo Magazine for more great articles. It’s Your Excuse That Is Getting Old “Your joints ache because you’re old.” “You’re fat because you’re old.” “You don’t sleep …
Stress: “Make You, Break You”
See the attached PDF for my recent article in Paleo Magazine, April/May 2014 edition. Check out Paleo Magazine for more great articles. Stress: “Make You, Break You” Stress: Make You, Break You Stress is that general term which many use to describe something that poses some threat to their …
The Athlete’s Adrenal Glands
Your adrenal glands are small walnut-sized glands that sit on top of each kidney. Though they only weigh three to five grams, they’re responsible for producing hormones to provide your body with sufficient energy, balance blood sugar, fight inflammation, regulate electrolytes, maintain libido, sustain blood pressure, and provide your body …
Enough of the Aerobic and Endurance Bashing Fostered by “New Research” and Personal Agendas
It’s back, and it’s getting old. Actually it never went away. I’m referring to the current round of news reports, websites, and “research” that have once again concluded that so-called aerobic and endurance training will, to some extent, harm your health if not outright kill you. I was going to …
It’s Not “Natural”, and Definitely Not Normal, to Die From Cardiac Arrest: The Death of Caballo Blanco
It’s interesting to read a report, in this case an autopsy report, which reads that the individual died of heart disease that was “natural” when that person was only 58 years old and supposedly in excellent health. I’m referring to the sudden and to some extent, unexplained death of Micah …
Stay Healthy and Fit This Vitamin D Winter
YOUR VITAMIN D WINTER When the sun’s rays enter the earth’s atmosphere at too great of an angle, the atmosphere blocks the UVB portion of the rays. This occurs regularly during the early and latter parts of the day, but also continuously throughout the winter season, increasing as one moves …
Varicose Veins – Like a Pack of Worms Under the Skin
That’s the calf of the great American cyclist George Hincapie, currently riding in this year’s Tour de France. It’s an unsightly case of varicose veins, which are very common not just with cyclists, but other athletes too, including ordinary, everyday people. Although common, they are definitely not normal, and there …
Overpronation Is Really Not Your Problem
Are you a pronator? How bout’ an overpronator? Hopefully you’re the former and not the latter, though these terms are often used interchangeably to diagnose why someone has a foot problem or injury. However, overpronation of the foot is not the ultimate cause of any problem or injury, but a …
Athletes and Allergies – They’re a Nuisance, But Not Entirely Normal
Here in North Carolina the pine pollen is out with a vengeance. My Cervelo P3 has changed from black to a slight yellowish tint, and most likely my lungs look the same after a long ride. Sneezing, bloodshot eyes, itchy skin, and asthma symptoms are the most common complaints athletes …
Sleep – The Other Half of That Training Equation
If you sleep well you most likely take it for granted, as many athletes out there would do anything to fall asleep in a short matter of time and stay asleep until morning. Not only do many runners, cyclists, and triathletes not sleep well, but they think their common sleep …
Breathe Better: Understanding Exercise-Induced Asthma
Asthma, including exercise-induced asthma (EIA), is the diagnosis given to more and more people everyday, from kids to overfat individuals and yes, even to the very fit athlete. This condition is defined as a spasm or constriction of the bronchials causing diminished airflow resulting in wheezing, tightness of the chest, …