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Time to Activate the Immune System

Time to Activate the Immune System

, by Rosanna Thill, 1 min reading time

winter-cold-woman

Do the change of seasons and temperature change make us prone to feeling under the weather? I think so. I also attribute it to my kids going back to school and bringing home viruses that can travel a lot further than most people think. Sure enough, this last week we have been recovering from a head cold that started with one of my sons, proceeded to the other son, and then of course, came to me!

I recently came across a study indicating the following: Periods of intensified training which result in overreaching have been shown to chronically depress immune function. Leukocyte function (white blood cells) measured at rest is still depressed 24 hours after the last exercise bout.¹

I have been putting in extra training hours the last couple of weeks as I am preparing for my next sprint triathlon, Saturday, October 12, in Mesa, AZ. The intense training I have been putting in could have comprised my immune system. I am making a conscious effort to increase my consumption of extra nutrient-rich foods to help with both my recovery and support of my immune system. I am looking forward to my next event, because I am more than ready for event, especially the swim, and the last thing I need is to feel poor again!

Over the weekend, I found the perfect “Super Fruit” to add to my whey/glutamine based protein powder! I found frozen puree of “Acai berries” in individual packets that I can put into my favorite smoothie. This berry is considered “Super Fruit” because it is one of the highest antioxidant food sources in the world (2X that of blueberries and pomegranates), and it taste delicious. Here is another piece of good news; my kids love it and I feel great adding more power to our immune systems!


¹Immune system adaptation in elite athletes. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2006 Nov; 9(6):659-65.

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