By Shawn Dolan PhD, RD, CSSD
The primary reason to consume calories during endurance exercise is to provide carbohydrate to the working muscle and brain. This becomes increasingly important as the duration of training/competition lasts longer than 60-90 minutes due to the body’s limited capacity to store carbohydrate (glycogen). The ability to digest and utilize carbohydrate [...]

By Shawn Dolan, PhD, RD, CSSD
Ironman is a long day for everyone, regardless of whether it takes under 9 hours or more than 16 hours to finish. Most athletes experience highs and lows throughout the day. In order to minimize the low points and maximize the high points, a significant amount of time is spent [...]

Shawn H. Dolan, PhD, RD, CSSD
Most athletes have a general understanding of how many grams of carbohydrate, protein, and fat they eat per day. However, few athletes are concerned with the amount of vitamin D they consume and synthesize in their bodies each day. In the past, the importance of this nutrient has often been [...]

By Shawn Dolan PhD, RD, CSSD
 
What is gluten?
Gluten is a storage protein in wheat, rye, barley, triticale (cross between wheat and rye), and possibly oats. Gluten consists of two proteins gliadin and glutenin. Gluten is formed when dough is made from the kneading process of flour and water.
Why do people eliminate gluten from their diet?
There [...]

Reviewed and Updated by ERB member Shawn Dolan, PhD, RD, CSSD: Professor in the Kinesiology Department at California State University, Long Beach. 

Introduction: Electrolytes, the mineral salts that conduct the electrical energy of the body, perform a cellular balancing act by allowing nutrients into the cell, while helping to remove waste products. Certain elements, such as [...]