Being an athlete is often associated with extraordinary physical talent, but in my opinion, it’s more about the ability to perform physically and mentally at a high level which is something everyone should strive for, even if you have no interest in sports whatsoever.

The Definition of a True Athlete

Ironically, many athletes, even at the professional level, are unhealthy. While they may run fast, jump high, and have an amazing physique, the inside of their body could very well be in disastrous shape. Because of the extreme physiological burden that athletes put on their body, they have even more of a need to follow healthy lifestyle habits than the average person, but very few of them do. The excessive amount of activity coupled with inadequate rest and nutrition amounts to a body that is being gradually destroyed from the inside.

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USA Swimming just handed Michael Phelps a 3 month suspension for marijuana use. According to USA Swimming, the suspension is primarily intended to send a strong message to Phelps based on the poor example he has set for young swimmers.

Wasting Talent

During the 2008 Olympics, I was excited to watch Phelps attempt to rewrite history by winning 8 gold medals during a single Olympics. However, once I saw the coverage of his “gold medal diet”, I immediately lost interest in his pursuit.

As a health fanatic, I admit I have a biased opinion, but it’s undeniable that excellent health is an integral part of getting top performance from your body. In my opinion, an athlete that neglects his or her health is no better than one that’s too lazy to train. It results in underutilized talent and nobody likes to see this in an athlete.

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If you’re enjoying the convenience of whey protein, you may be paying for it with your health. Whey protein has nearly become ubiquitous in today’s fast paced culture, especially among athletes and weightlifters. Even if you’re not consuming whey protein powder directly, it’s being used in many of the processed foods and snack bars that you may be eating. Whether you’re trying to up your protein intake, add convenience to your diet, or both, your efforts may be backfiring on you.

How About Some Waste For Breakfast?

Whey is the liquid that is left over from the milk curdling process that’s used to make other dairy products. The dairy industry originally considered it a waste product and was dumping it just as you and I dump our garbage. That was until someone came up with the idea of processing it even further and selling it.

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