Power Up With Protein

The research is strong. Athletes need protein. In fact we need more protein than non-athletes. The consistent impact and oxygen consumption that occurs because of daily training creates damage. Protein is responsible for much of the prevention of and recovery from that damage. It can be difficult to consume ample protein based on our busy schedules so below you will find some simple tips to help you figure out the best ways to increase your protein consumption.   

Aside from the obvious protein sources like meat, chicken, Turkey and fish...try these simple ways to increase your protein intake every day!

Start your day with protein. Getting it in early will give you a head start on meeting your protein requirement! Good examples of simple protein sources for breakfast are eggs, milk, chia seeds, flax milk, soy milk, greek yogurt and oatmeal.

Try snacking on jerky! Beef jerky, turkey jerky, and salmon jerky are convenient snacks to...

Tip#2 (of 10...)

Boost your training with Antioxidants! Every time you head to practice, to the gym to lift or compete in a game or meet...you consume A LOT of oxygen! That oxygen that you consume during these activities destroys cells. Crazy right? This is called oxidative damage. Thankfully you can combat this damage by  consuming foods that are rich in antioxidants. This literally means that there are components in foods that will "undo" the damage thats done by oxygen.  These components protect your cells from further destruction and help to rebuild and strengthen them.

Foods that are high in antioxidants include strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, spinach, kale, collards, apples, oranges, broccoli, kale, beans, potatoes, pecans, artichokes and plums ...to name a few. To be honest, most of your fruits and vegetables will contain anti-inflammatory properties. There are many grains (oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa), nuts (almonds, cashews) and fish (salmon) that also...