Does strenuous exercise reduce our immunity? Check out this recent NY Times article. It has been believed for years that too much exertional exercise may actually reduce our immunity resistance. Recent studies are debunking this idea according to the NY Times. The idea of a weakened immune system from strenuous exercise became popular in the 1980's, because exercise caused an abundance of immune elements in the blood that quickly dissipated after exercise, .giving the appearance that exercise reduced immunity. A new article in the NY Times debunks the idea of the immune system being weakened by strenuous exercise How Strenuous Exercise Affects Our Immune System By Gretchen Reynolds April 25, 2018 If you have ever run a marathon, you know that the effort can cause elation, exhaustion, achy legs, blackened toenails and an overwhelming urge to eat. But it is unlikely to have made you vulnerable to colds or other illnesses afterward, according to a myth-busting new review of the latest science about immunity and endurance exercise. The review concludes that, contrary to widespread belief, a long, tiring workout or race can amplify immune responses, not suppress them. For decades, most researchers, coaches, athletes and athletes’ mothers have been convinced that a single long, hard distance race or other strenuous activity can leave the body so fatigued that it becomes unable to fight off cold viruses and other microbes that cause infections. Read more