Luminance

15/09/2022

Sports drinks have become a staple not only for elite athletes but for the active set who likes to get after it. They’re a standard pick-up at your local convenience store or supermarket, whether you’re training for a marathon, taking a hike, or just hydrating after a late night out. But not all sports drinks are created equal—and there’s actually a specific time and place to use them for optimal health and hydration.

Intended for sports and activities in which you sweat out electrolytes and burn off energy, sports drinks, in general, help recoup this energy through carbohydrates, sugar, and a specific amount of electrolytes—mainly sodium, potassium, magnesium, and chloride. A combination of both carbs and electrolytes during intense exercise or in extreme heat can help combat dehydration, replete glycogen stores, and delay fatigue.

Keep in mind that hydration and electrolyte needs are highly variable based on the individual. Genetics plays a role in sweat rate, but so does activity level, intensity, duration, and the environment. To find out true hydration needs, consult a sports dietitian to conduct a sweat test to gauge individual sweat rate as well as sweat sodium concentration. Some of us are saltier sweaters.

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What To Look for in a Sports Drink

Electrolytes: When you work out and sweat, you not only lose fluids but electrolytes as well. The average athlete loses 1 to 3 liters of sweat per hour. The main electrolytes lost in sweat are sodium and chloride with potassium, magnesium, and calcium present in lower amounts. Depending on the intensity, duration, and environment (e.g. season, humidity) of your workout as well as your individual sweat rate, there are various amounts of electrolytes needed. The good news is there are lots of options on the market from low levels of electrolytes to highly concentrated electrolyte mixes. The choice is based on your individual needs.

Carbohydrates (Calories/Energy): The American College of Sports Medicine recommends individuals partaking in vigorous exercise (one hour or longer) consider drinking carbohydrate-based sports beverages, especially if they’re sweating heavily. The choice, again, depends on your activity level, caloric expenditure, and energy needs for the workout. If your workout is an hour or less, then you probably don’t need much carbohydrates and can stick to electrolyte formulas. However, if you are exercising for over an hour—like for a marathon—you’ll want to choose a drink with higher amounts of carbohydrates to fuel your workout.

Make Your Own Sports Drink

You don’t always have to head to the store. This easy and effective DIY sports drink makes about 9 cups:

Ingredients:

8 cups fresh cold water

2 tablespoons honey or agave

½ teaspoon fine Himalayan pink salt or pure sea salt

¾ teaspoon calcium-magnesium powder

¾ cup freshly squeezed pineapple juice

Juice of 2 lemons

Juice of 2 limes

Instructions:

Pour 1 cup of water into a large pot.

Add honey, salt, calcium-magnesium powder.

Place pot over low heat and whisk until ingredients have dissolved.

Remove from heat and allow it to return to room temperature.

Add fresh pressed juices to the mixture in the pot.

Pour in the remaining 7 cups of water and blend.

Refrigerate until desired temperature

Healthier Sodas and Sparkling Beverages to Sip On Read article

Home elixirs not your thing? Check out the best sports drinks you can buy now.

Jordan Mazur, M.S., R.D., is the Director of Nutrition for the San Francisco 49ers.

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If you haven’t hopped aboard the athleisure train yet, it’s time to reassess your wardrobe. Beyond providing all-day comfort and utility, athleisure wear adds a dose of casual style to your ‘fit. And just like a well-made hoodie, the right pair of joggers might become your go-to choice for everyday wear.

What’s a Jogger?

While many people confuse joggers with regular sweatpants—and vice-versa—there are a few notable differences to look for. Joggers typically include a tapered leg leading to a cuffed ankle and multiple pocket options for on-the-go utility. Compared to sweatpants, joggers usually emphasize comfort over workout performance. Some joggers are made with moisture-wicking fabrics, but you’ll often find them made with more traditional materials like cotton or even merino wool blends.

From comfort-centric to exercise-focused, high-end to budget-conscious, there’s no shortage of options for men’s joggers. To help you score the best pair to fit your lifestyle, we’ve rounded up the 11 best options from top brands including Polo Ralph Lauren, Ibex, Adidas, Nike, and more.

The Best Haircuts for Men That Will Never Go Out of Style Read article

The Best Men’s Joggers of 2022

Beyond providing all-day comfort and utility, joggers add a versatile sense of casual style to your ‘fit. Here are the pairs we love.

14/09/2022

The Maserati GranTurismo hasn’t officially been debuted, but the brand just dropped a photo shoot of the new coupe and it’s a stunner that looks ready to chew up some roads.

The Italian maker says this GranTurismo’s new design draws inspiration from the Maserati A6 1500, the brand’s first road car, which broke ground as a precursor to “grand touring” sports coupes.

From the first look, the new Maserati GranTurismo is more muscularly sculpted at the fenders than the previous generation. It also shares a bit of design language with the Maserati MC20, including the vented hood and angular tail lights.

First Look: 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS Read article

For the moment, Maserati hasn’t provided any performance data, but what we do know is there will be two internal combustion (ICE) versions. Both the Modena and Trofeo specs will come fitted with the brand’s new 3.0 liter V6 ‘Nettuno’ engine—the same power unit used in the MC20, where it makes 621 hp and gets to 60mph in just under three seconds.

Courtesy ImageCourtesy Image

Previously the Italian maker teased an electric variant, the GranTurismo Folgore in a video with comedian Sebastian Maniscalco driving around Pebble Beach during Monterey Car Week. The battery-powered version, the brand says in the video, will get to 60mph in around 2.6 seconds and reach a top speed in excess of 200mph.

We expect full specs and more details about both the ICE and electric versions of the Maserati GranTurismo in near to medium term. So stay tuned.

With a facelift and either the Italian brand’s new in-house V-6 or electric power, the 2023 Maserati GranTurismo looks ready to wreak havoc.

14/09/2022

The return of fall means many different things. For some, it means yards will soon have a blanket of leaves requiring many quality hours with a rake. For all, it means the most seasonally specific beers will return to shelves: the pumpkin ale. They make their great comeback in September (sometimes appearing in the midst of the August heat), then they’re gone like a ghostly phantom in the night by Thanksgiving. Act fast: The best pumpkin beers should not be missed.

If it seems like pumpkin beer is a rather recent phenomenon, it’s not. When European settlers first came to North America, wheat and barley were hard-to-come-by ingredients. If you had any, you were more likely to make bread than alcohol. In place of grains and malt, native pumpkins became an important ingredient in beer. There’s even a recipe that dates back to 1771 for ‘pompion’ ale. In the case of this particular recipe, the writer wrote that due to a “twang,” you might want to wait a couple years after bottling to drink it.

Best Beers You Should Be Drinking Now Read article

Before we proceed, you should be aware that pumpkin beer is the cilantro of brews. Either you love it in all its pumpkin-y, fall-spiced glory, or you absolutely loathe it. If you’re in the latter group, simply stick to Oktoberfest-style beers, IPAs, and other seasonal favorites. You’ll be golden until winter. If you’re a pumpkin head like us, keep scrolling to find 20 of our favorite pumpkin beers to drink during fall.

Keep in mind, that while there are countless pumpkin beers on the market, these 20 fully embrace the pumpkin flavor. These are pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice, pumpkin flavor through and through.

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Note: Some might not be available (yet) due to seasonality.

Our list of the best pumpkin beers will satisfy true seasonal enthusiasts. It ranges from classic spiced amber ales to creamy coffee stouts.

14/09/2022

Helmets absorb energy and slow the movement of your head, which minimizes impact to your brain. In other words, they save lives and lessen would-be serious injuries. Most helmets, though, are sport-specific—and not all are created equal. Look for one that’s safety certified and provides some rotational protection. If a helmet has been certified safe by Virginia Tech, the de facto authority on helmet safety for many sports, that’s a good indicator you’re buying a quality lid. Safe helmets ring in at all price points, and while you don’t want to cheap out on your cranium, cost can often have as much to do with style as safety. Here are 10 of the best helmets you can buy right now, by sport.

Courtesy Image 1. Best for Gravity Biking: Giro Insurgent Spherical Helmet

Protecting your chin, cheeks, and the rest of your noggin with a full-face helmet is imperative while downhill mountain biking. The only caveat is most tend to break your collarbones in a significant crash. Giro’s Insurgent Spherical Helmet provides the best head protection money can buy, and reduces nasty collateral damage thanks to a flexing gasket along the lower edge of the helmet. It boasts best-in-class safety features including Giro’s signature MIPS (Multidirectional Impact Protection System) ball-and-socket design, which uses two separate liners that rotate independently of one other in an accident. The outer EPS layer is optimized for high-speed impacts and the inner EPP layer has the rebound to best protect against slower impacts. Surprisingly light, the Insurgent is well-ventilated for comfort and to keep goggles and glasses from fogging.

[$350; giro.com]

Get it

The Essential Safety Gear You Need in the Backcountry Read article

Courtesy Image 2. Best for Trail Riding: Fox Speedframe Pro

When a helmet earns a five-star rating from Virginia tech, it’s already in an elite class. The Speedframe Pro is a stellar choice for any trail or enduro ride. Fox took a 360-degree approach to safety by implementing a rotational impact-deflecting MIPS liner, an easy-to-adjust visor, and an internal harness that cinches to fit heads of all shapes. The Pro version is built with a dual-density EPS liner, washable antimicrobial helmet pads, and a Fidlock buckle that makes for easy and off, even with gloves on. You don’t have to worry about the visor being in the way. It adjusts to accommodate most goggles and glasses. If you want to save a few bucks, opt for the Speedframe, which doesn’t have the cool buckle, but does have all the same safety features at $50 less.

[$179; foxracing.com]

Get it Courtesy Image 3. Best for Kayaking: Sweet Protection Rocker

Getting rowdy on your local river? Sweet Protection’s full-coverage paddling helmet provides maximum protection for your head and face, whether you picked a bad spot to roll or you’re swimming for the nearest eddy. The shell and liner benefit from the elasticity of injection-molded thermoplastic and the rigidness of carbon fiber. The visor and ear pads are replaceable should you want to refreshen things up after repeated dunks. And the helmet comes in a full-face version for extra protection whilst steep creeking.

[$230; sweetprotection.com]

Get it

When it comes to protecting your noggin, one lid doesn’t fit every activity. Here are the 10 best helmets for impact sports.

13/09/2022

You’ll never mistake them for Tums, but if you’re looking to settle your gut, you might give avocados a try, according to research published in The Journal of Nutrition. In a study of 163 people, those who ate an avocado a day for 12 weeks developed a more robust and diverse gut “microbiome”—a buzzy term for the bacteria in your stomach and colon that impacts everything from better mood to a stronger immune system.

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14 Prebiotic Foods You Should Be Eating

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It turns out the bacteria like to feast on the type of fiber found in avocados, helping to soothe your stomach and aid digestion after a meal.

Try incorporating avocado in breakfast (in an omelet), lunch (with a salad) or dinner (atop a burrito bowl). You don’t have to adjust your daily meal plan other than that to boost your gut health.

Study participants who ate an avocado a day for 12 weeks developed a more robust and diverse gut “microbiome.”

13/09/2022

In a small study of competitive male soccer players, researchers found that short mindfulness exercises during halftime (learning to be calm and present in the here and now) can help players remain mentally sharp and experience less fatigue during games since total distance covered and high speeds diminish in the first 15 minutes of the second half.

In the study of 17 players, half completed the mindfulness-based intervention 45 minutes into a game. These participants went through mindful breathing, body scan and experiential acceptance. The control group listened to a travel-related audio clip. Cognitive function (testing inhibition and working memory), salivary cortisol levels, blood lactate levels, and mental fatigue were measured at baseline before the game and after the intervention (halftime).

10 Fitness and Health Benefits of Meditation and Mindfulness Read article

Players who were given the mindfulness exercises exhibited better reaction times and accuracy in the second half of the game, as well as lower fatigue and cortisol levels.

Ultimately, scientists found adopting specific recovery strategies at half time helps players service their cognitive needs and restore physical strength to maintain or even boost their performance when they might otherwise wane in the second half.

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It’s a useful tool for anyone needing to stay sharp during an endurance event (or just a dreadfully long day at the office).

The secret to staying sharp, calm, and hard-charging in the second half? A quick bout of mindfulness exercises.

13/09/2022

When it comes to outdoor recreation, protecting yourself from the elements is paramount. While puffy jackets and fleece-lined pants are great for providing warmth and a protective exterior shell, proper temperature regulation starts with base layers.

No matter if you’re skiing, hiking, biking, or running, keeping a consistent body temperature is essential for good performance. An effective base layer will wick sweat so you can stay warm without overheating or getting drenched (this will also combat foul odors).

When shopping for base layers, look for options constructed from premium materials like natural merino wool, eco-friendly recycled polyester, or high-performance synthetic fabrics. No matter what material you choose, make sure your base layer is designed for maximum breathability. To ensure you’re properly equipped to tackle your favorite outdoor activities, we’ve rounded up 11 of the best base layers from top brands including Adidas, Icebreaker, The North Face, and more. These are the top options to try.

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The Best Base Layers for Outdoor Training This Fall

These high-quality base layers will keep you dry and comfortable, whether you're hiking, biking, skiing, or running.

13/09/2022

We’re all about having a signature scent and signature look, but sometimes things get a little stale. Case in point: When was the last time you changed your hairstyle? We fall into comfort zones, sometimes keeping the same haircut for years because a barber or an ex told us it looked good. And it probably does (we hope), but sometimes it’s nice to break the mold and experiment with something new. Ergo, we bring you the best haircuts for men that will never go out of style.

These days, there are few, if any, standard rules that apply. If you always loved the iconic hairstyles of yesteryear worn by the likes of James Dean, Elvis Presley, and Humphrey Bogart then by all means, turn your barber’s chair into a time machine. A lot of those haircuts for men are timeless.

Classic cuts aren’t playing it safe. The style will look different on every guy, depending on hair texture, density, and length. Plus, if you have a really great barber or stylist, they can modify the style to really suit your personality or to frame your face perfectly. Heck, just look at how many mullet expressions are out there—and the slightest difference in length or contrast can yield some really unique results. Who says the ol’ high and tight can’t have the same range? Trust us, there’s always a way. (Editor’s note: We regret to inform anyone who got excited by the mention of mullets. None of the haircuts below include the style…)

Best Hair Products for Men to Have a Good Hair Day Every Day Read article

If you take any of the photos below to your barber and say, “Give me the version of this that best suits me,” they should know exactly what to do. These haircuts are among the most requested.

We also tossed in a few grooming tips so you can master styling at home in between cuts.

Best Haircuts for Men That Will Never Go Out of Style

From short and choppy to mid-fade, these are the best haircuts for men. The key, of course, is finding a style that works for you.

12/09/2022

What if your apparel was just as adventurous as your destination? Tactical gear and clothing is essential when venturing out into the wilderness. That usually means prioritizing duds that are durable, comfortable, and functional—not necessarily ones you’re excited about. But we urge you to walk on the wild side. Add a punch of color when you’re trekking switchbacks or a psychedelic print when you’re mushroom foraging in the forest. The latest installment in The North Face x Gucci collaboration—dubbed Chapter 3—is a vision of what that could look like.

The new collection pulls inspo from The North Face gear and apparel from the 1970s and, like the previous two drops, the items are splashed with bold patterns and colors that’ll certainly help you stand out in the backcountry or city streets.

The Best Watches Under $500 to Wear in 2022 Read article

The brands describe the new collection as combining “Gucci’s kaleidoscopic aesthetic” with “archival designs from The North Face.” The result? Outdoorsy apparel and gear like backpacks and down jackets dressed up in bold colors and patterns that you definitely won’t find at your local outdoor retailer. Items include everything from the goose-feather down Sierra Parka to shoulder bags, footwear, and more.

Check out some highlights from The North Face x Gucci collection below.

The North Face x Gucci Launches Chapter 3 Collection

The latest The North Face x Gucci collaboration—dubbed Chapter 3— draws inspiration from The North Face gear and apparel of the 1970s.