Customer Story

This fitness-focused father and CEO wanted to maximize his Spartan race training efforts.


GOALS & WANTS (WHY?)

Cody, a fitness-focused CEO and father of four, came to Ixcela for reassurance that he was doing everything he could to stay in shape and support his health. Although he felt physically fit due to his years of Spartan race training, Cody wanted to make sure there were no underlying factors that could interfere with his performance.

Cody’s regular diet was nutrient-rich and he maintained a regular workout schedule, but managing his many roles and responsibilities put him under a fair amount of physical and mental stress. He wanted to assess how his long work hours, intense training regimen, occasional indulgent meals, and everyday diet were impacting him from the inside out. He was excited to learn what else he could do to support his athletic performance, overall health, and longevity.

ROOT CAUSES & INSIGHTS (WHAT?)

Cody’s Ixcela results showed that his xanthine was above optimal levels and his serotonin was below optimal levels.

Above-optimal xanthine can be a marker of physical, emotional, and mental stress, and it can lead to increased inflammation, sluggishness, and plateaued or reduced athletic performance. Cody’s Ixcela Expert explained that his above-optimal xanthine level indicated that his stressful day-to-day activities were increasing his risk for inflammation and reducing his body’s ability to perform.

Cody reported no problem falling asleep, but sometimes he woke up multiple times throughout the night. His Ixcela Expert explained that 80–90% of serotonin is produced in the gut, and serotonin plays an important role in the ability to fall asleep and stay asleep, so improving his serotonin levels could help Cody sleep better and feel more rested in the morning.


AHA! (SO WHAT?)

Cody realized that if he wanted to perform his best at home, at work, and during races, he needed to update his regimen. However, because of his constantly fluctuating schedule, he didn’t feel he was able to commit to specific daily or weekly habits. Instead, Cody and his Ixcela Expert decided which simple—but powerful—changes he could easily fit into his routine.

ACTION PLAN (NOW WHAT?)

Because Cody was already focused on his nutrition choices, they decided one simple way for him to optimize his diet would be to:

  • Eat more vitamin C-rich foods.
    • Vitamin C is an antioxidant that supports the metabolism of elevated stress marker metabolites, including xanthine.
      • Cody occasionally enjoyed berries, sweet potatoes, and red peppers, and he felt he could easily incorporate more of these foods into his everyday diet.

To improve his recovery, Cody decided to:

  • Set aside time for restorative activities.
    • Meditation, yoga, reading before bed, and other mindfulness practices piqued Cody’s interest.
      • These activities would improve his sleep quality and support his xanthine and serotonin levels.

To further support his serotonin, Cody would:

  • Include more omega-3-rich foods in his diet.
    • Cody reported he could focus on including more fatty fish and walnuts, both of which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that help with the production of serotonin.


PAYOFF (WHEE!)

After talking with his Ixcela Expert, Cody was eager to get started. He appreciated how Ixcela gave him insight into so many aspects of his health, and he looked forward to seeing how a few simple, targeted changes would affect his overall health and Spartan race performance.

Note: Codys success was the result of the Complete Package Program. His name was changed to protect his privacy.
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