How to Stay Healthy as an Athlete This Season

Wondering what you can realistically do to stay healthy during training, travel, and sick season? That's what Laura Ligos, RD (aka The Sassy Dietitian) and I chat about in Episode 130 of The Eat for Endurance Podcast. This episode is not about immune “hacks” or doing more. Instead, we break down what actually supports immune health from a nutrition and lifestyle perspective, and explore where athletes often get tripped up when training, underfueling, poor sleep, and life stress stack up.Laura and I discuss:How training, recovery, fueling, sleep, and life stress interact to influence immune functionThe J-curve relationship between exercise and immune health Why eating enough is key to preventing illnessThe role of carbs, specific micronutrients, and other fueling patternsWhy sleep and rest from exercise make your immune system more resilientWhat to do if you’ve been exposed to illness but aren’t sick yetDietary and lifestyle tips for when symptoms start showing upWhich supplements may be helpful, and when to take themHow your approach should differ when dealing with respiratory vs GI illness Immune health considerations during travel, including foodborne illnessIf you’re dealing with stress, constant colds, lingering fatigue, or that frustrating feeling of being almost sick for days on end, this conversation is for you. 🎧 Tune in to learn more!Links & ResourcesFollow Laura Ligos on Instagram and visit Laura's WebsiteIn the J-Curve study we mentioned, it's worth noting: "The main limitation in the field is that most of the studies were conducted in military populations. Military intensive training introduces a wide range of bias because this intensive training usually is accompanied with dietary energy deficiency, sleep deprivation, and psychological stress." Join my membership, Fuel for Life Crew, for just $39/month (cancel anytime)Check out my free nutrition downloadsBrowse my library of nutrition masterclasses (all are included inside the Fuel for Life Crew membership)Interested in comprehensive, in-depth 1:1 coaching? Fill out a new client inquiry form (limited spots available)Support the podcast by shopping all my affiliate links (e.g. Skratch, Tailwind, Momentous) and joining my Patreon communityGet in touch at [email protected] Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to help more athletes fuel smarter!Disclaimer: All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical or nutrition recommendations.Want to get in touch? Send Claire a message!Support the showThanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram and Facebook (@eatforendurance).