Cold, altitude, calorie restriction, increased exercise, and sleep disruption can all lower immune resistance, increasing our risk of infection and illness in the outdoors. Aside from opting to stay inside and avoid adventure (not an option!), there isn’t much we can do to prevent that reduction in resistance, but we can ensure we give ourselves an optimal baseline to start from.
The Science of Immune Support
Endurance exercise, like hiking, temporarily suppresses immune cell activity due to oxidative stress and cortisol elevation (1). If the immune system were an electric fence, exerting yourself for extended periods is akin to shutting off the electricity. Suddenly, there are many access points for pathogens to cross undetected and make themselves at home, leading to illness or infection.
How Optiventure Supports Immunity
Micronutrients like vitamin C, zinc, vitamin D, and selenium are vital for immune resilience (2) and work synergistically with each other and other cells to protect and armour your body against foreign bodies that could derail your health and/or performance.
Vitamin C enhances white blood cell activity and antioxidant defence (3).
Vitamin D3 modulates innate and adaptive immune responses (4).
Zinc bisglycinate supports T-cell production and antiviral defence (5).
Quercetin Phytosome helps your immune system fight off infections by reducing harmful inflammation and supporting your white blood cells to respond more effectively to challenges on the trail. (6)
S. boulardii probiotic maintains both microbial diversity and the integrity of your gut barrier, helping your body defend against bugs you might pick up on the trail (7).
Trail Application
The immune support cocktail we’ve included in Optiventure is designed to support your immune system when sleep and diet are compromised. We recommend commencing Optiventure supplementation a minimum of two weeks before your hike or adventure. This allows you to build up a good protective buffer so you can stay healthy, perform at your best, and recover faster in-between each day.
References
- Gunzer, W., Konrad, M., & Pail, E. (2012). Exercise-induced immunodepression in endurance athletes and nutritional intervention with carbohydrate, protein and fat—What is possible, what is not? Nutrients, 4(9), 1187–1212. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu4091187
Calder, P. C., et al. (2020). Nutrients, 12(4), 1181.
- Gombart, A. F., Pierre, A., & Maggini, S. (2020). A review of micronutrients and the immune system—Working in harmony to reduce the risk of infection. Nutrients, 12(1), 236. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010236
Martineau, A. R., et al. (2017). BMJ, 356, i6583. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i6583
- Carr, A. C., & Maggini, S. (2017). Vitamin C and immune function. Nutrients, 9(11), 1211. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9111211
Tiralongo, E., et al. (2016). Nutrients, 8(4), 182. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8040182
- Read, S. A., Obeid, S., Ahlenstiel, C., & Ahlenstiel, G. (2019). The role of zinc in antiviral immunity. Advances in Nutrition, 10(4), 696–710. https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmz013
- Sidor, A., & Gramza-Michałowska, A. (2015). Advanced research on the antioxidant and health benefit of elderberry (Sambucus nigra) in food – A review. Journal of Functional Foods, 18, 941-958. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2015.06.050
- Indena. (2021). Quercefit® immunity: Enhanced quercetin phytosome for immune support. https://www.indena.com/indena_files/2021/11/QUERCEFIT%C2%AE-IMMUNITY-ADV-us.pdf
- McFarland, L. V. (2020). Saccharomyces boulardii: A review of an evidence-based probiotic for gastrointestinal and immune support. Gut Microbes, 12(1), 1–30. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7344949/
