Alissa Carpio - Defend Yourself! Win The Battle Against Cold & Flu.

[webmaster]

As if winter's weight gain, cold weather, and short days weren't enough, cold and flu season is also present to plague the unprepared bodybuilder. Knowing how to defend yourself from getting sick can help more than you may think.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/alissa24.htm

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[JAC]

Thanks for this article, although I wish I had read something like this a few weeks ago when I was sick. I always feel like I can sweat out a cold and force myself go to the gym anyway. Thanks for the tips.

[MarcC237]

In balance, good common sense advice. However, I do have one quibble, and that is with the recommendation to include Vitamin E. There are two concerns. First, while there is evidence that vitamin E plays an immune boosting role in the body, there is little evidence that vitamin E supplementation is effective. Rather, the indication is that failing to get a sufficient quantity of vitamin E from food reduces immune system capacity. There is some concern that vitamin E is one of the vitamins that is fully effective when taken up from the diet rather than supplements.

Second, the article asserts that Vitamin E helps produce more B cells and "[t]hese B cells produce the antibodies that help destroy harmful bacteria." Even were this true, and there is no evidence that vitamin E supplementation will boost the immune system, the destruction of harmful bacteria is not relevant to an article that purports to give advise re: avoiding and/or lessening the symptoms of a cold or flu since those ailments are caused by viruses and not bacteria.

[Psychohazards]

One thing you should try the first day you get Flu (before it gets in it worst part) Go workOut your normal day instead of staying at home. I say that physical activities wakes up the immune system in some way.

And in addition to that for the entire day keep yourself warm.

And when you go to bed sleep an entire 8hr at least and add an extra cover.

The next day you may not be entirely recovered but you will be better 9 out of 10 times.

[joey_tgstk]

I'd like to mention that chocolate is a great help for fighting off sickness such as the cold and flu. Can you say cheat food?

-Joey