A blog to help you optimize your full-body and life performance

After spending 11 years as a triathlete and a triathlon coach, Diane Stokes knows a thing or two about fitness and nutrition. She admitted that although she is usually “up on all the latest nutrition products,” she was surprised to find out how much the InsideTracker program taught her about her body.

Joshua Quarles is on the move. As an avid cyclist and downhill skier, he has never been at a loss for athletic pursuits. Even though he constantly monitors his diet, Quarles, who is the CFO of a community bank in Montana, was still worried about his health. With a family history of high cholesterol and elevated blood pressure, Quarles wanted to make sure that his diet was as rigorous as his cycling regimen.

Daniel Rinehart is a 37-year-old avid bicyclist and hiker who understands the value of a nutrition and fitness regimen. While doing his best to get outside, stay active, and eat a healthy diet, it often proves difficult due to his day job as a software developer. Daniel was looking for an accurate way to keep his finger on the pulse of his health, and he was having a hard time finding a practical solution. Then, he attended a talk by InsideTracker founder, Dr. Gil Blander. He was intrigued by the opportunity to obtain evidence-based health knowledge and detailed feedback about biomarkers that are not typically measured at the doctor’s office. Consequently, he ordered a package of four InsideTracker Performance plans.

Consumer concern over the safety of their food has grown exponentially during the past few years. The demand for organically grown food, which is often perceived as healthier and safer, is bigger than ever before, with many storefronts proudly proclaiming that they stock up on organic products. But do organic foods have as much of an impact on your health as they do on your wallet? Health experts and consumers have spent countless hours debating whether organic foods are more nutritious and safer than conventional foods. Making a commitment to healthy eating is a great step towards a healthier life, but organics may not be the be-all-end-all solution.

Suzie Snyder joins the ranks of world-class athletes like Sarah Haskins, Jarrod Shoemaker, and Ruben Sanca who have used the InsideTracker program to increase their speed and improve their strength. As a professional off-road triathlete, Snyder is no slouch when it comes to her physical fitness. In addition to getting her certification as a strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS), she has a master’s degree in exercise science and a deep knowledge base of human physiology and nutrition. However, she wasn’t sure about the best approach to take in improving her physical performance.

Athletes spend a considerable amount of time and money trying to find the right sports drink, nutrition bar, or protein powder that could give them the extra edge during a competition. Here’s a little secret: knowing your biomarker status might be a more efficient way of improving your athletic performance than any other product on the market. Whether you’re a professional athlete or a weekend warrior, getting a sufficient amount of good sleep can help improve speed, accuracy, and reaction time.

Professional athletes like Sarah Haskins, Jarrod Shoemaker, and Ruben Sanca use InsideTracker to help keep their bodies in the best condition possible to rival other world-class competitors. However, not all of us are professional athletes! In fact, many InsideTracker customers work typical 9-5 hours, and fit in exercise whenever they can. Unfortunately, spending hours sitting in front of a computer can really take a toll on your health and fitness. Nobody knows this better than Brett Bloemendaal. He works at an investment management company by day, and typically goes to the gym after work. Does this routine sound familiar? 

Spending time outdoors is often difficult since many of us spend most of our days under fluorescent lights, but keeping yourself cooped up indoors all day long may be harmful to your health! The bad news is that if you don’t get outside often and expose your skin to the sun, you may have low vitamin D. Why? Because your body actually makes most of its vitamin D from sunshine. Known as the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D provides several important benefits to our bodies, but it can be difficult to get your daily requirement from foods, as very few foods are naturally rich sources of the vitamin. 

We all know that you have to train hard in order to take your physical performance to the next level. But the mental aspect of physical activity is just as important as keeping your body strong and fit. Good thinking skills are beneficial to everyone because making sound judgments can have a profound effect on maximizing your physical skills. Conversely, if you’re tired and unfocused, it can be difficult to make the right moves (both in sports and in life!). Fortunately, there are plenty of simple ways to improve your cognitive function, but you need to find out what’s going on inside of your body first. Blood analysis provides a unique window, as biomarkers are a great evaluation metric. Read on to learn about some of the most relevant biomarkers for your brain health.

Our hearts take center stage in February! Since we celebrate both Valentine’s Day and American Heart Month in February, it’s only fitting that we spend a little time thinking about one of the most important organs in our bodies. First, the bad news: heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. In fact, half a million Americans die from heart disease every year. The good news is that most of the risk factors for this pressing health issue—including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, poor nutrition, and sedentary lifestyle—are preventable and reversible! A great Valentine’s Day gift is to show your body and your heart some love and appreciation by taking the steps that are necessary to live a longer, healthier life.