IMMUNE SYSTEM AND INFLAMMATION

IMMUNE SYSTEM AND INFLAMMATION

                      DURING AND AFTER INTENSE TRAINING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IS SUPPRESSED. THIS EXPLAINS WHY ONE MAY FEEL RUN DOWN PRIOR TO AND AFTER COMPETITION/INTENSE TRAINING. THERE ARE MANY NUTRIENTS OUT THERE THAT ARE NOT UTILIZED IN THE HUMAN DIET THAT HAVE IMMUNE ENHANCING PROPERTIES. THE FIRST THAT MANY PEOPLE FALL SHORT OF ARE VEGETABLES. IF ONE WERE TO CONSUME 10-15 SERVINGS OF DARK GREEN VEGETABLES DAILY THEY COULD NOT ONLY BOOST AND DETOX THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM BUT THEY COULD PREVENT ELEVATED BLOOD ACIDITY LEVELS, WHICH AID IN SUSTAINED PERFORMANCE. RESEARCH ALSO SHOWS THAT CARBOHYDRATES DURING AND AFTER EXERCISE PROTECT THE IMMUNE SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO DECREASE STRESS HORMONE RESPONSES WHILE ALSO FUELING THE ACTIVITY OF THE SYSTEM’S WHITE BLOOD CELLS. 

                     WITH THAT BEING SAID ONE SHOULD FIRST CONSULT THEIR SPORT NUTRITIONIST AND GET THE REQUIRED POST WORKOUT SHAKE FOR THEIR GOALS. AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO LOOK FOR IN A REGULAR POST WORKOUT DRINK IS HIGH GLYCEMIC CARBOHYDRATES, HYDROLYZED WHEY PROTEIN, GLUTAMINE, BCAAs, CREATINE AND ADDED LEUCINE FOR PROTEIN UTILIZATION (DRINK DEPENDS ON THE GOAL OF THE PERSON AND THE PROGRAM THEY ARE PARTICIPATING IN) LASTLY, THE POST WORKOUT MEAL SHOULD INCLUDE LEAN PROTEIN SOURCES (POULTRY, WILD GAME, LEAN GROUND BEEF, ETC.), CARBOHYDRATES (WHOLE GRAIN BROWN RICE, POTATO, ETC.), AND 2-3 SERVINGS OF DARK GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES. IN ADDITION TO A WELL ROUNDED DIET, SUPPLEMENTING VITAMINS C, D, AND E, OMEGA 3’S, AND PROBIOTICS ONE HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF ACHIEVING RECOVERY AND MAINTAINING A STRONG AND HEALTHY IMMUNE SYSTEM.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION TAKE A LOOK AT ON FITNESS’ MAY/JUNE 2012 MAGAZINE.