Health Radar

Wide Load

Use a wide grip on the chin-up bar to beef up your back muscles. Wide-grip chin-ups take some of the strain off of your biceps and force your lats to pull the load. To perform wide-grip chin-ups, grab the bar with your hands double-shoulder-width apart. Pull your body upward so that your chin is elevated above the height of the bar. Squeeze your shoulder blades together during your ascent. Once your chin has cleared the bar, allow your arms to return to full extension.

Playing Chicken

Are you a breast man or a thigh man? We’re talking chicken of course. By the numbers, a chicken breast is healthier, but thighs aren’t far behind. Although they have more fat, thighs are still high in protein while boasting lots of flavor and a lower price tag.

> Breast (3.5 oz, skinless): 160 calories, 31 grams protein, 3.5 grams fat.

> Thigh (3.5 oz, skinless): 200 calories, 26 grams protein, 10.5 grams fat.

Potty Mouth

Mouthguards, when stored or cleaned improperly, can harbor alarming amounts of bacteria and microorganisms. Be sure to clean your mouthguard with an approved antibacterial rinse after every use, and replace your mouthguard on a regular basis.

Breakfast of Champions

September is National Better Breakfast Month, so take a page from The Dolce Diet and create the perfect Breakfast Bowl.

1/2 cup oat barn or buckwheat
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 sliced banana
1 tbsp. all-natural peanut or almond butter
1 tbsp. ground flax seeds
1 pinch cinnamon
1 cup water

In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Reduce flame and mix in berries and oat bran, stirring often until desired consistency is reached. Mix in flax seeds, raisins, and cinnamon. Pour into bowl, add peanut butter or almond butter, and top with banana. Add in a dash of almond milk or water to thin out oat bran if desired.

Sexual Healing

There is no sufficient scientific evidence to support the long perpetuated theory that athletes should avoid sex before competition. In fact, studies show that regular sexual activity supports stronger immune function and also naturally elevates testosterone levels.