The A-Team

Last October during my annual physical I asked my doctor for advice on boosting my energy levels. He tested my blood  iron levels along with a few other things and everything was normal. My doctor did tell me that I shouldn’t be worried about my “tired” feeling. You see, he laughed and said anyone with enough energy to have a full time job, be a husband and father of 2 kids and still be able to run over 20 miles per week has plenty of energy. Comforting, but I felt that I was still capable of more, and that is what I was after.

So began my quest to boost my energy levels, and after much research I found a nutrient supplement called Quercitin. Quercitin is a naturally occurring flavonoid that is in fruits/plants/grains. Published medical research I read indicates taking higher doses of Quercitin via supplements can have positive effects on blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, inhibits fat cells (healthy weight management), improved exercise endurance, cancer reduction, inhibiting histamine production, anti-inflammatory effects, antioxidant properties similar to Vitamin C, and on goes the list. The main reason I desired to try it out was for endurance (energy) boost, and inhibiting histamine production and it has a anti-inflammatory like effect.

You see, with all of the running  (excess protaglandin causing inflammation and soreness) combined with my severe outdoor allergies (histamine response, inflammation) my thought is that my immune system was on maximum overdrive and draining my overall energy levels down. Anything that would reduce my immune system’s work load would increase energy level and I wouldn’t feel as tired. That was the theory anyway.

I found a version of Quercitin that is also mixed with Bromelain, a plant enzyme that comes from the stem of a pineapple. Bromelain has anti-inflammatory properties as well.

Anyway, after being on this for over 6 months now my outdoor allergies are the mildest I’ve ever experienced in my life. Five months ago I cut my daily antihistamine dose by 50% and still hardly any allergies. I’ve spent almost all of this week outside cutting grass, gardening, biking, etc and still no allergies at all. In years past I’d have been miserable. Overall I feel like I have more energy but that may just be a side effect from not fighting allergies 100% of the time. I buy from Netrition or Amazon, whichever is cheaper when needed. I take 2 vCaps a day which equals Quercetin 800mg & Bromelain 200mg.

Anna has noticed my improvement as well. On top of all this I barely got sick at all this past winter and when I did it wasn’t as severe, plus I have had several run weeks of 30 miles or more.

Let me summarize my perceived benefits thus far:

• I’ve increased running by 50%
• Stronger immune system
• Less allergies, more fun
• 50% less antihistamine drug use

If you know someone with severe outdoor allergies I’d definitely recommend giving it a try. It isn’t cheaper than antihistamines, but to me it sure beats putting synthetic pharmaceuticals with unknown long term effects into my liver and kidneys.