It’s no surprise: Eating plants is good for health. Multiple studies have demonstrated that following a vegetarian or vegan diet not only promotes healthy aging, but is also protective against certain chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. [1-4] And there is an increasing sector of the population focused on simply reducing their consumption of animal foods. This shift towards a more plant-focused diet can specifically benefit amateur and elite athletes, as such an eating ...

Research shows that a healthy gut microbiome can be beneficial for many aspects of overall health, wellness, and longevity. Optimizing gut health can promote immune system health, reduce inflammation, balance hormones, and improve the digestion and absorption of food—all actions that are also important components of being a healthy athlete. So, is there a connection between gut health and performance? Here's a synopsis of what the science says about the connection between a healthy gut and ...

Athletes are always looking for ways to improve performance and take goals to the next level. Efforts for doing just that are often limited to waking hours: nutrition, hydration, recovery protocols, supplement routine and, of course, training itself. And despite all this, research shows that, on average, athletes neglect a critical performance tool: sleep. So how does inadequate sleep affect athletic performance? Interestingly, the oversight of sleep can impact performance, both directly and ...

You may have noticed a great divide in the fitness world between strength and endurance athletes and their approach to training routines. Avid runners and triathletes focus on their aerobic fitness for upcoming races—often to the point of neglecting the weight room. The same holds true for any strength athletes who spend little time away from their lifting routine to to focus on aerobic fitness. But the truth is, if you’re looking for a new PR on the race course or PB in the weight room, or if ...

As a sport, swimming comes to the forefront every four years, peaks in popularity, and slowly treads its way back into the deep. But if you're a swimmer like me, whether you were an age-group swimmer, club swimmer, college swimmer or even a Masters swimmer, a certain sense of pride and awe comes over you as you watch the world's best swimmers go stroke-for-stroke in the Olympics. Though, perhaps more people should ride this wave and jump in. Swimming might just be the sport you've been looking ...

Each year, as the weather begins to warm across the country, professional baseball players report for MLB Spring Training. They come to prepare for a long grueling season of 162 games... and, like the fans that watch them, they all hope for more. In fact, a few stellar MLB players are avid InsideTracker users, and they told their story recently to MLB.com.  The drive to gain a few pounds of muscle, add another rep, and recover one day quicker, is commonplace for anyone actively strength ...

  The World Cup illustrated yet again that a small moment in time can mean the difference between winning and losing. Many elite athletes are using physiological data about their sleep, heart rate variability, and blood biomarkers to get the advantage. Like professional athletes, business executives face constant travel, high stake pressure, and extreme competition — all stressors that can create strain and breakdown to their bodies. As a result, many entrepreneurs and corporate leaders are now ...

  What is Heart Rate Variability?  Contrary to popular belief, the heart does not beat with metronome regularity. The heart, in fact, speeds up when you inhale, and slows down when you exhale. The difference is known as heart-rate variability (HRV) and is a great indication of your overall health, stress levels and readiness to train.