BIG QUESTION:

Does exercise support or inhibit the immune system?

The immune system’s response to exercise completely depends on the intensity and duration of e ort. If you’re doing ‘moderate’ exercise – a steady run or a weights session – you’re going to benefit from both immune and metabolic benefits, including anti-inflammatory e ects and improvements in glucose and lipid metabolism.

However, when you force the e ort too high for too long, immune impairment becomes an issue. It’s been found that prolonged, highintensity training (and, for athletes, competition) can result in increased susceptibility to common illnesses, at least in the short-term.

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING

“Intense training, excessive exercise, insu cient rest, travel and improper nutrition are all factors that can cause stress. Too much of any of the above can lead to health complications such as immune depression, inflammatory dysregulation, increased respiratory tract infections, and oxidative and mental stress,” warns Claire

Barnes, nutritional therapist at Bio-Kult.

“These alterations can last for several hours, increasing to days during recovery from prolonged and intensive endurance exercise. While there is some debate among experts as to whether the immune system is actually suppressed following strenuous prolonged exercise, some research does hint at a short-term immune dysfunction during the recovery period.”

DON’T BE DETERRED

That said, regular, moderate exercise plays an important role in maintaining a healthy immune response. “It can even delay the aging of our immune systems,” adds Barnes, “which highlights the importance of continued exercise as we get older.”

So while the pandemic rages on, it shouldn’t deter you from regular, moderate exercise. “Ultimately,” says Barnes, “staying active may help to improve your immune response to pathogenic viruses and bacteria.”