April 2013: Fish and Mercury NOTE from John: As contest season approaches, I know you all will be eating a lot of fish, so I thought it would be helpful to talk about mercury. This is near and dear to me because in 2005 (right before I got sick), I actually had toxic levels of […]
February 2013: Potato Primer Most of us who are deadly serious about training and nutrition are not doubt “meat and potatoes” people, at least at some point. As a great high-fiber source of complex carbs, potatoes are a staple in any serious athlete’s nutrition plan, and are one of the most versatile and convenient carb […]
December 2012: Rice: choosing the right tool for the job As a staple food for over half of the world’s population, rice is arguably one of the world’s most important foods. It is also one of the most versatile foods in the pantry of any hard training athlete. Most of us who are serious about […]
May 2012: Cholesterol Basics It seems kind of funny to say “basics” and cholesterol in the same sentence. The truth is that many facets of cholesterol are actually extremely complicated and beyond the scope of our knowledge by a long shot. Cholesterol synthesis is one such facet. There are at least 12 steps to get […]
Leptin – you’ve probably heard someone mention it at one time, but aren’t really sure what it is. I remember when I first heard a bodybuilding coach mention it, saying that managing leptin was crucial to keeping the metabolism humming. I had no clue what he was talking about, but it did intrigue me. Leptin […]
January 2012: How to Grow Intelligently So what are people going to start doing January 1st to grow some muscle in the hopes of competing and doing well next year? Well I can’t tell you what everybody is doing, but I can tell you what I am doing and what many of my people are […]
Want to know the long-lost secret to muscle growth? NPB = MPS – MPB So what does this equation mean? Net Protein Balance (skeletal muscle mass, for our purposes here) = Muscle Protein Synthesis – Muscle Protein Breakdown. Make it a positive value and you’re on your way to hugeness.
Let’s talk fiber. Do we really need as much as doctors claim? If so, how much? Can we get too much? Will it prevent cancer? Are grass-fed steak and whole eggs good sources of fiber? How the heck do I get rid of this constipation? This is just a sampling of the many questions I […]
Dave Tate is no stranger to injuries. Think that qualifies for, “Biggest understatement 2011”? Fact is, Dave has suffered enough injuries for ten lifters. With so many parts that have been sewn back together or reinforced with steel rods, how this Frankenstein of the iron world can still find it in him to train with […]
March 2011: The Truth About Heartburn, Acid Reflux, and Stomach Acid Ok, so you know I love saturated fat, you know I love cholesterol, and even though this isn’t as explosive as a topic, I am here to tell you that you have been mislead about stomach acid too. Once again, we can thank the […]
I’m not just a bodybuilder, I’m also a health nut, and for that reason I put considerable effort into keeping my liver healthy. Anyone who’s ever watched Oprah or the Dr. Oz show (okay, not many of you, but still…) likely knows that the liver is essential for filtering out the thousands of toxins we […]
February 2011: Getting Started in 2011 Now that a New Year is upon us, all the gyms are filled with resolution making newbies. Everybody wants to start to get in better shape. Come around March, most of these people will drop out, and we will have our pick of machines again. This is also about […]
Throughout history, the greatest bodybuilders have always been meticulous bastards perhaps not with fashion choices, but certainly in seeking out the absolute best foods to help them reach their goals. But what if you aren’t absorbing all the nutrients from the food you’re putting in? You can be fastidious about your diet and count your […]
So there I was last week, walking up and down the aisles at my local grocery store Giant Eagle. As I passed by the salad dressings, I noticed something really odd. Look at this.
Yes, a salad dressing that increases absorption of Vitamins A and E. Now you all know that to get proper absorption of fat soluble vitamins, you need fat. That’s why you all, like me, hate fat free foods…riiiiight!
With the possible exception of cholesterol, there has never been a more misunderstood facet of nutrition than saturated fat. You’ve heard it all a million times: “Don’t eat any saturated fat, it will clog up your arteries,” or, “It will give you heart disease,” and of course, “You’ll become grossly obese and be shipped off […]
