Fitness and Nutrition

This section will inform you about fitness and nutrition. An exercise physiologist will be writing some articles for Cool Nurse, and will help teach us all how to use our bodies better and how to avoid an overuse injury.

It is just as important to maintain good body and muscle flexibility as it is to have optimum muscle tone and definition. Muscles train better and are at less risk for injury if they have been properly stretched and are pliable.

A licensed massage therapist can teach you how to treat your muscles and connective tissue before and after exercise, and how to give yourself a therapeutic massage.

Fitness and nutrition go hand in hand, and it’s hard to write about one without talking about the other. If you are on a basketball or gymnastics team, then you know exactly what we mean.

It's very important that you understand things like your BMI (body mass index), how calories are used and how much food you really need to eat in order to perform at your peak.

We also have some surprise guests who will answer some FAQs about fitness, nutrition and dieting. In Healthy Dieting 2, there is a chart of some of your favorite fast foods and their calorie and fat content. A lot of people requested this information, so we got it for you.

It is also important to understand what the term "glycemic index" means when it comes to eating, exercise and nutrition. The glycemic index of a particular food refers to the degree to which that particular food stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin to break down the sugars that are formed during carbohydrate metabolism. Foods with higher glycemic indices are more fattening and are harder on the pancreas.

Proper nutrition is critical for optimal fitness levels. Muscles have to be nourished as much as bones and other tissues. Foods that match your exercise goals will produce better results. An example would be carbohydrate-concentrated foods for energy release in endurance activities, and high-protein intake for activities such as weightlifting.