Do you get colds after riding?

The Northern Monkey

I'm doing research into probiotics for my degree (doing an essay) and found some info that some of you might find helpful...

Basically, high intensity exercise and endurance activities can lower your immunity.
Both natural killer cells and the cytokine IFN-γ are reduced when training, and both affect the body’s natural and adapted immunity against infections from viruses and bacteria, and also help with tumor control.

I've just been reading through a big list of peer reviewed journals, and they all say that probiotics such as lactobilli casei and lactobilli acidophilus can help maintain or increase immunity within sport.

I'm not trying to promote a product, but if your finding that you get colds or flu after long/high intensity rides, try having a Yakult post ride.

The journals are fairly conclusive in my eyes

B

ride_whenever

what sort of significance are you seeing in these papers?

The Northern Monkey

ride_whenever wrote:

what sort of significance are you seeing in these papers?

that the probiotic bacteria significantly stop the reduction of natural killer cells and the cytokine IFN-γ that is usually seen in high intensity and endurance training.

miss notax

Hmm, interesting....

I have always ignored all the yakult type products (as we are both fit and healthy anyway i've never seen the point) but maybe they do have a place then!

Surf-Matt

I find a good ride makes me feel better if I'm feeling a bit rough.

However at the moment I am getting sinusitis after almost every surf. Most annoying and feels a bit like a nasty cold.

robmanic1

Surf-Matt wrote:

I find a good ride makes me feel better if I'm feeling a bit rough.

However at the moment I am getting sinusitis after almost every surf. Most annoying and feels a bit like a nasty cold.

Sorry to hear that matt, have you tried flushing them out with salt water?

The Northern Monkey

sarah75 wrote:

Hmm, interesting....

I have always ignored all the yakult type products (as we are both fit and healthy anyway i've never seen the point) but maybe they do have a place then!

yup, thats what I thought actually!

however the flora pro active is bifidobacteria (not lactobilli).
I haven't been researching bifidobacteria which is why i recommended the yakult

tiny_pens

So why would this be better than taking a prebiotic (e.g. banana) before riding?

The prebiotic would help the reproduction of the probiotic bacteria already in your body - plus might be a tad cheaper.

Tiny

The Northern Monkey

So why would this be better than taking a prebiotic (e.g. banana) before riding?

The prebiotic would help the reproduction of the probiotic bacteria already in your body - plus might be a tad cheaper.

Tiny

I never said it would be better than taking a prebiotic :?
I just said it would be beneficial, i never even mentioned prebiotics. care to read the OP again?

Anyways, prebiotics aren't directly related to immunity - whereas probiotics are.
The main functions for prebiotics are to improve gastrointestinal health and improve calcium absorption, but as you say can help improve the effect of probiotic bacteria.

However, if you don't have enough probiotic bacteria in the 1st place (hense why people are more likely to get cold/flu) its not going to be as effective as taking the actual probiotic. Probiotics aren't naturally produced by the body yunno!

ride_whenever

sorry bigbenj, i meant to what sort of reduction in incidence of infection and from what sort of sample sizes?

supersonic

There seems to be a culture for these bacteria at the minute...

robmanic1

supersonic wrote:

There seems to be a culture for these bacteria at the minute...

Super, go to your room!

supersonic

Sorry, that was poor even by my standards hehe

The Northern Monkey

supersonic wrote:

There seems to be a culture for these bacteria at the minute...

Shocking :shock:

ride_whenever wrote:

sorry bigbenj, i meant to what sort of reduction in incidence of infection and from what sort of sample sizes?

Sorry mate, just went to get the GF from the bus stop
How do you mean what sort of reduction? kinda confused, you after a % or significance value?

most of the studies have ranged from 10 to 30 subjects... however i found a reference to a meta-analysis of over 80 separate studies hat also shows the same results (i'm current;y trying to find the bugger )

The Northern Monkey

ride_whenever
http://hcp.yakult.co.uk/pdf/Sportsarticle2008.pdf

Just found this. Brilliant for my essay

KnightofCydonia

I'm currently on these - http://www.worldwideshoppingmall.co.uk/ ... togest.asp after my tests i mentioned in another thread showed a severe lack of good bacteria amongst other things. For those who dislike yoghurt tasting things, they're great!