Courtesy of PureSport

Protein is key to strong muscles and great workouts, and it is an essential element of Olympian-endorsed PureSport performance drinks. The most unique aspect of PureSport is that it has special formulas for both workouts and recovery based on in-depth research on acute and chronic effects of exercise on muscle metabolism by Dr. John Ivy, Chairman of Health and Kinesiology at the University of Texas.

The Workout mix is based on the increase in carbohydrates the body burns during intense exercise. A combination of dextrose and fructose allows faster absorption of essential sugars. Also essential to high performance is the regulation of blood plasma during workouts; as the body sweats, plasma levels decrease, depleting the body of energy. PureSport Workout contains enough protein to maintain plasma levels, resulting in better performance overall.

PureSport’s Recovery mix uses protein to increase the body’s blood insulin response and carbohydrates to aid in glucose absorption, resulting in reduced muscle damage, increased muscle tissue repair and increased ability to adapt to new training regimens. Some studies have shown that adding proteins to performance drinks can even decrease an athlete’s risk of getting upper respiratory infections and increase subsequent exercise performance.

If the science alone isn’t convincing, consider the track records of the athletes who stand by the PureSport brand: 14-time gold medalist Michael Phelps, major league soccer player Kenny Cooper, NASCAR driver David Stremme, and Justin Blalock, NFL Guard, among many others, endorse the product.

Image credit:©iStockphoto.com/webphotographeer

If you’ve resolved to live a healthier lifestyle but easily fall back into old habits and excuses, consider joining SparkPeople, a free Web service whose aim is to keep users on point, offering nutritional tracking, workout advice, meal plans, and an interactive online community that you can take or leave.

SparkPeople offers structure and sanity to exercise that is too often and too easily derailed – by way of SparkTeams, groups based on common goals and interests, success stories, motivation pages and, for those who want a competitive edge, a points program. We like SparkPeople because it lacks the hokeyness of other health/fitness sites, because it’s designed for men and women, and because it focuses on holistic techniques for healthy living: not only diet changes, but also fitness regimes and overall life goals.

For many of us, food is an integral part of the holidays and nostalgic family gatherings. But after all the dinner parties, cocktails and office gift baskets it’s easy find yourself five pounds heavier come January. We asked a health expert for some basic tips for how to enjoy the holidays with a healthy balance.

Holiday Party – Fuel Up

A ravenous person is rarely a rational person. Make sure to eat a protein-packed breakfast and lunch before a holiday party to avoid over-eating. Also, to prevent the mid-party sinking spell, avoid the sugar-loaded drinks like eggnog and instead, opt for red wine or a basic mixed drink like a vodka and soda.

Christmas Feast – The Five Minute Rule

A typical Christmas dinner has around 3,000 calories. That’s more than the average person needs in a day. Go ahead and enjoy that traditional experience but eat slowly and savor the meal. Also, steer clear of eating two days worth of calories in one sitting by waiting five minutes before you go back for seconds. You’ll likely discover that you’re actually satisfied and can wait until the next day’s leftovers for more.

The Office – Wait Until The Afternoon

Your break room has probably already been converted into a holiday gift basket showcase. A piece of fudge, a sugar cookie and a couple of cheese straws can push the size of a typical meal. Wait until the afternoon to check out the sampler and look for something like roasted almonds.

(Top Image Courtesy of The FRS Company)

FRS Energy Drink

If you like an extra boost around workouts, but want a drink that is good for your energy levels and good for your body, defer to FRS. Formulated with Quercetin, derived from anti-oxidant rich blueberries, apples and grapes, and infused with a minimal amount of caffeine – equivalent to half a cup of coffee – FRS harnesses the power to jumpstart tough workouts and work days. Lance Armstrong sits on the company’s board of directors, and Olympic athletes have responded well to the energy drink, enjoying the added benefits of decreased inflammation and a better immune system. FRS comes in chews, as a concentrate, a powder or in a can.

–

Perfect Pushup V2

The pushup may at first appear outmoded by other, more complex fitness regimes. However, Alden Mills, a seven year veteran of the U.S. Navy Seals and a former platoon commander, discovered that focusing on functional exercise could decrease the number of injuries his Seals incurred while on the job. He revamped the Seals’ elite training methods and developed a tool that helped them do bedrock exercises more correctly and effectively.

The Perfect Pushup allows arms to rotate naturally while doing pushups, garnering deeper muscle contraction that increases an athlete’s overall performance while protecting the shoulders and arms from injury. The Perfect Pushup’s newest model (V2) features an ergonomic grip, a rubber, anti-slip bottom and better all-round construction; Mills’ company, Perfect Fitness, was recently named #1 Consumer & Product company by Inc Magazine. $40.

We’ve all heard that it’s healthier to eat smaller portions five or six times a day verses the three large meals our culture is built around, but for most of us the practicality of that lifestyle is a challenge.

We asked a health expert for five snacks to eat between meals that will provide energy, boost metabolism, build muscle and enhance performance but are easy to stash at your desk, throw in a suitcase or grab on the go.

Trail Mix: Sweet and salty, this snack is satisfying to the taste buds as well as helping sustain your energy throughout the day. Planters NUT-rition Heart Healthy Mix is easy to store and take anywhere.

Kashi TLC Chewy Granola Bars: Protein plus fiber is the best snack combination. Choose from five different flavors to mix it up.

Beef Jerky: High in protein, this snack will fill you up and ideal to eat when you want to build muscle and boost your metabolism. Stay away from preservatives and high sodium content by choosing brands such as Trader Joes and Whole Foods Market.

Banana and Peanut Butter: Go all natural and eat whole foods by keeping a banana and Smuckers natural peanut butter on hand. Full of protein, fiber, good fat, vitamin and minerals, this snack will help you perform better at work and play.

Starbucks Tall Nonfat Latte: Whether rushing through the airport, on a long road trip, or heading to a meeting, for only 100 calories the caffeine will give you a boost of energy and the protein will help you keep it.