Wondering what you can realistically do to stay healthy during training, travel, and sick season? That's what Laura Ligos, RD (aka The Sassy Dietitian) and I chat about in Episode 130 of The Eat for Endurance Podcast.
This episode is not about immune “hacks” or doing more. Instead, we break down what actually supports immune health from a nutrition and lifestyle perspective, and explore where athletes often get tripped up when training, underfueling, poor sleep, and life stress stack up.
Laura and I discuss:
How training, recovery, fueling, sleep, and life stress interact to influence immune function
The J-curve relationship between exercise and immune health
Why eating enough is key to preventing illness
The role of carbs, specific micronutrients, and other fueling patterns
Why sleep and rest from exercise make your immune system more resilient
What to do if you’ve been exposed to illness but aren’t sick yet
Dietary and lifestyle tips for when symptoms start showing up
Which supplements may be helpful, and when to take them
How your approach should differ when dealing with respiratory vs GI illness
Immune health considerations during travel, including foodborne illness
If you’re dealing with stress, constant colds, lingering fatigue, or that frustrating feeling of being almost sick for days on end, this conversation is for you.
🎧 Tune in to learn more!
Links & Resources
Follow Laura Ligos on Instagram and visit Laura's Website
In the J-Curve study we mentioned, it's worth noting: "The main limitation in the field is that most of the studies were conducted in military populations. Military intensive training introduces a wide range of bias because this intensive training usually is accompanied with dietary energy deficiency, sleep deprivation, and psychological stress."
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Disclaimer: All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical or nutrition recommendations.
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