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Lead Stories: Monday, December 1, 2008

Vitamin B-12 does a body good

Posted May 16th, 2007 at 7:46 PM by Christopher Jack

Section: Nutrition, Supplements

For many of us, the importance of a balanced diet goes without saying; keep the vegetables, fruits and whole grains but toss the chips, cookies and beer.

Nothing in life can be that simple though, so listen up. Without the inclusion of a range of micronutrients into your diet your performance may suffer, but so could your memory, balance and energy. To help ward off any serious and long lasting bodily complications, a good starting point lies within the B vitamin family: vitamin B12.

One of eight water-soluble B vitamins, B12, also known as cobalamin, plays a crucial role in the production of red blood cells and myelin, the fatty insulation around nerve fibers, promoting the health of the entire nervous system. Like other B vitamins, B12 helps convert carbohydrates into glucose, which can be transformed into energy.
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TFS Review: nuun portable electrolyte hydration

Posted January 19th, 2007 at 5:00 PM by Kathryn Magro

Section: Nutrition, Hydration, Race Prep & Recov, Supplements, Special Features, TFS Reviews

Proper hydration is essential for runners and other athletes. Sports drinks are good options, but many people don’t enjoy their very sugary taste and/or experience stomach problems from the excessive carbohydrate intake. Looking for an alternative? Try nuun’s portable electrolyte hydration. Read on for our comprehensive review and the results of our product testing.

Product: nuun portable electrolyte hydration
Price: $6.50 per tube (12 tablets)
Rating: Excellent 8.6/10.0
Pros:Effective hydration on the go; convenient; versatile; won’t cause stomach discomfort; variety of flavors
Cons: Lacks vitamins; no individually packaging
Overall: An effective and convenient hydration option for runners, cyclists and other endurance athletes.

nuun is a portable electrolyte tablet. The tablets come in a small container that resembles Airborne and quickly dissolve when added to 16-20oz. of water. They are also effervescent so no mixing or shaking is required for the tablets to dissolve (unlike many sports drink powders).
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Effects of alcohol on your performance & health

Posted January 1st, 2007 at 3:30 PM by Jonathan Faccone

Section: Running & Training, Training Tips, Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab

There are many studies that demonstrate alcohol’s negative effects on health and physical performance, but the good news is that avoiding it may not be the best idea either.

Believe it or not, athletes used to consume alcohol prior to competition to improve performance. The thinking behind this idea is that alcohol could alter energy metabolism, improve physiological processes, or modify psychological factors to help the athlete. Unfortunately this idea no longer holds as more research is demonstrating that alcohol by no means should be considered a performance-enhancing supplement.
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B Vitamins: Crucial nutrients for an active lifestyle

Posted December 19th, 2006 at 12:00 PM by Emily Hoskins

Section: Nutrition, Supplements, Health & Fitness

Vitamins are called micronutrients because they are only needed in miniscule amounts. These micronutrients are what enable the macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, and protein) to produce enzymes, hormones, and other substances that allow for proper growth and development.

Without them your diet is incomplete and you won’t be able to recover from training sessions quickly which could lead to injuries. As small as the amounts are, their absence from your diet can have severe consequences.

Understanding each vitamin, its functions, and source can be confusing. This article will make things easier and teach you the importance of energy-boosting B vitamins for an active lifestyle.
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Portable electrolyte tablets: What’s all the buzz about?

Posted December 16th, 2006 at 6:19 PM by Jonathan Faccone

Section: Nutrition, Hydration, Race Prep & Recov, Supplements

Since the advent of Gatorade, manufacturers have been in fierce competition to one-up each other with new and better ways to fuel athletes. This has created a very saturated market; one that features a plethora of choices for competitive athletes. As a result, athletes vary greatly, especially in the world of endurance sports, about which option they believe is the most effective.

One alternative that has begun to slowly, pick-up steam in the market is the electrolyte tablet. There has been a lot of buzz surrounding these portable tablets, such as Nuun and Zym, because they are quick and convenient mechanisms for obtaining vital replenishment of electrolytes and other vitamins.
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