SIRC

Omega-3 fats are a type of polyunsaturated fat found naturally in fish oils, which have long been thought to be good for general health. There are claims that it improves everything from brain function, to cardiovascular health, but does it give athletes an edge? A recent study found that Omega-3 fatty acids may increase physical conditioning by improving the efficiency of the cardiorespiratory...Read more

As an athlete, there is a good chance that you will be traveling to competitions at some point in your career. Wherever you are, a change in your schedule, environment or even time zone can significantly disrupt an athlete's routine, especially diet. Sometimes when you're tired and hungry it can feel easier to just grab-and-go but it's important to remember that making good food choices on the...Read more

Many of you may not know that the International Council on Active Aging celebrates Active Aging Week , from September 23-29. A lot people participate in this annual event, with this year's theme being many journeys, many destinations. To celebrate this week, we are giving some tips for healthy, active living, so you don't have to let age slow you down! 1. Determine your participation style - Do...Read more

Most athletes, professional and recreational, often eat relatively well but with busy lifestyles it can be very useful to be informed of a few of the key nutrients you can target for optimal health . We all know that we need to eat more fruits and vegetables, drink more water and choose low fat foods but did you know you may be missing some key nutrients including, calcium, zinc, iron and...Read more

SIRC Newsletter now available online: Train Like an Olympian With everyone talking about the London 2012 Olympics, it’s fun to see what elite athletes do to attain such high levels of performance. For most athletes, the Olympics is the peak of their athletic career and as such, they strive to reach the highest levels of achievement. Training is long and intense and sometimes comes with setbacks,...Read more

Sports drinks are extremely popular right now and with so many appearing on the market all claiming different things, before you buy, you should know what's in those bottles and how to use them properly. Sports drinks are made to replenish the body's fluid losses during intense physical exercise, and the "classic" sports drinks (Gatorade, Powerade) aim to accomplish three things: Prevent...Read more

The gluten-free food trend has become more popular and many athletes are questioning whether it's something they should try. The main reason people decide to omit gluten is that they have been diagnosed with celiac disease . Celiac disease is when gluten , a protein found in wheat and other grains, damages the intestines and prevents the body from absorbing essential nutrients. Along with...Read more

It’s common knowledge that physical exercise is good for our general health, but did you know there's another advantage to proper exercise and nutrition? It’s good for your brain . Aerobic exercise increases the amount of oxygen in the blood and studies on rats have shown that neurons (the brain's nerve cells responsible for communication) operate better when they get more oxygen. So, if you...Read more

SIRC Newsletter now available online: Recovery You’ve had an intensive workout and your muscles are sore, you’re thirsty and your body is yelling at you to just lie down and rest. This is the easy part! Often neglected but very important, recovery is a major part of training and should not be overlooked. The idea is to make time for your body to get the necessary rest it needs to perform even...Read more

Contrary to popular belief there is a time and a place for weight gain. Many athletes are required to gain weight to increase strength, increase their size or increase their musculature. In sports with weight categories, being a heavier weight may not always mean being "fatter" but having a fit heavier body mass. The focus of a recent article in the SIRC Collection addresses athletic weight gain...Read more