Nutrients give us life! Macronutrients include proteins, fats and carbohydrates, and serve as the body’s main source of energy. Micronutrients include vitamins and minerals and support the body’s energy metabolism. They help us transform what we ingest through food into what feeds our actual cells and gives us the ability to function (Huskisson et al.,… Read More >>>
Nutrition
Creatine: Foundational for the Body. Plus, Benefits for the Brain?
Creatine is widely accepted as one of the most efficacious, safe, popular and cost-effective ways to boost athletic performance. A 2017 review by the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) named creatine monohydrate the most effective dietary supplement available to athletes aiming to improve high-intensity exercise capacity and lean body mass while training (Kreider et… Read More >>>
Nutritional Supplements Are Not Regulated: Myth or Fact?
A belief prevails among popular culture and even within some health and high-performing athletic organizations that nutritional supplements are not regulated by the FDA. This understanding is simply not true. Don’t believe me? In a lecture presented by the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), Dr. Chris Lockwood, an expert on sports nutrition and dietary… Read More >>>
Essential and Branched-chain Amino Acids: Is One Option “Better?”
Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) include leucine, isoleucine and valine—three of nine essential amino acids (EAAs) that the body cannot make on its own. Historically, BCAA supplements were held in high regard for their perceived impact on athletic performance. In recent years, BCAAs have come under fire for having little or no effect on aspects important… Read More >>>
AMA: Nutrition, Balance and Racing Internationally
When I launched Be Brave in 2015 I envisioned creating community, and establishing a space where readers could send in questions and share ideas. Well, I recently received an email from a collegiate athlete who not only took the time to tell me about her own rowing journey, but also ask for advice! It’s been… Read More >>>