Have you ever wondered why some people suffer with an immune crash right after exercising or working too hard? Whether it’s a cold or flu that sets in, virus, or adrenal fatigue, it could result in a week or two in bed recovering.
During long term stress, hormones such as cortisol and adrenalin are produced in high quantities keeping up with the extra demands on your body. When the time comes to rest, the adrenalin stops pumping, which has an effect on your overall hormonal balance, causing the stress hormone cortisol to also drop. For those who suffer with a relatively low immune system, which you may not notice until this time, the adrenal fatigue triggers an acute response, rendering you susceptible to infection.
Focus on your immune system through times of stress, developing a strong defence against adrenal fatigue will help. What controls your immune system is the balance of good to bad bacteria that are naturally occurring and inhabit your gut.
There are a number of good bacteria that have an impact on your day to day health, your immune system, and your digestion. These are found in dairy, fermented foods and probiotics. There are also however, affecting approximately 90% of our population, bad, unnecessary bacteria, having an even bigger impact on how well you cope, and recover from stress. These bacteria are the cause of your poor immune response during times of stress. These bacteria produce D-lactic acid, in quantities that far outweigh the level of lactic acid that should be circulating in your system. Your body naturally produces L-lactic acid through exercise, for brain function, and for energy production.
We have an enzyme that can break down the L-lactic acid once it is not needed, though we don’t have an enzyme to break down D-lactic acid formed by these bacteria. High levels of D-lactic acid produced are not removed, leading to colds and flu, pain and muscle tension, fibromyalgia, fatigue, and mental health symptoms such as fogginess, insomnia, depression, anxiety, heart palpitations, and nervous system problems.
Recovery can take a few months, though the positive effects are noticed within 2 weeks. If you feel you may be suffering with this type of immune imbalance, consider getting help, as it only continues to cause gut depletion of nutrients and poor immunity further over time, affecting energy production for life.
For any further information please call us on 07 5443 1987 or come into Advanced Wellness and Behavioural Centre today.