Meet the Experts

Ryan Andrews

MS, MA, RD, RYT, CSCS

Ryan Andrews is a principal nutritionist and adviser for Precision Nutrition and an adjunct instructor at Purchase College, State University of New York. He holds master’s degrees in both Nutrition and Exercise Physiology from Kent State University and a BS in Exercise Science from the University of Northern Colorado.

Andrews is also a Registered Dietitian (RD), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), a certified exercise physiologist (ACSM), and a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT).

He frequently writes and speaks about nutrition, health, and sustainable food systems and has accumulated over 1000 hours volunteering at organic farms and with non-profit food recovery organizations.

Articles by Ryan Andrews, MS, MA, RD, RYT, CSCS

Bean me up, Scotty

What if we told you there was a dirt-cheap source of protein, fibre, and vitamins that was as close as your pantry? Dig out that forgotten can of chickpeas and make room for legumes!

All About Kitchen Makeovers

Berardi's First Law states that "If a food is in your possession or located in your residence, either you, someone you love, or someone you marginally tolerate will eventually eat it." In order to get the body you want, you have to surround yourself with good stuff... and purge the stuff that's holding you back. Get the garbage bags and compost bin ready!

Saving money on food

Gah! Food is sooo expensive now! Or is it? Although average Americans spend just 10% of their disposable income on food, we could be saving even MORE money. If you're a PN eater, you might just end up richer than you think... and healthier too. We can't promise you'll be a millionaire, but your waistline AND your wallet will thank you. Nutrition coach and certified cheapskate Ryan Andrews hits the blue light specials.

All About Estrogens

Estrogen gets blamed for everything from wimping out in the gym to crying at long distance telephone commercials. But guess what -- both guys AND girls have it! Learn more about estrogen's role in the body, and what effect it might have on your health.

Expert Tips: Cooking whole grains

At PN, we emphasize the importance of eating whole foods. And here's a great set of tips for how to cook 'em. Following our method you'll get better quality grains faster and with less hassle.

All About Drinking Water

Sure, drinking water is good for you -- water does a lot of important things for your body. But did you know that bottled water is over four times the price of gasoline? And that barely 1% of the world's water is safe to drink? You might want to take a closer look at what's coming out of the tap or bottle before you chug-a-lug.

All About Chocolate

Chocolate's mysterious allure has lasted hundreds of years, from the ancient Mayans to the modern science of antioxidants. Where does chocolate come from? What makes it so appealing? And is it truly good for us?

Diabetes types 1 and 2:

What if we told you that there was a disease that struck 7% of the US population (and nearly one-third of people in some areas)... a disease that led to a multitude of other common and serious diseases, disabilities, and premature deaths... and that about 85% of these disease cases were completely preventable? Read all about diabetes mellitus, and what YOU can do to cut your risk, right now.

All About Diet Sodas

Diet soda is a no brainer. We drink it to avoid the sugar calories from regular soda, right? But do the benefits of consuming fewer sugar calories outweigh the risks of consuming artificial ingredients?

All About Dehydration

Feeling thirsty? Maybe it was that soy-sauce-laden takeout. Maybe it was the four beers after the game with friends. Or maybe it was that jog in Death Valley. In any case, you'd better drink up -- because dehydration can put a cramp in your athletic performance.

All About Flax

Flax, one of humanity's oldest cultivated crops, offers several potential health benefits, particularly because of its fibre and omega-3 fatty acid content. Yet in many cases, the data are mixed; we're still not completely sure which health conditions flax definitively prevents or treats. (You might say: Flax on? Flax off?)

Cardiovascular Disease:

Poor nutrition can be a heart breaker, a love taker, and definitely not a dream maker, so don't you mess around with CVD. (Apologies to Pat Benatar.)

The Super Shake Guide:

Store bought and smoothie shop nutrition shakes are usually heavily sweetened, loaded with poor protein sources and are missing many nutrients found in whole foods. The Super Shake, on the other hand, is packed with all kinds of good stuff like high-quality protein, fiber, good fats, antioxidants and more.

All About Soy

From thyroid disease to GMOs, from breast cancer to infant formula, there's been a lot of conflicting media reports on the safety of soy. We review the evidence, and explain the source of soy's power as potential hero or villain.

All About Creatine

Creatine's a selfless type. It really wants you to finish that sprint or squat set, so it hands out its phosphates all over the place. It's also a meat-and-potatoes supplement, literally and metaphorically. It's in your steak, and it's been fuelling athletes and bodybuilders safely for decades. Find out how creatine does its Mother Teresa routine, and why it's a good addition to your supplementation regime.

All About Sleep

How can ZZ affect your BF? (And your GH, TSH, IR, GT, and T2D?)

All About Cortisol

Whether the economic crisis keeps you awake at night, whether you're stressed out at work, or whether you're just hitting the treadmill too often and for too long, you might be at risk for chronically elevated cortisol levels. Find out what cortisol is, how it works, and how it can affect your health, performance... and even that six-pack you covet.

All About Food Sensitivities

Gassy? Throat closing up? Sensation of digesting broken glass? It might not be just your spouse's poor cooking skills; you could have a food sensitivity.

All About Cardio

Now that we've been through the aerobics craze, Jazzercised and Jane Fonda'd, and sweated to the oldies, what's the best way to do cardio training?

All About Alcoholic Beverages

Drink to your health? What you need to know about alcohol consumption and physical wellbeing.

All about local food

Eating local isn't just for crunchy-granola people; everyone can benefit from a close relationship between local producers and consumers. Grab your cloth shopping bags, hit your farmer's market, and make some new farmer friends while enjoying better-tasting, more nutritious, and environmentally friendly food.

All About Caffeine

There's nothing like a good ol' espresso buzz before a morning workout; after all, research shows that caffeine can improve your athletic performance temporarily. But is it GOOD for you? How does it work? We review the evidence.

All About Beta-Alanine

Beta-alanine supplementation may help buffer lactic acid and help with healing, muscle recovery, and muscle contraction. But for now, the evidence is mixed.

All About BCAAs

Branched chain amino acids, aka BCAAs, are important players in protein synthesis. Without enough of them in your diet at the right times, you could be sacrificing some hard-earned gains in the gym.

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