Nutrition & Healthy Cooking

NordicTrack treadmills are synonymous with top quality workout machines developed by a company that has been around for quite awhile. They have quite a great variety of treadmills and elliptical trainers suitable for walking or running workouts. It has been found that walking exercise can be a superb way to get in shape. Ask any long distance runner about the extreme pounding their legs tolerate from running on concrete. Treadmill running or walking is not for everyone, however, because a lot of people opt to go outside and run. Today we will share our evaluation of specific aspects of the NordicTrack treadmill machines.

Although NordicTrack has been very successful over the years, its products are out of reach for most individuals due to the price. Remember, though, that these are likely to be higher end models, and so the price tag is in all likelihood as low as it can get. But they will last forever, or until you want a new treadmill, and they are manufactured very well using good materials. NordicTrack is a company that has made a good decision by creating their treadmill trainers for upgrades and options. Perhaps they are trying to address the possible objection to a boring exercise on a stationary trainer. To address that issue, they are beginning to integrate jacks and ports into treadmill machines to connect electronic devices. You can even hookup your WiFi connection, and they in addition have hardware for iFit readers.

It is clear, from looking at what they offer, that they try to include as much new technology as possible. In fact, their newest model treadmill trainers have the means so you can be online right there at the treadmill. If you like to be on the web while you are working out, then make sure that you check out their 9500 model Elite. We think it may be difficult to do any serious reading while you are walking and particularly when you’re running. There is all types of entertainment on the Internet now, and just for starters you can watch live news, listen to music online, online radio stations, and a lot more. Anything you are doing on the treadmill will go by very fast if you are entertained on the web.

They also include fans on a number of treadmills so you can work out comfortably. Some of their machines, such as the Reflex Series, provide extra padding to reduce impact while running. The literature for this model, the Reflex, reports you will experience about 40% less surface shock. They also claim this series has the latest type of buffering to be found in a treadmill on the market. All of the NordicTrack models are built really well and from high quality materials. If they genuinely desired to make a serious impact, then they should provide us their testing information or methodology.

One thing about NordicTrack is sure, they never cease improving their products. Motors are an important component of NordicTrack treadmill exercise machines. Some environments are more demanding, so you can could get treadmill trainers with more heavy duty motors. This is the sort of exercise machine where lots of information will help you make a wise decision.

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Diet, Diets, exercise, exercise equipments, fitness, Health, lose weight, shopping, Society, Sports, treadmills, weight loss, wellness, womens health, womens issues

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The recent steroid scandal involving Yankees’ third baseman, Alex Rodriguez has once again thrust steroid-use and athletic performance aids to the front pages of newspapers everywhere—prompting many to ask exactly how many athletes use performance enhancers.

Because professional sports are so competitive, many players use some type of aid, device or procedure that may enhance performance. Many of these are legal and some are even natural supplements which produce highly effective results. The major difference between the two is in the way they work inside the body.

Drugs have higher risk of side effects or may be addictive with repeated use. For this reason, some drugs such as ephedra, amphetamines, and anabolic/androgenic/designer steroids, have been banned by sports organizations. In contrast, natural supplements have fewer known side effects. They work by aiding the body’s natural ability to reach maximum levels of performance and endurance.

Natural Sports Supplements
Recently research in the field of natural and herbal sports supplements has advanced. Studies show positive results through clinical trials conducted over many years–providing research to support the use of herbal supplementation. By nutritionally supporting the body, you can provide it with the building blocks necessary to enhance not only sports performance, but also for supporting the health of the general population.

Natural supplements are legal and easily available. Here are a few common nutritional supplements for athletes and how each of these work in the body and could help to naturally enhance performance.

Multi-Vitamins
This includes essential vitamins, minerals and bioflavonoids that can be used as co-factors for enhancing digestion. For an athlete, intense practice and workouts can deplete the body’s storage of vitamins and minerals. Those involved in sports and training, as well as those who live sedentary lives need a daily multi-vitamin to support good health.1

Amino Acids
Amino acids are protein- building structures. A protein shake, consumed one hour after a workout, can help to build muscle mass more quickly. Protein is also necessary for non-sports persons as well, especially when diets are vegan or subsist on junk foods.2

Hydration Drinks
Those who work out and profusely lose vital salts and minerals through perspiration need to replenish and refuel their bodies with fluids containing electrolytes. Some hydration drinks contain isotonic salts, minerals, and glucose to rehydrate the body.4

L-Glutamine
This nutrient nutritionally helps to strengthen muscles and supports immune health. 5

Glucosamine
Studies show glucosamine sulfate can nutritionally help to ease pain and inflammation associated with joints. Athletes who overwork their joints as well as those who suffer from various joint pains and joint injury find glucosamine supplementation beneficial in restoring joint health. 6

Creatine
Creatine, or phosphocreatine, is a protein building block. Creatine nutritionally supports muscles in manufacturing adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP, stores and transports energy in cells and helps to provide quick bursts of explosive energy. It also helps to build muscle mass more quickly and reduces recovery time between workouts.7

Green Tea Extract
Green tea has thermogenic properties and is used to nutritionally help the body burn fat more quickly. Those on a diet may find drinking green tea supports quicker weight loss.8

Resveratrol
Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant found in the skin of red grapes. Studies show that resveratrol nutritionally builds athletic stamina and supports heart health.9

Nutritional supplements should be used in combination with a healthy diet and a good training program. Supplements can effectively help to build muscle mass, support fat loss, and improve stamina and athletic performance.

References:

Vitamin and mineral supplementation to athletes. Int J Sport Nutr. 1991 Jun;1(2):146-69. PMID: 1844992. Branched-chain amino acid supplementation does not enhance athletic performance but affects muscle recovery and the immune system. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2008 Sep;48(3):347-51. PMID: 18974721. Clarkson PM: Nutritional Ergogenic Aids: Caffeine. Int J of Sports Nutr. 3:103-111, 1993. Fluid and electrolyte balance in ultra-endurance sport. Sports Med. 2001;31(10):701-15. PMID: 11547892. Glutamine: a potentially useful supplement for athletes. Can J Appl Physiol. 1999 Feb;24(1):1-14. PMID: 9916176. Glucosamine administration in athletes: effects on recovery of acute knee injury. Res Sports Med. 2007 Apr-Jun;15(2):113-24. PMID: 17578751. Creatine supplementation and exercise performance: recent findings. Sports Med. 2005;35(2):107-25. PMID: 15707376. Green tea and thermogenesis: interactions between catechin-polyphenols, caffeine and sympathetic activity. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2000 Feb;24(2):252-8. PMID: 10702779. Cell, November 2006

Nutritional, Sports, Supplements

The role of food in total health care is not something new to mankind. The use of food to maintain man’s health is as natural as day and night. More than 2,000 years ago, Hippocrates, considered as the father of medicine, said, “Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.” It is this principle that eventually led to the explosion of the nutraceutical industry.

The nutraceutical industry is concerned with nutraceuticals, that is, “food or part of a food that offers medical and/or health benefits including prevention or treatment of disease.”

All therapeutic areas such as anti arthritic, cold and cough, pain killers, digestion, sleeping disorders, blood pressure, cholesterol, prevention of certain cancers, osteoporosis, depression and diabetes are covered by nutraceuticals.

Products range from herbal dietary supplements, actual food components in dosage form such as capsules or tablets to beverages fortified with vitamins and genetically engineered designer foods, functional foods, processed foods such as cereal, soup and beverages.

Functional foods, the most popular term among consumers are modifieds food or food ingredients that may provide a health benefit beyond the traditional nutrients it contains.

Nutraceuticals is widely popular in the US, Canada, Japan, and Europe and has garnered $80 billion dollars in revenues. The demand for nutraceuticals has been growing worldwide due to consumer awareness of the links of diet and disease, aging population, rising health care cost and innovations in food technology and nutrition.

Sports and Food

In the last decade, sports and fitness nutrition has emerged as one large distinct category in the nutraceutical industry. Three main products contributed to the market’s dramatic 2004 growth:

- low carbohydrate products – which grew by as much as 154%

- sports energy beverages – which grew by 18%;

- sports supplements – which grew by 6%.

Now, the $2 billion-worth sports nutrition industry has moved away from the plain-tasting protein powders into a bigger pool of choices for customers. Available in almost any drug stores or supermarkets are energy bars, meal replacement products, protein powders, individual items (e.g., creatine, L-carnitine), amino acids, herbs, prohormones (hormone precursors); vitamins; minerals; and combination products. Because of this the sports nutrition nutraceutical industry is considered a ‘niche’ market and an offshoot of the mainstream food industry.

Competition factors for the Sports Nutrition Market

Product/brand differentiation

Because of greater saturation and competition in the marketplace sports nutrition products look alike and sound the same. Maintaining a brand that stands apart from the rest is difficult but a thing to strive for.

Research-substantiated claims.

Consumers’ ability to make intelligent choices should never be underestimated. People place more faith endorsements by university professors and doctors and claims backed by independent research than by endorsements by celebrities.

Core products and strategies

A good strategy now is to focus development of core products or integrating with large food and pharmaceutical concerns (e.g., Powerbar, BalanceBar).

E-commerce

For small companies that cannot or will not rely on strong distribution relationships, e-commerce is an increasingly attractive option.

Basis for marketing strategy

The factors for competition stated above have been gleaned from researches of what consumers are willing to pay for. Overall, customers want:

Something New

Retailers and consumers clamor for “new,” whether it means new forms of delivery (gels, effervescent tablets, functional beverages), new applications of or combinations with existing products, or all-natural sports nutrition products that are free of artificial ingredients and solvents.

Excellent Tasting All-natural products

Consumers are also looking for products that taste good and are easy to take. Taste is a major feature that can either make or break a product. The hunt is on for manufacturers to come up with better and new flavors.

High quality and safe products

Regulatory agencies exist to protect the consumers. It is the responsibility of product manufacturers to undertake sound research and prove the efficacy and safety of their nutraceutical products. Products that are based on false or misleading marketing should be and are banned and condemned.

Through product sales and advances in research and development, the Sports Nutrition Nutraceutical Industry is now validating what was proven, early on, by the fitness and nutrition pioneers – sports nutrition products provide easier access to a healthier way of performing and living.

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