Why do more people get sick in the winter than any other time of the year? The answer is relatively simple-more people tend to spend more time inside warm enclosed places with other potential germ-spreading people. Germs and viruses thrive in warmer conditions making the inside environment a breeding ground for contagious diseases. If you are an athlete, runner or avid exerciser, you are even more susceptible to possible infection - specifically an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). With winter around the corner, this article provides some simple steps that can be taken to help exercisers stay healthy and train harder this season.

Why is immunity lowered in runners and aerobic exercisers?

Exercise in all its forms is considered a stress by the body, and as a result hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline are released to help adapt to the stress. Cortisol is released from the adrenal gland