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The Beachside Reader · Plain-English health journalism · Visit the Gym →
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Twenty-six articles. Every claim cited.

The Beachside Reader translates peer-reviewed sports-science, nutrition, and longevity research into plain English. Browse by topic below — every article links to the actual studies.

Training & Exercise

Front page →
HIIT Cardio · 9 min

What Two Minutes of HIIT Does to Your Heart

Two minutes of intervals can match 90 minutes of jogging. The McMaster research that proves it.

Strength training Strength · 8 min

Why Lifting Weights After 50 Is Non-Negotiable

Sarcopenia, bone density, balance — and the strongest evidence for prescription-grade exercise.

Walking Movement · 5 min

The Underrated Power of 7,000 Steps

JAMA's dose-response curve is one of the strongest in public health. Walking is medicine.

Mobility Mobility · 6 min

Stretching, Mobility, and Aging Pain-Free

The modern science on why mobility work matters more than static stretching.

Nutrition & Eating

Front page →
Protein Macros · 5 min

How Much Protein You Actually Need

The 0.8 g/kg RDA is a floor, not a ceiling. The research on optimisation.

Mediterranean diet Diet · 7 min

The Mediterranean Diet — and Why It Works

PREDIMED, MIND, DASH — the meta-analyses on the only diet with truly strong evidence.

Fibre Macros · 6 min

Fibre — The Western Diet's Missing Nutrient

95% of adults don't hit the daily target. Lancet meta-analysis on what it costs you.

Hydration Hydration · 5 min

How Much Water You Actually Need

The 8-glasses myth, sweat physiology, and electrolyte timing for active adults.

Sleep & Recovery

Front page →
Sleep Sleep · 8 min

Sleep — The Performance Drug Hidden in Plain Sight

Walker's evidence that 7-9 hours is non-negotiable — and what less than 6 actually does.

Stress Stress · 7 min

Cortisol, Stress, and Why Gym Gains Stall

Chronic stress destroys recovery. The HPA-axis evidence in plain English.

Work-life balance Lifestyle · 6 min

The Lancet on Working 55+ Hours a Week

2021 study: 35% increased stroke risk, 17% heart disease. The evidence for boundaries.

Mindfulness Mind · 5 min

What 10 Minutes of Mindfulness Actually Does

Real fMRI evidence on amygdala volume and prefrontal-cortex function.

Family & Children

Front page →
Youth fitness Family · 8 min

Why Active Kids Have Bigger Hippocampi

MRI evidence: childhood exercise reshapes the developing brain. Gray matter, IQ, and life outcomes.

Senior fitness Family · 6 min

Fitness After 60 — The Cochrane Evidence

Resistance training in older adults: the strongest meta-analyses on falls, mortality, and independence.

Pregnancy fitness Family · 7 min

Exercise During Pregnancy — The ACOG Guidelines

What's safe, what's contraindicated, and the maternal and infant outcomes data.

Family habits Family · 5 min

Active Parents Raise Active Kids — 5.8× More Likely

The classic Moore et al. 1991 study and what it means for parents who want active children.

Safety & Self-Awareness

Front page →
Listen to body Safety · 5 min

Listening to Your Body — A Doctor's Guide

Pain vs. soreness, fatigue vs. exhaustion. When to push and when to back off.

Medical red flags Safety · 6 min

Medical Red Flags Every Lifter Should Know

Chest pain, syncope, sudden weakness — when to stop the workout and call a doctor.

Push safely Safety · 5 min

How to Push Limits Safely

Progressive overload, RPE, and the evidence-based way to test your edges.

Return to training Safety · 6 min

Return to Training After Illness or Injury

Detraining curves, reconditioning protocols, and the published return-to-play frameworks.

Supplements

Buy guide →
Creatine Supplement · 6 min

Creatine — The Most-Studied Supplement Ever

1,000+ peer-reviewed trials. Safe, cheap, broadly beneficial. The evidence in plain English.

Caffeine Supplement · 5 min

Caffeine — Performance Drug or Crutch?

3-6 mg/kg pre-training. Half-life. When timing matters more than dose.

Vitamin D Supplement · 6 min

Vitamin D — The Canadian-Latitude Problem

Why most Ontarians are deficient by February. The Health Canada targets and the evidence.

Gym Essentials

Hub page →
Footwear Gear · 5 min

Footwear — Lifters, Runners, and Everyone Else

Why your running shoes are sabotaging your squat — and what flats actually do.

Gym hygiene Gear · 4 min

Gym Hygiene — Wipes, Towels, and Skin Health

MRSA in commercial gyms is real. The simple practices that actually prevent it.

Sports bras Gear · 5 min

Sports Bras — Fit, Support, and Performance

The kinesiology of breast motion and what poorly-fitted bras cost runners.

Posture Gear · 5 min

Posture — Standing Desks and the Evidence

The Australian standing-desk RCT. What helps, what doesn't, and the right balance.