Benefits of exercising is not a new topic . Almost everybody (at least in north America) has heard once in their life time that in order to gain a stronger immune system you have to have a proper diet and consistent exercising habit. It is recommended by government of Canada to be involve in at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity exercising 5 days a week (http://www.healthyalberta.com/Documents/Choosewell-Logbook-2011.pdf).
it is important to have a balanced diet and consistent exercise pattern to achieve optimal health (http://www.justprnews.com/15416/colon-cleanser-for-a-healthy-body-and-mind/)
However it has been proven scientifically that long, vigorous exercising can suppress the immune system and in fact makes the body more vulnerable to infection.
One of the studies that supports this finding is the study that was published in journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, conducted by Murphy and his colleges which the link to the study is here http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18616997. They have divided mice into two groups. One rested and the other group ran on treadmill for three days until they were exhausted. Both groups were exposed to influenza virus; the group who were running had more severe symptoms of the illness
The second study (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S088915910500067X) which its result agreed with the above experiment also published in journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, examined the influence of the virus on subjects who were already sick. In this study one group of sick mice were allowed to rest while the second group ran leisurely for 20 to 30 minutes , also there were a third group in this study which ran for two and half hours. Each group repeated the routine for three days. Their results were very interesting: 50 % of the sedentary mice dies , while only 12 % of the gently jogging mice passes away and 70 % of the third group could not survive the virus. Therefore what we can learn here is what my father always tells me:” do not overdue anything in your life, and be reasonable in your decisions”
The reason for such finding is still unclear. Scientists believe that intense work out suppresses immune response for a period of time immediately after you have finished your workout. An associate professor of sport and exercise sciences at Loughborough University says“the longer you exercise the longer the period of suppress immune system”
relationship between exercise intensity and risk of getting an infection (http://www.cps.ca/english/statements/hal/exerciseillness.htm)
At the end, I would like to emphasize that it does not mean that you should not exercise , in fact Jeffrey A. Woods, a professor of kinesiology and community health at the University of Illinois believes that “in general, moderate exercise, such as a leisurely jog or walk, may prop up your immune response and lessen the duration and severity of a mild infection”. Here is a video that lists the benefits of exercise :
Hence, Exercise but DO NOT OVERDUE IT .
