Sheril Marek, M.S.Selenium is a trace element that is nutritionally essential for humans. Essential nutrients are required for normal body functioning that cannot be synthesized by the body. This shows the importance of consuming adequate selenium in one’s diet and supplements for enhanced exercise performance and decreased health risks. Selenium is a component of many selenoproteins that play a critical role in reproduction, thyroid hormone metabolism, DNA synthesis, and protection from o...

Vincent Chen, B.S When talking about resistance exercise, some people believe that women respond less than men in terms of muscle mass and strength gain, while others think that it may make women look bulky. Many women therefore tend to avoid doing resistance exercise. However, the benefits outweigh the possible drawback of bulkier appearance. Physical inactivity-induced muscle loss may reduce an individual's ability to resist impact and lower the basal metabolic rate (BMR) to an unheal...

Nina Laidlaw Rumler, B.A.Do you know what sport uses weights and is governed by rules published in 17 different languages with participants in 100 different countries, competes males and females of all ages and sizes against others in their divisions – and is not in the Olympics? Here’s a hint – it’s not bodybuilding although it maximizes muscle development; in fact, it developed in competition with bodybuilding. Although it uses weights, it isn’t Olympic weigh...

Andrew Jagim, Ph.D, CSCSIt makes sense right? It’s the day after a tough workout, you’re sore, it hurts to move but you have to move because you have another session with your trainer in two hours. So, what do you do? You pop some non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) to take the edge off and get back out there for round 2! The question is: Is this doing more damage than good? It seems as though there has always been some controversy regarding the administration of NSAIDs. Are t...

Majid Koozehchian, M.S.The antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a modified form of essential amino acid cysteine, which is both consumed in high-protein food and synthesized in the body, does not receive much attention but has important, positive impacts in the body (1). This antioxidant is a precursor to glutathione (the master antioxidant) in the body, and is readily metabolized into intracellular glutathione.   Following are some benefits reported for NAC:  NAC protects th...

Majid Koozehchian, M.S.Alpha lipoic acid (ALA), also called thioctic acid, is an antioxidant that is commonly used as a dietary supplement, particularly in the Unites States. A unique characteristic of ALA is that, unlike other antioxidants such as vitamins C (water soluble) and E (fat soluble), ALA functions in both watery and fatty tissue environments. Besides serving as an antioxidant itself, ALA also restores other oxidized forms of antioxidants including vitamins C and E to their active sta...

Kyle Levers, M.S. CSCSThe popularity of coconut water has increased significantly over the past decade due to its nutritional composition and rehydration capability. Natural coconut water is the clear liquid found inside of a young, green coconut, not to be confused with the white liquid typically squeezed from the coconut’s outer layer, known as coconut milk.  A growing number of nutritional advertisements promote the use of coconut water over other well-established sports drinks, su...

Brandon Macias, Ph.DThe estimated lifetime risks of an osteoporotic fracture are about 50% in women and 22% in men. Fractures in the elderly lead to large, often irreversible loss of quality of life and are associated with an increased risk of death. Furthermore, annual direct-care costs attributable to osteoporotic fractures are estimated to cost up to $18 billion in the United States. Most research to date has shown that regular weight bearing exercise helps preserve bone mineral density in po...

Kevin Shimkus, B.S.As is well known, physical gains become slower and more difficult to achieve as athletes reach a more elite status.  For those involved in strength- and power-based sports, improvements in strength and mass eventually plateau, and even rigorous workout and nutritional prescriptions may yield only minimal increases.  So it is little surprise that many in the athletic world are starting to pay more attention to some very special mice.      &nbs...

Julian Ong, MND, APDThe latest trend to hit the sports supplement industry stems from none other than the humble beetroot. This versatile root vegetable can be used in a variety of dishes and is well known for its rich content of healthful chemicals including betalains (antioxidants that are responsible for the deep red color), vitamins A and C, iron and other minerals, carotenoids, and dietary fiber. Recent research that is turning heads, however, examines its positive benefits on blood pressur...