Author - Shawn Slevin

Oxidative Stress – What Is It? and How Does It Impact Our Health?

Both Oxidative Stress (OS) & Free Radicals (FR) are terms many have heard but no little about. A great place to start is a base understanding of human cells. Adults are made up of 30 trillion cells, with every cell renewing on a 3-month cycle. Humans are cellular structures, which is biologically accurate, but our cells are also molecules! Cells are made of proteins, a type of molecule, & water, which is another molecule, together with a variety of molecules....

Swim Strong Visits “Dive In” to talk Water Safety: Rip Tides

So honored and excited to be joining Liz Taylor and Dr. Sylvia Earle of DOER (Deep Ocean Exploration & Research) a marine consulting firm. These two amazing women are legends of the deep, scientists who have explored diverse depths in polar to tropical oceans. Dr. Earle has 70 years of exploring the world’s oceans, is a marine biologist, oceanographer and author. She is also the founder of Mission Blue, a NFP with a mission to explore, restore and protect the Ocean. Liz...

Swim Strong Foundation Speaks Mandating Water Safety Education on the Crossing the Lanes Podcast

Thank you @Naji Ali for featuring me and our work at Swim Strong Foundation on your podcast, Crossing the Lanes (Click Play Below). This 30 minute podcast is focused on our legislative work, trying to mandate water safety and swimming education in NY State schools (Bills S2207    s2207 NYS Assembly/Senate Water Safety Instruction Bill Also the sister bill in the Assembly A728. ) As mentioned in the podcast play notes, you can join us in this effort.  If you live in...

IMPORTANCE OF FLUID INTAKE (HYDRATION)

Drinking enough fluid each day is vitally important for everyone’s continued Health & Wellbeing. While fluid incorporates a very broad range of substances, I’m referring to water. Our goal should always be to consume the highest quality purist water that we can access. There are numerous factors relating to volume required e.g., Season, Climate, Exercise Intensity; but as a generic value adult males require 3 litres each day whereas, an adult female needs approximately 2.2 litres. Our body relies on the...

COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE & CRF MEASURED AS VO2 MAX

COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE & CRF MEASURED AS VO2 MAX The concept of being able to enhance your brain & neural network via aerobic & anaerobic energy systems is amazing! Our brain & nervous system change in response to enhanced oxygen usage with studies clearly indicating that CRF is associated with brain volume & brain white matter integrity in healthy older adults. White matter refers to areas of the Central Nervous System (CNS) that are mainly made up of myelinated axons which impacts...

VO2 Max Testing – Is This Important For Non-Athletes?

Vo2 Testing V̇O₂ Max is a term that many have heard but may not be aware of it’s meaning or usage. The test reveals the maximum rate of oxygen consumption measured during incremental exercise; that is, exercise of increasing intensity. It directly reflects the maximum amount of oxygen your body can utilize during exercise. It’s a combination of how much oxygen rich blood your heart can pump together with the heart’s efficiency in extracting & utilizing oxygen. This sports science test...

Wading into Open or Wild Water for the 1st Time? By Kate Gillwood

Introduction: Swim Strong welcomes our Scottish colleague Kate Gillwood, who helps us understand what we should be thinking about before taking our first open water swim. Are you that person who has been building up the courage to do this for a few months and is now here at the waters edge ready to go. You start to wade in and instinctively take a sharp breath as you toes almost recoil in surprise. Ooft it’s cold!! This sounds like just about any...

Yes, We Have a Winner!!

Congratulations to Andrew M. for winning our holiday raffle! Andrew generously donated his winnings back to Swim Strong!! The raffle raised $5,800 and that means 310 students will receive “Know Before You Go®” training at no cost in the new year. Thank you to Andrew and ALL who participated in our holiday raffle  so that more students may receive this life saving program.  Together, we save lives!