foods

We hear plenty about carbs, fat and protein. Every popular diet has its own philosophy on the right breakdown. Micronutrients, on the other hand, often get overlooked. Sure, they’re needed in much smaller quantities, but that doesn’t mean they’re not important. In fact, many physiological...

One diet continuously tops the list when it comes to researched health benefits: the Mediterranean diet. While labeled a ‘diet’ in mainstream media, this is not about restriction. The word ‘diet’ is used here to encompass a way of eating and foods consumed, not necessarily a plan to reduce...

It seems like an easy choice: If you want to perform well, grab some sport food to fuel your training. Sport foods are bars, drinks, meals and gels specifically designed and packaged to provide energy and nutrients to a working body. Unfortunately, there are many foods on the market that simply...

Sleep is a powerful tool for athletes. It is a time when your mind and body rest, and recovery and adaptations take place. Sleeping plays a vital role in athletic performance by improving reaction times, decision-making, coordination, promoting a lean physique and creating stronger muscles. One...

As a new year begins, many athletes reevaluate how they can make the most out of the 365 days to come by scoping out new workouts and the latest gear, making big goals and generally revamping their healthy habits. Part of this annual refresh includes overhauling your diet to align with health...

Consuming foods that supply calories is essential for supplying the body with energy to perform the basic functions of life such as keeping a heart beating and everything up to and including running a marathon. After all, a calorie is a unit of energy. Calorie tracking in an app like...

It seems we all know someone who has gone gluten free. And while some have a medical condition and need to avoid gluten, others claim the diet has cleared away brain fog, boosted energy or helped them lose weight. However, the research to back up these claims is thin, if anything, so before you...

Continually near the top of the U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Diets lists, the Mediterranean diet is known for its heart health benefits and focus on fish, olive oil and red wine. And although researchers of the landmark study on the diet recently re-published their findings after...

Named the best overall diet by U.S. News and World Report for eight consecutive years, the DASH diet tends to fly under the radar. Although there aren’t any celebrities endorsing the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Diet, many doctors and registered dietitians applaud it. Developed by...

Created by Melissa Hartwig (and her then-husband) in 2009, the Whole30 diet is a 30-day plan that eliminates food groups Hartwig claims are “psychologically unhealthy, hormone-unbalancing, gut-disrupting [and] inflammatory.” However, US News & World Report ranked it 37 out of 40 on its list of...

Most people know what they need to do to lose weight: Eat less, move more. While it might not be that simple for everyone, the truth is, not knowing how to eat well or how to exercise is not usually the reason people struggle with weight loss. (Although, it happens.) But if you feel confident...

Yet another new diet is circulating gyms, and for once it’s not about losing weight — this one’s all about making gains. The vertical diet was created by Stan “The Rhino” Efferding, an IFBB professional bodybuilder, for other bodybuilders and powerlifters. The name comes from the idea that the...

When it comes to weight-loss nutrition, figuring out what to eat (and how much of it) is half the battle. The other half is minimizing temptation and guesswork to give yourself a leg up. In fact, most people on a weight-loss journey don’t realize that by investing in the right tools and...

It can be hard to change long-standing beliefs about anything, and that’s definitely true when it comes to fitness and nutrition. For example, some still believe lifting weights will cause women to “bulk up” and eating fat makes you fat. But times change, and so does the science, which helps us...

When it comes to losing weight, it’s not just the calories in the foods you eat that could help — or hinder — your efforts. Recent research found gut microbiota, the microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses living in your gastrointestinal tract, have an impact on weight loss...

You may have to get creative with fewer ingredients, but eating nutritious foods at low prices is possible whether you shop at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods or Walmart. The key is creating a meal plan that revolves around the most budget-friendly produce and proteins. For example, opting for more...

If you’ve ever tried to eat healthier, you’ve probably heard the advice you should eat the foods you love — in moderation. There’s a good reason for that. “Deprivation never works and often leads to binges, so the best bet is to develop strategies to enable you to enjoy your favorite foods —...

Weight loss isn’t about a quick fix or detox, it’s about creating lasting habits that help you lead a healthier lifestyle. This can be especially challenging during the holidays, when your normal routines get altered. However, by incorporating the 10 nutrition tips below you can set yourself up...

Protein is an important macronutrient for losing weight, building muscle and recovering from tough workouts — and many people don’t get enough. Because protein is viewed as healthy, many companies are marketing packaged desserts, like cookies and muffins, fortified with protein. At home, it’s...

As one of the three major macronutrients (along with carbohydrates and fats), protein is a necessity, essential for everyday growth, cell function and repair, oxygen transportation, better weight control and it makes up the enzymes that power most of the chemical reactions required to make our...