July Nutrition, Running & Wellness Favorites
It’s the end of July (!), so I thought I’d do another round-up of things I’ve been loving lately, and some news I’m shaking my head at just a bit.
A Skittles lawsuit
Yes, you read that correctly. There has been a recent lawsuit claiming that Skittles, the rainbow candy, are “unfit for consumption.” This is mostly due to the fact that they contain titanium dioxide, a food additive. It has been used for decades (since the 1960’s) in a wide variety of foods and has been recognized as safe by the FDA as long as it does not exceed 1% of a foods weight (per the article I linked). More recent studies have been finding an association between titanium dioxide and certain health conditions. Europe has chosen to ban titanium dioxide from its foods, and many think the US should do the same. The quotes in this article read a little bit like a dumpster fire, in that there seems to be no concrete answer as to whether this additive is harmful when it is in foods, like Skittles, in very small amounts. I also can’t not mention the elitist recommendation that all people only eat “whole, organic and unprocessed foods,” which is just not possible for a significant amount of the population (and that is OK!). Anyways, I digress. My thoughts here: large quantities of titanium dioxide is harmful to health, per the available research. Large quantities of Skittles likely aren’t great for your general health either. A package of Skittles (or any food) that contains a small amount of titanium dioxide every now and again: the verdict still seems to be out. However, the caveat here is also that there has been no health condition directly linked to Skittles, and they have been around for several decades. Food for thought!
Handheld water bottles during long runs
This may sound like a no brainer, but hear me out. It has been a while since I’ve done runs long enough to warrant a hand held with fluids/electrolytes, as opposed to just stopping at the water fountains in Central Park. It has been insanely hot and humid here though, and last weekend I decided to bring a bottle with Nuun in it on my 10 mile run. And lo and behold, the run felt great. It was nice to not have to stop at the fountains (some of which aren’t working that well anyways), and to have a little flavor (and electrolytes!) with my water. I have this bottle, and next time I have to remember my old trick of freezing it the night before so the fluids stay nice and cold on the run the next morning. Also, I’m really happy to be feeling good and doing regular long runs again. My fall racing plan is TBD but there will be things happening, and that’s exciting.
Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips
Speaking of electrolytes, salt and vinegar potato chips are my jam lately. I’ve been trying to eat more salty foods given the heat and my sweat rate when running, and I crave these chips like crazy. My favorite way to eat them is along with my current favorite sandwich. I think a lot of runners are hesitant to eat salty foods or replenish salt during training, partly because of the reputation salt has as a contributor to high blood pressure. I am here to tell you that a). it’s by far the most important electrolyte to be on top of, and b). unless you have hypertension and/or issues with your kidneys (in which case you should be under the care of an MD), paying attention to and consuming adequate sodium is going to help your running. If this sounds confusing, see a dietitian to help you figure it out!
We Should All Be Millionaires
I read this book, by Rachel Rodgers, this past week and it was enlightening to me, someone who has recently went all in on her own business. It talks about some key mindset shifts that really resonated with me, and now I’m in the process of binge-listening to her podcast.
Local shout-out: The Mansion
If you watch the show, Only Murders in the Building, then you may have seen the characters at The Pickle Diner during season 2. The real Pickle Diner is The Mansion, our neighborhood diner on the Upper East Side. It was so fun to watch them film there over the spring and now to see it on the show. I can’t speak to the Mansion’s pickles, but do enjoy their sandwiches and paninis, and the fact that it has been around forever. Also, if you don’t already watch the show, do it! It’s hilarious and by far my favorite show of late.