Blog Posts by SHAPE magazine

There are a lot of drinks on the market that promise to help with exercise performance and recovery. From chocolate milk to protein drinks to coconut water and cherry juice, it seems that every few months there's a new exercise "super" drink out. But have you heard of beetroot juice? According to a study in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, drinking beetroot juice helps competitive-level cyclists cut down the time it takes to ride a given distance. Just in time for the Tour de France, too...

Researchers studied nine club-level competitive male cyclists as they competed in two time trials. Before each trial, the cyclists drank half a liter of beetroot juice. For one trial the men all had normal beetroot juice. For the other trial-unbeknownst to the cyclists-the beetroot juice had a key ingredient, nitrate, removed. And the results? When the cyclists drank the normal beetroot juice they had a higher power output for the same level of effort than they did

slurpeeForget cake and presents. When 7-Eleven Inc. celebrates its birthday today on 7/11, the convenience store gives away free Slurpees to customers!

A free, ice cold Slurpee can be tough to resist in the summer heat. So to help you decide if the icy drink is worth it, we pulled together a few fast facts on Slurpees.

3 Things You Should Know About Slurpee Drinks Before Your First Sip

1. Consider your Slurpee a summer indulgence, not just another drink. In an average 11-oz slurpee (the size 7-Eleven is giving away on July 11th), depending on flavor, you'll get around 175 calories, 48 grams of carbohydrates (more than the average person should be consuming in a day) and a boatload of harmful chemicals. (Have you ever seen an electric blue fruit at the farmer's market?)

RELATED: Did These Celebs Get Too Thin?

2. While "diet slurpees" may have fewer calories, according to some scientific studies, they're even worse for you than the full-sugar flavors. Here's why: To make up for the lack of

Plant foods are all-stars because each contains unique phytochemicals that work together to fight disease. What's more, there are thousands of foods that have yet to be analyzed, so there's more good news to come.

Based on the latest research, the following foods contain phytochemicals that are proving to be terrific choices, says David Heber, M.D., Ph.D., director of the University of California, Los Angeles, Center for Human Nutrition and author of What Color Is Your Diet? (HarperCollins, 2001). So eat more of these:

Broccoli, cabbage and kale
The isothiocynanates in these cruciferous vegetables stimulate the liver to break down pesticides and other carcinogens. In people susceptible to colon cancer, these phytochemicals seem to reduce risk.

RELATED: 15 Low-Calorie Beers

Carrots, mangos and winter squash
The alpha and beta carotenes in these orange vegetables and fruits play a role in cancer prevention, particularly of the lung, esophagus and stomach.

Citrus fruits, red apples

These high fiber foods are packed with nutrients and bursting with flavor. Even better: They keep you full longer.

Artichokes (1 large)
8 g fiber | 87 calories
Frozen artichokes have nearly as much fiber as fresh ones. Love stuffed artichokes? Slim them down with this recipe for skinny stuffed artichokes.

Raspberries (1 cup)
8 g fiber | 64 calories
These berries are high in cancer-fighting ellagic acid. Add some fiber to dessert with these nectarine and raspberry sundaes.

Pumpkin (1 cup pureed)
7 g fiber | 116 calories
Pumpkin is a rich source of alpha and beta carotene. Don't know what to do with pumpkin besides carve it? Try these tasty ideas for cooking with fresh pumpkin.

Brussels Sprouts (1 cup)
6 g fiber | 65 calories
Brussels sprouts have more protein than most veggies. Don't think you like them? Think again-this recipe for braised Brussels sprouts in mustard sauce is flavorful and not at all bitter.

Pear (1 medium)
6 g fiber | 103 calories
Pears are high in soluble

By Julia Scirrotto

With texts, tweets, and Facebook feeds invading your bedroom, it's a romantic battlefield out there. That's why SHAPE teamed up with the guys at Men's Fitness to find out exactly how all this technology is affecting your sex life. The good news? Nearly 50 percent of you reported your business between the sheets has never been better. The bad? Read on …

We're living in stalker nation: Thanks to sites like Facebook, Foursquare and Twitter, you've got high-quality surveillance tools at your disposal, and you're definitely not shy about using them. Around 81 percent of you refuse to de-friend your ex on Facebook, and 75 percent admit to placing them under near-constant monitoring. The downside? They also know that you just checked in at Chipotle. Again.

RELATED: 5 Foods That Get You in the Mood

First the post-it, now this!: More than 50 percent of you say you've been broken up with-or done the heartbreaking yourselves-via text message. Which, we're guessing, is only

By Jennipher Walters

If you've ever had back pain, you know it's the worst. You can't move without it aching, and almost any chore ends up feeling like a workout. Thankfully, there are some easy ways to get back pain relief- many of which take almost no time at all!

5 Easy Ways to Get Relief from Back Pain

1. Massage. If you're wondering how to relieve back pain, one of the easiest ways is to book a massage for back pain. A recent study from the Group Health Research Institute found that Swedish massage may be better for easing low-back pain in the short term than medication.

2. Yoga. Turns out that back pain relief may just be a down dog away. According to a 2005 study from the Annals of Internal Medicine, yoga may be more likely to relieve chronic back pain and reduce the need for pain medication than conventional exercise or reading a self-care book.

RELATED: Top 10 Yoga Poses That Increase Metabolism

3. Tai Chi. Many times people suffer from low-back pain

By Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD

The phrase you are what you eat is absolutely true. So if you want to feel well, frisky, fold these five foods into your eating repertoire. Nothing exotic necessary!

Pumpkin Seeds

They're a great source of zinc, which has been shown to boost sex drive by pumping up testosterone. Use them as a garnish for just about any dish, from your morning oatmeal to a garden salad, stir fry, or dessert (try dipping whole strawberries in melted dark chocolate then rolling in roasted pumpkin seeds).

Almonds

Any food that's good for the heart is good for the loins because heart-healthy foods keep arteries clear and boost circulation to allow blood, oxygen and nutrients to flow freely! In addition to heart-healthy fat, one ounce of almonds provides 35 percent of your daily vitamin E needs, another sex hormone booster and powerful antioxidant that prevents arteries from hardening, the top cause of poor blood flow. One ounce (twenty three almonds) makes a perfect portable

The start of bikini season means lots of leg will be flashing! Don't cover up at the beach or pool this summer. We've got five tips you can incorporate into your everyday workout routine that will help you get leaner, stronger, sexier legs faster!

Work Your Lower Half in Every Move: Your lower body is the easiest and quickest place to build calorie-torching lean muscle. You have over 200 muscles below the belt, including the largest muscle in your body - your gluteus maximus. So get off your glutes and get your lower body going in everything you do. Stand on one leg for shoulder presses or squat during biceps curls. The more you work your lower half, the faster you'll see results. Need more ideas? Try this total body routine.

Get off the Machines at the Gym: Those weight machines at the gym may look impressive, but they aren't helping you build an impressive physique. You'll burn more calories and work more muscles at once by doing a side lunge instead of using an isolation equipment