Today each student presented a NY Times article that spoke to the latest understanding of health and fitness. Below you will find each student’s brief summary of the article, as well as a link to the original article…

Ryan Clarkson’s Presentation

The Fats You Don’t Need to Fear, and the Carbs That You Do
Efforts to correct past dietary sins have caused the pendulum to swing too far in the wrong direction.
JANE E. BRODY, NY Times, OCTOBER 19, 2015

This article went into detail about a false rule that many people live by and have adopted into their daily life. Jane Brody sheds light on the topic of how many people believe that a completely fat free diet is the healthiest way to live. In believing this, many people are taking in bad carbohydrates, which is very bad for you and can lead to obesity and Type II diabetes.
Fats and carbohydrates are an important part of our diet. It’s just a matter of eating the right ones. Saturated fats that you can find in junk foods are fats you should avoid. The fats you find in things like nuts and olive oil should be eaten regularly. Carbs are the same way. Certain carbs such as ones that can be found in things like white bread and baked goods aren’t good for maintaining a healthy diet. Ones that you can find in whole wheat pasta are good for you.
The article says that we need to educate people to try and break this bad habit. If we don’t, the number of people with cardiovascular diseases and poor diets will continue to rise.

Virginia Farrell’s Presentation

Lifting Lighter Weights Can Be Just as Effective as Heavy Ones
In a study, participants’ muscles got bigger and stronger whether they lifted heavy or light weights as long as they lifted until they were tired.
GRETCHEN REYNOLDS, NY Times, JULY 20, 2016

This article takes a look at the idea that working with lighter weights and heavier weights might have the same impact on muscle growth. Several tests have been performed to support this idea. Similar muscle growth was found in the people using lighter weights – who would perform more repetitions – as in the people using heavy weights – who performed fewer repetitions. Researchers found that the key to maintaining similar results was to have the subjects grow tired and attain total muscular fatigue.
However, this article does not prove that one workout regimen is better than the other. It does encourage people who would otherwise be afraid of heavier weights to start lifting lighter weights because they could expect to achieve the same results.

Gared Zaboski’s Presentation

PERSONAL BEST: Fitting Heat and Humidity Into Your Workouts
No matter how much you train in the heat, it will never be easy, athletes and researchers say.
BY GINA KOLATA, NY Times, JULY 3, 2008

This article begins with a list of commonly asked questions about exercise in the heat. These include inquiries about heat’s impact on performance times and how best to adapt to and mitigate the influence of heat on athletic events.
The author responds to these rhetorical questions by citing several studies and pieces of anecdotal evidence. The work of Dr. Cheuvront, a researcher at the Army Institute, is featured heavily. Through a study, Dr. Cheuvront found that heat does significantly and unambiguously decrease performance. He also observed several adaptations that people can make by training in hot conditions. The article states that “blood volume expands, which reduces the strain on the heart from increased blood flow to the skin and muscles.”. The article also encourages its readers to ensure they are sweating as much as possible, and it is ideal for that sweat to evaporate, as this allows the body to cool.
The article concludes by repeating the finding that heat is a negative influence on physical performance, and that athletes must “accept discomfort and slowness” despite the possibility for some adaptation to be made.

Eva Rine’s Presentation

For Athletes, the Risk of Too Much Water
Are we putting young athletes at risk when we urge them to drink lots of fluids during steamy sports practices and games?
BY GRETCHEN REYNOLDS, NY Times, AUGUST 26, 2015

Overhydration is a problem for athletes. Athletes are urged to hydrate all the time and often consume more fluid than they can get rid of, leading to hyponatremia, low blood sodium concentration. Forced to maintain the osmotic balance between the cells and the blood, cells take in water, making them swell. If this happens in the brain it can be fatal.
Often athletes will drink water or sports drinks to try to alleviate muscle cramps or to avoid heat related illnesses. They will consume gallons of fluids that their bodies cannot get rid of. This is even more harmful than dehydration. Athletes should drink water when they are thirsty and minimal amounts other times.