Tag: best

Top 5 Supplements for Runners

Published on by Wholistic Running

Most runners want to run at their optimal performance and do everything they can to run faster, recover quicker and prevent injuries. What you eat is an important part of this equation and specific supplements may help you perform at your best. Here are a few supplements science shows that may actually help athletes increase their performance. Click on any of the included links to get 15% off your order.

1. B-12

B-12 is an underrated supplement for athletes. Many runners are deficient in this supplement including those that eat meat. B-12 is vital for producing red blood cells and increasing blood volume. This helps enhance your muscles oxygen carrying capacity which enhances performance, optimizes recovery and increases energy levels. We recommend a sub-lingual B-12 such as Hammer’s Xobaline.

2. Omega-3’s

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for optimal health. They specifically help athletes reduce inflammation which can reduce pain and enhance recovery. We recommend getting your omega-3’s from plant-based sources such as flax, hemp or chia seeds.

3. Iron

According to the World Health Organization, iron deficiency is the top nutrition disorder worldwide.  Iron is important for red blood cell production and increasing blood volume. Sufficient iron levels help you run more efficiently, breath easier and perform optimally. We recommend getting blood tests, specifically your ferritin levels, to see if you are deficient in iron.

4. Turmeric

Turmeric has been proven to reduce inflammation thus speeding up recovery. How quickly you recover between runs is an important part of your training program. You can put dried turmeric in your dishes or fresh turmeric in smoothies. Tissue Rejuvenator from Hammer is a effective supplement containing turmeric that helps speed up recovery.

5. Beets

Beets are scientifically proven to enhance athletic performance because of their high levels of nitrates. We suggest putting beets in a smoothie before your run or race but be sure to consume it 2-3 hours beforehand. Fully Charged is another product you can use that contains high levels of nitrates from beets.

***Consult your physician before taking new supplements

Happy Running,

Lindsey Hintz, M.S. Nutrition for Sports Performance

Top 10 Nutrition Tips for Runners

Published on by Wholistic Running

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Even if you don’t consider yourself an athlete, we believe there is an inner athlete in all of us. We all may have to dig a little deeper at times but that athlete is there. So get outside and do something you love! Explore. And do it on a daily basis. Life is too short to not to.

We are advocates of a Whole Food Plant Based (WFPB) diet for many reasons, but one is because it increases your quality of life from the inside out. We believe this lifestyle is best for optimal health and overall wellness and can help you and your loved ones avoid major preventable diseases. The cool thing is that it’s good for the animals and environment too.

  1. Make sure you eat enough.

Many athletes and people in general fail on a WFPB diet because they fail to eat enough total calories. Whole plant foods in general are low in calories (except for things like nuts, seeds, avocados, coconut), but that’s the beauty of it all. We absolutely love food! We would rather be able to fill our stomachs full of lots of good food rather than only a little. People transitioning from a SAD (Standard American Diet) to a WFPB diet may not realize that they need to eat more food to get enough calories for their sport. Food=Fuel.

While we don’t recommend counting calories, we do recommend being mindful of how much (or little) you are eating, where the food came from and if it’s nutritious or not. Make sure to take time while you’re eating to not only fully chew your food, but to also allow yourself to be thankful you have a wonderful meal in front of you. This will not only help you slow down and actually enjoy what you’re eating, but will help your brain access how hungry you truly are.

2. Make sure you eat QUALITY.

I’m talking nutrient density here. Whole foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grain Complex_Carbscomplex carbohydrates (oatmeal, buckwheat, brown or wild rice, quinoa, amaranth, millet, teff, popcorn, sweet potatoes, squash and other tuber vegetables), beans, lentils, chickpeas, peas, nuts (also nut butters) and seeds (chia, hemp, sesame, pumpkin) are all packed full of high quality nutrients that your body craves as an athlete.

These types of foods also give your body natural energy, reduce cravings, keep your immune system running well and help your body to recover faster by reducing inflammation. Do you see a pattern here? Pretty much any food that grows from the ground or a plant is considered quality. You can’t go wrong with whole foods. And that means eliminating anything refined and processed.

3. Eat often and eat the rainbow (and we’re not talking skittles here).

We recommend eating every 3-4 hours to help keep your blood sugar stable and your metabolism running high. This will also curb cravings and help you to not gorge yourself at dinner. Eating consistently throughout the day will leave you a happier, healthier person. We recommend eating bigger meals early on to make sure you’re giving your body the fuel it needs. Also aim to eat a variety of colors each day of fruit and vegetables. This ensures that you’re getting an array of disease fighting phytonutrients and antioxidants to keep your immune system running strong. Mix it up and have some fun. And don’t forget about fresh herbs and spices!

One thing that Damian and I do with some of our favorite meals it to constantly change the recipe and see what new ingredients we can add to a dish. Or just try a new fruit or vegetable each week. This helps keep food from getting boring, but also helps you get those 4-5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

4. Always have a plan and extra food on hand.

Stuff happens and you always need to be ready. That’s pretty much the life of an athlete right? We always need to expect things to go wrong and have a backup plan of what to do next in order to succeed. The same rule applies to food. If we’re going somewhere, we always bring lunch, some extra snacks and water in case we end up being there longer than expected. This not only helps you stay on track with healthy eating, but also minimizes excuses…. “well, I was hungry and the donut was right there….” Besides, who knows how long that hike you’re on will last. We always tend to be out in nature longer than expected because the “majesticness” of it all sucks you in.  Check out our recipe for energy bites if you happen to be out longer than expected too.

Continue reading “Top 10 Nutrition Tips for Runners” →

Best Holiday Gifts for Runners

Published on by Wholistic Running

Give meaningful, lasting and helpful gifts to the runners in your life. Here are suggestions that will please any runner.

  • Runners love products that help with performance, nutrition and recovery. Hammer makes a variety of products including supplements, apparel and accessories. Get 15% OFF your first order by clicking HERE.
  • Runners get injured too often. Give a gift that can help every runner runner healthier with Correct Toes. Get free shipping by using this code at checkout: WR2014
  • A great coach is hard to find. Damian and Wholistic Running have helped hundreds of runners perform their best, overcome injuries and enjoy running more than ever. We have gift certificates and online coaching that make the perfect gift.

What I eat daily and during 50 & 100 mile races

Published on by Wholistic Running

As a professional ultra marathon runner and coach, I often get asked what I eat. It’s a great question because nutrition is one of the most important choices runners and non-runners have for health, energy and performance.10500512_10154308742355584_8044031842047266675_n

Fueling during ultramarathons is very important and can make or break a race. I have raced in over 35 ultras and my fueling is dialed in very well. Continue reading “What I eat daily and during 50 & 100 mile races” →

Is a running coach beneficial or necessary?

Published on by Wholistic Running

A professional coach should help you with the following:

  1. Keep you motivated. This includes making running fun and enjoyable. Too many runners get burnt out because coaches don’t keep this in mind.
  2. Help you get and stay injury-free. This isn’t a priority for most coaches and too many athletes fail at their goals because of injuries.
  3. Help you reach or exceed your goals. A quality coach will keep you accountable and on track so you accomplish your goals.
  4. A coach should work with YOUR schedule. Accomplishing your goals is possible no matter how busy you are. Quality workouts should be emphasized over quantity giving you more time in your daily life.
  5. Personal attention. If a coach isn’t giving you individualized, personal attention then they aren’t the right coach for you.
  6. Help all levels of runners. Too many coaches just focus on elite athletes. A quality coach has the ability to help beginning to veteran runners.

To find the best coach for YOU, consider the following questions. Do you connect with their approach? Do they focus on the above requirements?

Damian and Lindsey offer online coaching for ALL levels of runners. To find out if they are the right coach for you, click HERE

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