Nutrition

Despite the popularity of energy drinks, especially among teens, both the National Federation of State High School Associations and American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommend against their consumption by children and adolescents because of their potential adverse health effects.

Parents, coaches and trainers should criticize athletes less, praise them more, reduce pressure to win and on appearance  to reduce risk of eating disorders.

Parents, coaches and trainers should criticize athletes less, praise them more, reduce pressure to win and on appearance  to reduce risk of eating disorders.

One of the biggest challenges to healthy eating is between-meal snacking. Popcorn, a whole grain food that's low in calories, is a great snack food that's economical and also fun to eat.

Only 3 percent of kids’ meals served at fast-food restaurants met federal dietary guidelines in a first-of-its-kind study  examining the nutrient quality of such meals in Houston.

What should your child eat before training and competition? Here's some advice on what to eat and not eat, drink and not drink, and when, before sports.

According to a recent survey, almost 80 percent of U.S. adults believe they need to drink eight glasses of water each day to stay hydrated while 72 percent do not believe they get adequate amounts of water from their daily diets and typical drinking habits.

While recent research concerning soy and blood glucose or insulin control has produced conflicting results, Dr. Mark Messina, associate adjunct professor of nutrition at Loma Linda University, believes soy can play an important role in managing blood sugar levels. "I think the most that can be said at this point is that soyfoods have a low glycemic index," Messina says. "The carbohydrate in soy does not lead to a quick rise in blood sugar levels, and thus, soy is useful for diabetics."