Technically, vitamin D is a hormone and found in a few foods, added to others, and made by the body when exposed to UV light. It’s easy not to get enough D and is one of the most common suboptimal nutrients in athletes. When looking for a vitamin D supplement, you’ll see a couple of options.
If you are serious about performing better as an athlete—whether that means winning, getting that PR or PB, or just more fun (and less torture) —the answer is yes. You probably need more than one blood analysis per year. How often should I repeat the test? It depends on the athlete. But our general recommendation is to start with a baseline analysis during your offseason. Our Gold, ABT.she or if you can swing it, the Read more…
Menstrual cycle based training, a female specific blood analysis, birth control and athletic performance?? Social media and the internet are full of advice for athletes who menstruate these days. This article recaps information on our ABT.she blood analysis panel and our quick takes on some of the hottest topics for athletes who menstruate. What is the ABT.she panel? The ABT.she Panel is a blood analysis panel designed specifically for women, by women. It empowers women Read more…
As summer athletes start to wrap up seasons, and winter athletes start ramping up, it’s a great time to remind ourselves of the importance of the offseason. As an athlete, I’ll admit, the offseason can be…strange bordering on stressful. If it feels weird not to have a high training load and you’re itching to train a lot during the offseason, read on. There are several compelling reasons to dial back and give yourself time off, Read more…
As we move into fall, we reflect on “Girl Dinners”- a trend that captured so much controversy on Instagram and TikTok this summer that we couldn’t let it sit. The Girl Dinner. What is it? To some, it’s just a quick and easy dinner. No cooking, no fuss, no stress. A charcuterie of sorts. It’s how a lot of the rest of the (non-American) world eats. To others, it’s a straight-up snack plate moonlighting as Read more…
RED-S is a state of chronic low energy availability where how much energy an athlete needs does not match up with what the athlete is taking in.
You only need a blood test if you have symptoms such as fatigue or slow recovery. Athletes should get tested before they develop symptoms. Typically, by the time you feel the impact of unsatisfactory biomarker levels, your body likely has been performing below its potential for a while, and you’ll be challenged to get it back on track. By checking biomarkers before symptoms develop, athletes avoid suboptimal or high levels that can hinder their performance. Read more…
There are two hormones that get thrown under the bus all the time: insulin and cortisol. Neither of these is bad; we need them to be healthy and successful athletes. Their bad rap comes from being misunderstood. So in this blog post, we’ll set the record straight on cortisol. What is cortisol? Cortisol is your natural alarm system. It’s your body’s primary stress hormone, works with your brain, and affects many parts of your body. Read more…
ABT SheConquers Series Training is a repetitive cycle of stress and recovery. When balanced, the cycle leads to cumulative performance gains. But, if the scale tilts too heavily to stress or recovery, optimal performance gains are impossible. Prolonged excessive stress puts athletes at risk of a condition known as overtraining or overreaching syndrome. This condition devastates performance and turns daily exercise into a chore rather than a pleasure. Performance deficits can be short-term or long-term. Read more…
We’re all about athlete performance here at Athlete Blood Test. That means we’re mostly interested in the physical but don’t want to forget about mental and emotional health. Shop V-day sale: use code VDAY for 14% off most panels For Valentine’s Day, we asked some of our favorite athletes for tips for successful relationships. Here’s what they said: Steph Rothstein Bruce I think the keys to a successful relationship with longevity are never making assumptions, Read more…