• August 25, 2008

The Vitamin Shoppe has launched an online community including message boards and expert leaders giving health, wellness, and sports nutrition advice.

Experts, who host discussions and also answer specific questions, include herbal pharmacist Dave Foreman, registered dietitian Christiane Rivard, and Dave Hawk, former Mr. USA and Mr. World and a personal trainer and adviser to NFL, NHL, WWE and NASCAR athletes. Additional guest experts will also be added to the boards, according to the North Bergen, N.J.-based company. Boards can be accessed at www.vsconnect.com or from direct links from www.vitaminshoppe.com, and www.bodytech.com.

The community forum also allows members to develop specific profiles about their workout, diet, and supplementation practices. They can track their progress in an online journal and share that with the community or just with friends. They can participate in discussions from topics as diverse as losing weight to bodybuilding to nutrition, to various health conditions.--Tanya Irwin