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

As the second chapter of our three-part National Heart Health Month series, we're talking about a topic that can sometimes confuse even the best of us: the difference between fat in our diets and fat in our bodies (and the implications of both on our health).

Our team of nutritionists is always investigating the latest research on the overlooked health benefits of food products. Recently, we stumbled upon research documenting the therapeutic value of a common, versatile kitchen staple: vinegar. Read below to learn how five common types of vinegars can help you control your levels of lipids and blood sugar and quick tips on how you can incorporate them into your diet.

Do you have high cholesterol? While you may know that high levels of cholesterol don’t spell good news for your heart, cholesterol and inflammation often work hand-in-hand to damage your body.

If you want to become faster, stronger, and more flexible, pay attention to the food that you eat. Optimal nutrition is the key to peak performance on and off the field, because food provides essential nutrients necessary to build and maintain a strong body.

“Biomechanical changes take time and persistence, but changes in diet can be made quickly and can have an immediate effect on how your body works,” says US Olympic triathlete Jarrod Shoemaker.

As the obesity and diabetes epidemics continue to soar, the blame for our expanding waistlines and declining health is frequently pinned on sugar. The problem is that when people think of “sugar,” they think of the added sugar in foods that are associated with weight gain, such as soda, cake, and candy. However, there are many different types of sugars – both naturally occurring sugars in fruit and vegetables, and added sugars in processed foods. Most people don’t really need to consume any added sugar; the natural sugars in fruits, vegetables and dairy products are sufficient. InsideTracker can tell you if your blood glucose levels are healthy, so you can adjust your sugar intake accordingly.