During the warm weather, many people become more energetic and participate in outdoor activities. Unfortunately, some of these can expose you to contagious diseases.
Contact sports, pool parties and public gyms can become host to illnesses such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), skin herpes and the bacterial skin infection impetigo. Popular summer crowd-pleasers, such as fairs, festivals and the beach, increase your chances of picking up nasty bacteria or viruses.
Rhinoviruses, from the Greek word rhin, meaning “nose,” cause an estimated 30 to 35 percent of all adult colds, and are most active in early fall, spring and summer. More than 110 distinct rhinovirus types have been identified.
You might expect top athletes to be in supreme physical condition, including their immune systems; however, due to the intensity of their work-outs, they can be prone to respiratory illnesses such as colds and flu. Recent studies show that endurance athletes who take probiotics reduce the rate and length of respiratory illness.*
One of the scariest diseases is MRSA. The frightening thing is that it has reached epidemic proportions because the infection has moved from hospitals into the community. MRSA is now fairly common among athletes and is one of the leading causes of skin infections in the United States. It can lead to complications that can be fatal.*
*Please call your Personal Health Consultant for more information.
You need sunlight to produce vitamin D, but soaking up excessive rays can be harmful. Too much sunshine can suppress the immune system, and overexposed skin is susceptible to skin cancer and infections.
You can continue to enjoy all your favorite summertime activities – just take a few extra precautions to protect your health. Don’t exercise to the point of exhaustion. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly after skin-to-skin contact and after touching such things as gym equipment. Keep cuts and abrasions clean and covered with a bandage until they are healed. Do not share personal items such as towels, soap, and razors. Quickly change out of damp work-out clothes. Wear sunscreen, protective clothing and sunglasses. And take a superior probiotic supplement.
You can get too much sun and exercise, but you can’t overdo Natren probiotics because they are not toxic at any level. Continue to take Healthy Trinity® once a day for regular maintenance and keep your immune system operating at peak performance. You can also supplement with individual powders Megadophilus®, Bifido Factor® and Digesta-Lac® for an extra immunity boost.
The symbol® denotes registered trademark of Natren Inc. ©2008 by Natren Inc. All rights reserved. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
