Articles and Essays

Catch up on my latest articles and essays on faith, fitness, and fortitude.

Typewriter with "Goals" on headline

Why SMART Goals Sabotage Your Health and Fitness

Do you have a SMART goal for your teeth? You know…Specific, Measurable, Actionable / Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Based? That’s a ridiculous question, isn’t it? I’ll explain why SMART health and fitness goals are just as absurd. For most people, setting SMART goals as motivation to follow a fitness program sets … Keep reading…

Man standing on rock in evergreen forest

Evergreen Essential Oils For Relaxation and Sleep

For the past couple of weeks, I’ve diffused a blend of evergreen essential oils at bedtime each night. I already had a pretty effective sleep regimen prior to diffusing this blend, so I wasn’t expecting much of a change. Was I ever wrong! I’ve slept the same number of hours, … Keep reading…

Middle aged man doing deadlift | Tom Nikkola

Weight Training or Cardio for Heart Health? Which is Better?

If you were to ask the average person, or even the average healthcare practitioner, “What is the most important form of exercise?” the majority would respond with “Aerobic exercise,” like walking or running. That never made sense to me. Such antiquated advice doesn’t match up with scientific evidence, a basic … Keep reading…

Couple eating steak dinner | Tom Nikkola | Eat Meat

Another Protein Study Negates the “Eat Less Meat” Agenda

Contrary to what the media would have you believe, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, wild game, and other animal-based protein-rich foods are good for you. Research has continually proven this to be true. And yet, activist organizations, mainstream media, and politicians would have you believe that a lower-protein, plant-based diet is … Keep reading…

Protein powder and scoop

Marine Collagen Peptides: A Complete Reference Guide

It’s been a while since I first wrote about the health benefits of collagen. Since then, more and more research has shown us how valuable collagen protein powders can be as part of a healthy, high-protein diet. Both marine and bovine collagens offer numerous health benefits, but there are some … Keep reading…

Model of heart

Can Essential Oils Help People With Cardiovascular (Heart) Disease?

Could essential oils help some people who’ve developed heart disease? If so, which ones? And how? A new systematic research review tried to answer those questions. According to the findings, certain essential oils could help people live better with cardiovascular disease, especially if they suffer from poor sleep or anxiety, … Keep reading…

Middle aged man scratching his head

Does exercise offset age-related hormone changes?

To a certain extent, yes, exercise offsets age-related hormonal imbalance. Exercise’s impact on hormones is more significant than most people give it credit for. I wouldn’t expect the news to cover these because there’s little money to be made selling exercise compared to selling pharmaceuticals. So, please pass this along … Keep reading…

The Lost Boys: Low Testosterone and Declining Manhood

One in five adolescent and young adult men is clinically deficient in testosterone. One in five! How did this happen? What about the rest of the boys? How many of them are living with lower than optimal testosterone? What impact will this have on their mental and physical health? How … Keep reading…

Lavender, citrus, and essential oils

Supplements, Essential Oils, and Mood Disorders: A Research Review

As I was browsing new health and fitness research papers, I came across a review in Frontiers in Pharmacology, titled Inhalation Aromatherapy via Brain-Targeted Nasal Delivery: Natural Volatiles of Essential Oils on Mood Disorders. Though I enjoy reading full papers like this, I realize that many people don’t have the … Keep reading…

Child reading a book

What are public schools doing to or for our children?

Nelson Mandala once said, There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.  Nelson Mandela If you take some time to examine what’s going on in the public school system, and what it’s doing to our children, you’d think America’s … Keep reading…