AAI Q and A: Snacking, Stress Fractures and Fish

Dear AAI: I get hungry at 4p.m.. Should I have a snack, or eat more at lunch?


Dear Reader: Eat a snack! Eating a snack will do a better job of steadying your blood sugar and providing your brain and body with energy. Eat 100-200 calories of carbohydrates and some protein. An example would be a banana and a few almonds.

Dear AAI: I have been training for a half-marathon and during some of my long runs I have to take walk breaks, does that defeat the purpose of long “runs?”

Dear Reader: Not at all! I recently ran a marathon, and there were a few miles I had to walk for a minute. Walking allows you to stay on your feet for longer periods of time, which is the point of long distance runs. The continuous use of muscles, tendons, and joints leads to fatigue and inserting strategic walk breaks early and often allows your body to recover.
Dear AAI: I love to grill in the summer but get sick of hamburgers and fries, is there any way to spice up the grill?

Dear Reader: Lots of things can be grilled! A few healthy choices include veggies, fruits, and fish! Grilling fruit concentrates flavors and caramelizes natural sugars. Most fruits will work, but the most common are pineapples, mangos, plums, and peaches. To grill the fruit, remove any pits or seeds and soak in water for ten minutes. Brush fruit with a little melted butter and, with the flame on medium, place fruit on grill until browned.

Dear AAI: I love fresh salmon but hate getting fish infused with hormones or pesticides. Is there a best kind to buy to ensure freshness?

Dear Reader: You are correct, not all salmon’s are alike. The freshest salmon is from Alaska. They are fished in an environmentally sustainable way that does not contribute to pollution. When buying, look for wild salmon from Alaska. The flesh should look and feel firm and smell fresh, like the sea.

Dear AAI: My shins have been causing me a lot of problems lately. What is the difference between shin splints and a stress facture?

Dear Reader: Good question, as a lot of people worry that they will overlook a more serious injury like a stress facture, and think that it is just shin splints. Shin splints cause pain along the tibia, pain fades once activity is over, everyday activities aren’t painful, and you can comfortably hop 10 times on affected leg. Stress factures, on the other hand, will cause pain in a specific spot, pain will persist all day, it will hurt to walk around, and hopping up and down will cause severe pain.