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

Did you know that every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood? In the time it took you to read these two sentences, at least two people have received a blood transfusion.

The numbers are staggering, and the need for blood donation is not only constant, but it’s also critical.

Since blood is at the core of our business, and January is National Blood Donor Month, we thought you might like to know how blood donation affects your biomarkers.

I believe in and practice a methodical approach to athletic performance. I control what I can control, and have faith in myself, my training, my body, and my craft. I believe in inspirational athletic feats and heightened states of athletic performance. I know these states exist and they are almost impossible to duplicate or explain. How do you explain what it means to be in “the zone”? It’s obvious to anyone watching when an athlete is in “the zone.” The athlete moves freely and effortlessly, transcending boundaries and defeating opponents. It’s a special thing to witness and a special thing to experience. 

Is your energy low? Don’t just chalk it up as “one of those weeks”—you might be deficient in certain nutrients! Fatigue is a common complaint for many individuals, and it becomes more common with age. Fortunately, there are plenty of simple ways to boost your energy levels, but you need to find out what’s going on inside of your body first.

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.

Did you know that iron plays an important role in ensuring wellness and optimizing physical performance? If your levels of iron are low, you may feel fatigued and run down; if you have too much iron, your levels of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol may increase. To find out exactly what your iron levels are, sign up for an InsideTracker plan. If your iron levels are out-of-range, InsideTracker will give you suggestions for diet, exercise, supplement and lifestyle changes to help you optimize them.

If you’re an athlete, you’ve probably heard plenty of information about the importance of incorporating ample amounts of protein and carbohydrates in your diet. Especially during training season, it can be a challenge to meet your nutritional needs when it comes to healthy calorie, fluid, vitamin, and mineral consumption. However, adequate iron intake plays an equally important role in optimizing physical performance, despite the fact that it receives much less recognition.