Erin SimmonsRecently, coconut oil has exploded in popularity: it is added to coffee, used in cooking, and even consumed by the spoonful. This begs the question of what exactly makes coconut such a “miracle food”? A number of organizations advise against the consumption of coconut oil because of its high saturated fat (SF) content, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and American Heart Association.  Indeed, coconut oil is appr...

Kyle Levers, MS, CSCSDespite all of the trophies and accomplishments hanging on the bedroom walls of today’s best youth athletes, many fail to make it through high school or collegiate athletics.  The culture of youth sports has drastically changed from previous generations in which young athletes are inundated with select, travel, and club teams that cultivate an intensely competitive environment among all that are involved.  The intense competition of youth sport as well as the...

Kyle Levers, MS, CSCSStrength and power athletes are a unique athlete subset, which includes many different types of athletes and can span highly varied requirements for strength and power development.  The difference in strength and power requirements stems from different physiological, anatomical, biochemical, and energy system requirements by various sports.  However, all strength and power athletes rely on development of maximal force within the muscle (potentially at a h...

Dr. Deepesh KhannaHeart rate variability (HRV) means changes in the interval or distance between one beat of the heart and the next (1). It has relevance for physical, emotional, and mental function. The human heart is a bio-electrical pump beating at an ever changing rate. This variability in heart rate is an adaptive quality in a healthy body. HRV is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which is comprised of sympathetic and parasympathetic components. It has been elucidated that alterat...