Last year a time magazine article argued that exercise is ineffective for weight loss. This contention flew in the face of conventional wisdom, which holds that, while exercise alone may not be sufficient reach and maintain the ideal body weight, it is necessary. The article’s argument is also false. According to a new review by [...]

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Researchers at Creighton University Medical Center are reporting new evidence that calcium supplementation helps prevent weight gain, at least in certain populations. The new study, published in the journal Nutrition & Metabolism, looked at the effects of daily calcium supplementation, with and without vitamin D, on 870 postmenopausal women. Over the course of the supplementation [...]

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Some endurance athletes switch to a high-fat diet before competition as a way to increase their muscles’ fat-burning capacity during exercise and with it their endurance. Past research has shown that it works, but does the type of fat consumed matter? Researchers at Texas Tech University recently addressed this question in a study. Subjects were [...]

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Arginine supplementation is known to increase the body’s capacity to produce nitric oxide, a biochemical that causes the blood vessels to dilate, increasing blood flow during exercise. Because of this effect, arginine supplementation is potentially beneficial to endurance performance. Researchers from Cal State University-Fresno recently investigated the effects of arginine supplementation on VO2max and ventilatory [...]

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What can you do to keep cool during exercise in hot weather? Drink Accelerade and, in races, throw cold water on your body and put ice under your hat. But there may be something else: spraying yourself with menthol. That’s right, there is some research evidence that spraying a menthol solution either on the tongue [...]

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That’s an intriguing headline. What the heck does it mean? I’ll tell you. It is a well-established fact that women rely more on fat and less on muscle glycogen than men do to provide energy for moderate-intensity exercise. But a new study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise reports that this gender difference [...]

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The amino acids cystine and theanine are involved in the body’s immune and inflammatory processes. Japanese researchers recently invetigated whether supplementation with these amino acids would reduce markers of immune suppression and inflammation in high-level runners engaging in heavy training. Sixteen runners received either daily theanine and cystine supplementation or placebo for the week preceding [...]

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You may have heard the recommendation that athletes consume 30 to 60 grams of carbohydrate per hour during exercise. This recommendation is based on laboratory studies on the rate of ingested carbohydrate burning during exercise. But most such studies have involved cycling, and it’s not safe to assume that the body burns ingested carbs at [...]

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According to a study newly published in the online Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, many of the popular weight-loss diets fail to provide enough vitamins and minerals to sustain optimal health. Holistic nutritionist Jayson Calton analyzed daily menus suggested by four diets: Atkins for Life, South Beach, DASH, and Best Life–for their [...]

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There is some evidence that antioxidant supplementation can have a positive effect on endurance performance. Swiss researchers recently studied whether three weeks of supplementation with antioxidant-rich green tea extract would enhance time trial performance in trained cyclists. Nine male subjects completed a test consisting of a two-hour ride at moderate intensity immediately followed by a [...]

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