Aspire Higher

Born from a passion for all things food + nutrition. Evolved into sharing my travel expeditions and performance nutrition knowledge! Stick around for fun new places and nutrition facts.

Click a topic above to see what’s new. The most recently published entries will populate at the top of the page! By sharing my experiences, I hope you can learn something new & places you want to visit :) xo

lisacclarke

  • Week 2 & Egyptian Food!

    Hi! It me 🙂 This picture below was taken at the entrance of our flat, and I had to snap a pic. We went out to dinner to take a pause from moving. This honestly felt like the most normal thing for the first time in 3 weeks!! Contrary to popular belief, we did NOT…

    lisacclarke

  • First Week in Cairo (Ma’Adi!)

    The only thing constant in life is change. If you don’t know this already – my husband accepted an international job assignment in Cairo, Egypt for the next 3-5 years. We officially moved here March 16th and have been living in Maadi (Cairo Governate) for a week now! This week has truly been a week…

    lisacclarke

  • can food be addictive?

    What is an addiction? DEFINITION: A brain disorder characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences. The term has been partially replaced by the word dependence; however, addiction has been extended to mood-altering behaviors or activities Two types: Substance use disorder (drug – illegal and legal) Can develop addiction to alcohol, marijuana, PCP/LSD,…

    lisacclarke

  • lactation nutrition (part III)

    What is lactation nutrition? Why is it important? Lactation nutrition (aka nutrition while breastfeeding) … I hope to explain generally foods and habits you can do while you feed your newborn for his/her optimal health & development. Full disclosure: I am only a registered dietitian, so in terms of the nuances of breastfeeding, I can…

    lisacclarke

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  • confessions of a sports dietitian

    Anyone else feel like this isn’t a career-oriented profession, but instead chasing opportunities?? If you’re unable to move around and seek the next best job/opportunity available, you’re stuck. There are so few positions that end up being taken longer than 2-5 years. Those positions are out there, and they are the most coveted because of…

    lisacclarke

  • testosterone

    What does testosterone do? Testosterone (T) is hormone produced in the testes of men and ovaries of women. It’s connected to sexual development, muscle building, fat loss, some aspects of cognition, and hair loss. Your total T levels might not indicate the whole story of how testosterone is functioning in your body. Total T can…

    lisacclarke

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  • pregnancy nutrition (part II)

    What happens to your body during pregnancy? These changes are normal, and certain nutrients/behaviors should be adopted or considered to help your body adjust, allowing the baby to grow. (1) Weight gain is normal and should happen at a rate dependent on what your physician recommends. Unfortunately, these recommendations are based on BMI, which is…

    lisacclarke

  • pre-pregnancy nutrition (part I)

    Why is pre-pregnancy nutrition important? While arguably pregnancy nutrition is most impactful for the baby’s development, pre-pregnancy nutrition can set up habits and priorities that carry into pregnancy for beneficial effects – for both you and your baby! Too much maternal weight gain during pregnancy is risky, for both the baby and mother. There are…

    lisacclarke

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  • citrulline & arginine

    What’s its purpose? Citrulline and arginine both are part of a nitric oxide (NO) pathway. Nitric oxide functions to open up blood vessel diameter, ultimately for the goal of either reduction of blood pressure or improved delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the cells. Both are amino acids that are non-essential. Arginine is conditionally non-essential,…

    lisacclarke

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