Can we cure the common cold?

No

Can with speed up recovery?

Possibly

Can we prevent it?

Probably

A pretty negative list if ever I saw one, but one that encompasses the feelings and emotions surrounding the common cold; negativity and pessimism.  It is well documented that after mass marathons a large percentage of runners develop colds, sore throats etc. Common sense dictates that the immune system hits a low and makes us more susceptible to infection.  What my personal experience tells me is that when I am training regularly, eating well and am not subject to high stress levels I don’t get colds.  However when any one of those variables changes I fall foul of those multitudinous bugs my children bring back from school.  More personal anecdotal evidence is that my children aged 11 & 14 have had less than 10 days off school between them since starting nursery all those years ago.  They are both actively involved in sports many times a week and, my wife being a chef, have always eaten a well balanced diet.

So how do I prevent my clients falling ill and stashing their cash under the mattress instead of sharing it with me.

• Never forget the importance of endurance training, whatever phase their training may be in.  This is the training that makes the body work efficiently improving circulation and increasing the all important mitochondria levels that give us energy and thus help maintain a strong immune system.
• Encourage a diet that maintains a consistent blood sugar level and avoids high levels of insulin being deployed.  This way we don’t encounter those low energy levels that weaken the immune system and encourage bad food choices.  This is most important after training sessions when energy levels are depleted, this is when the quick balanced snack is all important, such as a banana, tuna on wholemeal bread or similar.  This avoids the body raiding energy stores when it is already stressed and in a catabolic state.
• Never forget the importance of vitamins and minerals, make sure your diet has a good mixture of fruits and vegetables and unprocessed foods.  Scientists and dieticians may argue about the relative values of these micro nutrients but all agree that for our body to operate effectively we do need them.
• Reduce stress – the easiest to prescribe, yet the hardest to implement.  Start of by just encouraging your clients to put their feet up.  Explain how the body needs to adapt and repair after exercise and that they have truly earned the right to do so by exercising.  Some guilt free time on the sofa may not sort out the mortgage but it will help your body repair and maintain its defenses.

So probably we can prevent a cold but practically we all have an Achilles heel.   We might be infected with a particularly heavy dose of germs, we might get a light infection after missing breakfast following an earl morning run, we might encounter a strain that are immune system just doesn’t recognize.  What we can do is lower the probability of infection, I generally go over a year between colds which I regard as an acceptable level.

P.S. When you've got the cold either try all of the above, milk your friends and family for sympathy or put a brave face on it and infect the rest of us!

Bookmark with: