Saturday, February 26, 2011

Ab Circle not worth the $

I previously (http://pcconditioning.blogspot.com/2010/12/did-santa-bring-you-ab-circle-this.html) blogged about the "Ab Circle," yet another ridiculous "As Seen on TV" product that promises toned abdominals. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research recently published a study that confirmed what I suspected, traditional trunk exercises outperform this device. Side Bridges and Quadrupeds (see below) were found to be superior with respect to muscle activation in areas including the Rectus Abdominis and the Transversus.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Zinc, not Chicken Soup, for the Soul


Interesting piece from today's New York Times about zinc rivaling chicken soup to help combat the common cold:



Monday, February 14, 2011

Blood Oranges

One of my favorite fruits this time of year are blood oranges. A hybrid of the ever-popular sweet orange, blood oranges are smaller in size, more aromatic in flavor and have a red-hued flesh. They are an excellent source of Vitamin C and are a good source of fiber and calcium.


Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Sunday, February 06, 2011

Nutritional Strategies and Immune Function


I was reviewing a nutrition article in the December, 2010 issues of the NSCA's Strength & Conditioning Journal today and found something I wanted to share with you. The article discussed Nutritional Strategies and Immune Function and reported the following:
Quercetin, found in foods such as apples and onions, has been shown to reduce incidence of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections. Flavonoids found in tea and berry products may be beneficial as well.

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Pollan: Don't Eat What You See on TV

Michael Pollan is simply incredible. His literary work is outstanding and he is a great speaker. Check out a lecture he gave recently as he discusses the # of ingredients in food. Very good piece.