Cyclists in many parts of the country are ready to leave behind long rides on the trainer and eagerly await warmer weather and putting in some quality road miles. As you continue to train and prepare for the 2007 season, don't ignore a small, but essential component of your training diet. Adequate iron intake and optimal iron stores are essential to putting in full efforts on the bike. Low iron stores can impair athletic performance, and correcting iron deficiency that has led to full blown anemia, can take several months to correct, potentially bringing an unwelcome halt to your training and racing program.

Why you need iron
Iron is required for a number of important exercise related functions in the body. It is an important component of hemoglobin, which transports oxygen in the blood.

FDA gives first OK to over-counter diet drug

The Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved the first government-sanctioned weight-loss aid for over-the-counter sales.
Today's market for weight-loss drugs is saturated with dietary supplements that do not require FDA approval. The newly approved drug, called Alli, is the only FDA-approved weight-loss product available to consumers without a prescription, and is the first clinically proven over-the-counter product that is intended to be taken as part of a comprehensive diet plan.
"Over a billion dollars is spent every year on dietary supplement products that the FDA has not approved. It is very significant that there now is a product available over the counter that is FDA approved and we know what the safety of it is," said Curtis Rosebraugh, deputy director for the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Let cabbage rule in your daily diet

Cabbage is the cruciferous king, packed with vitamins and low in calories. So why not try adding it more routinely to your diet?

Cabbage is very inexpensive and is commonly known as a poor mans vegetable. Its available all year. Cabbage is very delicious if you prepare it properly, and when it comes to nutrition, cabbage is the king of cruciferous vegetables. One cup of chopped cabbage has approximately 20 calories, 2 grams of fiber, one-third of the daily requirements for vitamin C and about 40 mg of calcium.

Cabbage is a member of the cruciferous family, which gets its name from the cross shape of its flowers and includes brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, collards, kale and bok choy. These vegetables contain indoles anticarcinogens, which is associated with a decreased risk for stomach and colon cancers.