Damian Rodriguez
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Children's HealthFood and DrinkFoods & CulinaryHealthHealth & FitnessMens HealthMental HealthVitaminsWomen's Health
3 Ways to Fuel Your Success
Success is a state of mind; it’s a way of thinking and living. It’s no coincidence that studies have shown that physical, academic, and financial health are highly correlated. While research suggests that there are several factors in the attitude of success, most notable is the conscientiousness personality trait. This mindset can be developed through […]
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The Dopamine Pathway to Health
Have you ever wondered why it is nearly impossible to say no when the waiter brings the dessert menu around after dinner? One word: dopamine. Often referred to as “the pleasure hormone,” this brain neurotransmitter is the leading actor in our reward system and is one of the keys to developing sustainable healthy lifestyle behaviors. […]
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Getting Hip with the Hinge
While recently shopping for a new pair of swimming trunks, I noticed a peculiar trend: it is becoming quite difficult to find male swimming attire that reaches the knees these days. Is this a new fashion trend (likely) or am I seeing a fundamental shift in fitness and body image? Are we ready to consider […]
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Preparing to Move, by Moving
“Knees straight, touch your toes and hold.” The first line of every gym class ever. It’s amazing how the science of exercise physiology has changed in the last handful of years and hopefully influenced what kids are being asked to do when they don their first pair of junior high emblazoned short shorts (my kids […]
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Children's HealthFood and DrinkFoods & CulinaryHealthHealth & FitnessMens HealthVitaminsweight lossWomen's Health
Filling Your Bowl with Health
Quick, what one nutritional component are 97% of Americans deficient in? Iron? Guess again. Bone-strengthening calcium? Nope. I’ll give you a few hints (or one that is really hard to chew on): your body cannot digest it. Yes sir/ma’am, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, only approximately one out of every 33 of […]
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Exercising on the Run
According to a recent study conducted by travel website Expedia®, 53% of Americans think it is important to exercise while traveling. And honestly, there is some darn convincing, scientifically substantiated reasons why you shouldn’t skip a single workout, let alone a week or two of them. Skipping just over a week’s worth of workouts can […]
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Children's HealthFood and DrinkFoods & CulinaryHealthHealth & FitnessHealth Care & MedicalMens Healthweight lossWomen's Health
It’s Not the Color of the Bread or the Numbers on the Label
We’ve all been told since we were capable of eating solid food that whole wheat bread is healthier than white bread, and through examination of its nutritional content (fiber and protein content, vitamin and mineral composition, glycemic index, etc.), that belief can hardly be contested. But a recent study examined the effects of consuming different […]
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Children's HealthFood and DrinkFoods & CulinaryHealthHealth & FitnessMens HealthVitaminsweight lossWomen's Health
Frenched, Fried, and Dried: How Processing Has Destroyed the Affable Spud
Potatoes are the leading vegetable crop in the United States, contributing over 15% of farm sales receipts according to the USDA. Even with recent legislation, sliced and fried or combined with cream and mashed, potatoes account for nearly 40% of vegetables served in school lunches nationwide. Nearly a decade ago, when I first became involved […]
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Of Boxes and (Egotistical) Bruises
I’ve never met a box that I didn’t think I could jump on or over, and I am usually right. As evidenced by my heavily scarred shins, I have indeed encountered a few metal platforms and wooden boxes that I was incapable (on that day) of conquering, and last Tuesday was one of those days. […]
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Practicing Intermittent Fasting…Intermittently?
Flying in the face of conventional wisdom, intermittent fasting, where one cycles between periods of eating and fasting, has become increasingly popular as further research examines its possible benefits. Recent research has suggested that altering conventional feeding patterns may have positive influences on how the body deals with inflammation and oxidative stress, insulin response, and […]