66: Exercise and Immunity

Since the early 1900’s, scientists have been debating the question, “Does exercise increase or decrease our risk of catching passing infections, and the question has never been more salient than now, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.

For some, self-isolation has ended their usual exercise habits; for others, a sudden excess of free time is allowing them to train longer and more frequently than ever before. Neither approach, it turns out, is ideal.

The immune system is very responsive to exercise, the extent of which depends on the duration, intensity and volume of the physiological stress imposed by the workload. Mounting evidence indicates that regular, physical activity and structured exercise reduces the incidence of many chronic diseases in older age, including communicable diseases such as viral and bacterial infections, as well as non-communicable diseases such as cancer and chronic inflammatory disorders.

This is a lively and encouraging episode as Adam and Mike discuss how they determine the ‘correct’ dosage of exercise. This discussion also provides new insights on the interactions between exercise, nutrition, and our immunity.

As always, your feedback and suggestions are always welcome.