Till Schenk - Adventure cyclist, sports commentator, event host. But in our podcast, Till didn't talk about his latest adventure, but about his very long history of suffering.
When he graduated from high school, he fell ill with Pfeiffer's glandular fever, triggered by the Epstein-Barr virus. Due to incorrect or even missing treatments, this disease continued to bother him even 10 years later. For years, Till struggled with a weak immune system, was low on energy, often had headaches and also constantly suffered from gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea. When a doctor recommended that he should come to terms with his condition, he wanted to prove the opposite.
With a doctor and her know-how on nutrition, he changed his diet and carried out a bowel cleanse with the help of probiotics. His motivation was the Ironman South Africa 4 years later.
Pfeiffer's glandular fever – the connection between viral infections and our gut health
All viral infections have a strong impact on our microbiological colonization. This is often noticeable by a change in digestive performance during or after the illness. Scientific studies showed that a viral infection leads to a massive proliferation of toxin-producing bacteria.
Some bacterial excretions are toxic. Toxins are poisons that the body wants to get rid of as quickly as possible by drawing water into the large intestine. While this causes the problem of diarrhea, it uses it to flush out itself and the toxins.
If you catch a viral infection, you should therefore definitely support your gut and its microbiome and help rebuild it! An imbalance of the microbiota, also called dysbiosis, can lead to food intolerances and many other problems.
Antibiotics and their consequences
Antibiotics can be used for bacterial infections, but have no effect on viruses. Usually, a broad-spectrum antibiotic is prescribed, which does not specifically combat 'bad' bacteria, but everything that gets in its way. Even 'good' bacteria, of which we have many in the body and which are elementary for our system, are not spared.
So, if you consider that Pfeiffer's glandular fever is a viral infection against which antibiotics cannot do anything, you can only imagine what damage it can do to the body. The drama unfolds.
Till Schenk knows this only too well, as he was prescribed 5 courses of antibiotics. His microbiome was consequently ruined and could only be brought back into balance with the help of Simone Kumhofer and the OMNi-BiOTiC team. Because it can take months or years to rebalance the body's own antibiosis.
Our tip: If you are prescribed an antibiotic, always take a probiotic in addition!
The right treatment method
Based on a microbiome analysis, the number, type and activity of the existing bacteria in the intestinal mucosa can be determined. Since 80% of the immune system is located in the gut, the most promising therapy can be chosen accordingly.
Even if the microbiome cannot be built up overnight, a microbiome analysis can be the beginning of a carefree life.
Would you like to experience Till Schenk live? Then come to the Apfelland Triathlon at Stubenbergsee from May 26-28, 2023! See you there? You can register here!
Did you know,..
..that there is also a matching podcast for many blog posts?
Your hosts are Simone Kumhofer (sports and nutrition scientist, professional triathlete and expert for gut health and the microbiome) and Chris Nindl (triathlete, former cyclist and organizer of the APFELLAND TRIATHLON)
Have a listen! - Click here for the podcast!
