Nutrition

Why do some people take Tums for cramps while other people drink pickle juice? And why, in most cases, are bananas utterly unhelpful? 

Some love a nice cold beer after a long day's crimping. Others worry it will limit their strength gains. Who's right?

Check out Delaney Miller's author page.

Branched-chain amino acids are popular in weight rooms, but are they for climbers?

Double down on your efforts to lower inflammation in the body with these powerful anti-inflammatory supplements

Feeling drained? Your lifestyle could have something to do with it.

Studies indicate Vitamin D impacts recovery, mood, immunity, and more. And chances are, if you're like over half of Americans, you're deficient.

Our community has come a long way towards educating climbers about the dangers of disordered eating. But mere progress isn’t enough. 

The world's best all-around climber shares his philosophy on diet and nutrition, the stuff that's powered him behind and in front of the scenes.

Other factors are more important than body weight determining how well you climb. But you should still count calories—to make sure you are getting enough food.

Restricting the times you eat is trendy, and evidence points to potential benefits in sleep, weight management, and generating a faster metabolism, as well as better liver health and a reduction in inflammatory and metabolic disorders. But is it for you?

These meals are a worthy option for overnight climbers and campers who want to eat real, delicious food with a finite lifespan.

This high-fat low-carbohydrate diet will deplete your energy and can lead to health issues.

The benefits to giving up meat and dairy are wide ranging, but is the life-change suitable for you?

Your body begins to decline sooner than you like, and by age 50 your dietary requirements are quite different than they were when you were younger. But you can beat back aging to some extent by following this advice.

Failing on a route often comes down to beating the pump. Take these four exercises to heart and slay the demon.

The main thing that scientists have learned in the last decade is that we can use nutrition to trigger the release of the specific enzymes or hormones that play vital roles in the processes of getting strong or improving endurance.

Becoming a pescatarian, or replacing much of a red-meat diet with fish, has numerous benefits for climbers.

We may think that because we participate in a physically difficult sport that vitamins will help make up for high output. Think again.

It’s tempting to supplement “just to see if it helps.” But your supplements could be doing more harm than good, especially to your pocketbook.

Power is different from strength and gives you the explosive energy for cruxes. Understanding the difference is crucial to improving your power game.

Running out of steam mid-day at the crag? You probably aren't eating right.

Check out Emily Ipsen BS CHN CNTP & MNT's author page.

Meat is an efficient source of protein and is a complete protein that stimulates muscle repair and supports ligaments and tendons, which we climbers depend on for finger health and strength.

Balancing hydration with the six essential minerals is critical for athletic performance.

Does gluten cause inflammation in everyone, or just those with celiac disease and gluten sensitivities? Should athletes avoid gluten?

You’ve been waiting all week: It’s time to spend a day at the crag. But wait, what do you eat? A huge breakfast of biscuits, sausage, and gravy? Or maybe just have cereal and pack a bunch of gels and gummy bears?

Is it better to eat three big meals a day or numerous smaller meals for optimal climbing performance?

Check out Emily Ipsen BS CHN CNTP & MNT's author page.

The Keto diet may be all the rage, but your body needs carbs to perform optimally and be healthy.

Consume too few carbohydrates and you can run out of steam, but consume too little protein and you can feel sore and recover slowly. Balancing the two is an age-old struggle.

Climb harder and recover faster simply by being mindful of what you put in your body.

Sugar gets a bad rap, but your body has to have to it. Questions are: How much is too much, and how much it too little? Sorting out what you need can give you just the boost you need to send.

Chronic inflammation may be holding you back from reaching your climbing potential.

Climbing can be sweaty business, and that may have you wondering if you are getting enough salt. An expert nutritionist weighs in on whether you should supplement.

Climbing can be sweaty business, and that may have you wondering if you are getting enough salt. An expert nutritionist weighs in on whether you should supplement.

Giving up meat and fueling yourself on a plant-based diet doesn't mean you have to suffer.

Giving up meat and fueling yourself on a plant-based diet doesn't mean you have to suffer.

A 5.9 climber recruits the best climbing coaches in America to see if he can jump two number grades in two months. Here’s what he learned.

The evidence that going low-carb benefits any athlete’s performance is weak, mostly anecdotal, and often driven by dogma.

An easy and nutrient-rich meal for effective recovery

The mountains are perilous places; packing these 10 items can save your life.

Check out Neely Quinn's author page.

Climbing your best requires finding alignment between what you eat, when you eat, and what you're trying to do.

Climbers often try to increase their strength-to-weight ratios by simply cutting calories. But not all calories were created equal.

If you match your nutrition to your training, you’re all but guaranteed to benefit.

Injuries from elbow tendonitis and shoulder misalignment are far easier to prevent than to rehabilitate. Here are three simple exercises that should be part of your everyday routine.

Check out Brian Rigby's author page.

Check out Dr. Lisa Erikson's author page.

How you fuel is an important factor in how you build and repair muscles, produce energy for peak performance, and even maintain mental acuity for sending.

Even if you're mindful about how you fuel your days at the crag, a diet heavy on local, seasonal produce can have an unexpected impact.

Even if you're already eating healthy, a diet heavy on local, seasonal produce can boost your body in unexpected ways.

Check out Kevin Corrigan's author page.

Check out Kevin Corrigan's author page.

Check out Alyssa Neill, RDN's author page.

Are they messing with your performance?

Is there a superior way to change our bodies for climbing performance?

Check out Brian Rigby's author page.

Check out Brian Rigby's author page.

Check out Gina Freund's author page.

Most climbers are not actively pursuing weight loss, but their diets passively reflect the desire to be light, which can hold them back.

Eat smart to fill your belly and send your hardest

Researcher Stacy Sims explains the sexism of the sports-science complex, and how to harness your womanly physiology for peak climbing performance.

Heather Weidner shares 5 ways to stay healthy on a meat-free diet.

Check out Paige Claassen's author page.

Check out Liz Haas's author page.

Check out Liz Haas's author page.

Check out Liz Haas's author page.

Check out Kevin Corrigan's author page.

Check out Liz Haas's author page.

Check out Liz Haas's author page.

Ditch your meal-replacement bars. Eat cookies.

Check out Liz Haas's author page.

Check out Liz Haas's author page.

Check out James Lucas's author page.

Give your favorite climber improved performance with this eating plan

Eat properly for climbing performance.

Get all-day energy with these super-tasty bars

Get all-day power or quick recovery with this simple, healthy meal