Boosting immunity the natural way

Since I had mono last year, I am constantly getting sick. Nothing serious, just enough to make me feel under the weather. I'm looking to boost my immune system, but would like to do it in a more natural way. Any ideas?

 

First of all eating healthy in general will help your immune system. But specifically, I heard today actually the the mineral Zinc helps your immune system and is known to prevent colds if you feel one comming on. Also Vitamin C. I take Echinacea in the winter or when I feel like I might be getting sick and that works for me. Also I've heard Goldenseal or something works like Echinacea. =)

 

eat a healthy, varied diet without preservatives, additives, artificial flavors or colors. Usually that means not eating anything that is already prepared, cook from scratch instead. Don't eat anything that doesn't grow or bleed. Being vegan (I'm assuming, by your member name) means you have to pay extra attention to what you eat to make sure you are getting the right balance. Too many grains can hurt the immune system, as well. And avoid bleached flour and refined sugar like the plague. Go outside and get lots of unprotected sunlight exposure, your body needs lots of vit D when it's recovering from illness.

It wouldn't hurt to see your doc. Mono can cause some major complications, and sometimes never goes completely away. How's your spleen?

 

I've heard that garlic can be good for boosting immunity. I think we used to have capsules of garlic powder in our house, and the container said that it was good for immunity.

 

Get some books by Dr Andrew Weil. They'll probly be at your library.

 

AAAAAAHhh man I'm so sorry. I had mono last year and was hospitalized for it and finally feel almost over it. Any bug I get makes me feel deathly ill too.
I suck on vitamin c and zinc losenges a lot, wash my hands quite a bit, drink veggie and fruit juices a lot, try to minimize how much sugar I eat.
One other controversial way of treatig a low-immune system is with anti-anxiety pills because stress weakens your immune system further (as you prob know). I know they put me on effexor and valium for a few months.
Also lots of sleep and don't let anyone tell you you're lazy you need it for the next COUPLE OF YEARS. I need 10 hours a night since I got mono, where before I could get by on 6 easy.
How did the mono effect you?

 

oh a good multi vitamin and an under the tongue b vitamin is great too-or even b injections

 

I had mono... It lasted for about 6 weeks and then just sort of went away. I haven't really had any long-term side effects either.

 

did you have it as a teenager? The older you get the longer it lasts and the worse it is, much like chickenpocs (before they had the vaccine). Most people get it as children and it is just like a mild flu. I was in a very stressful enviorment right before I got it and drank a lot and smoked a lot of cigarettes. I am guessing that's why I had liver faulure from it and a bunch of other nasty things.

 

Yeah I was 16.

 

Let's face it, unless you have the time to cook a "healthy, balanced meal" twice a day complete with high fibre breakfast, you're simply not going to get the vitamins you need.

I try as much to drink juices (diluted if from concentrate), and cut up as much veggies as possible. Keep in mind that overcooked, stewed, over-boiled or steamed vegetables lose their vitamins if they're too soft and mushy. You're not getting the optimum amount of nutrients from them. Even this is not enough for me.

I share a house with a girl who's constantly getting sick (she just moved in in August) and it's terrible and annoying, to say the least, as much as she's a wonderful person and we get along well. It doesn't help that I work 80-90 hours a week either. I've turned to Vitamin C supplements, fish oil tablets and One A Day for women (though men take this all-rounded vitamin pill also). They work wonders for my immune system and overall health in as "natural" a way as I can get.

 

some people just rarely get sick, dunno. other than mono, i had strep once, and maybe a yearly case of a sorethroat/sniffles kind of deal.

and i drink too much, smoke too much, and eat pretty unhealthily.

 

I'm always getting sick and I annoy myself with it so I know it is hella annoying to other people. I usually don't say anything when I do get sick and try to just carry on as normal but then it always develops into soemething huge. This is the first year I haven't had strep or penumonia (knocks on wood) and I think it's because I quit smoking cigarettes and no longer work with kids.

 

It's annoying... but I know I kept my neighbours awake a few months ago hacking and coughing like I was dying in the next room from a monster flu from a friend. I get sick probably once every two years. Every time I do get sick, it's so humbling. Shit happens. Just kind of do what you can to avoid fall ill.

Anyone squeeze their own orange/grapefruit/lime juice?

 

theres a undeniable truth to your health and immunity. before you can rebuild shope you gotta tear out some old stuff. I reccomend looking into a temp. fast/cleanse where you rid the buildup from certain areas. after you go back to eat normal food you will crave healthier stuff. which in turn will be better absorbed and keep your immunity in check.

 

Garlic is excellent for the immune system.

But, its an immune-system stimulant and should not be used excessively as it can create auto-immune diseases(allergies,etc..) and your body starts attacking everything, not knowing the diff. between good cells and bad cells. Now, you'd have to eat a lot of garlic every day for at least a couple weeks before that kicked in, but be aware that garlic isn't a tonic(or something you should use everyday indefinatley) Echinachea is a similar immune system stimulant which should not be used daily.

Some of the great tonics for the immune system are mushrooms which are found in any health food store. Reishi, cordyceps, maitake, etc. Astragalus is a similar type of herb that works excellent. You can take these indefinatley and they only get better with time.

Obviously oranges and high vitamin C foods(bell peppers, berries, tomatoes, basically any fruit or vegetable to some extent) are gonna have an anti-viral effect that helps the immune system too.

Also, iodine from sea-weed is critical because many people go deficient in this nutrient because our thyroids are stressed out because of the hyper-toxicity in the environment and food these days. Kelp is a great immune booster for this reason.

Fasting is also excelllent for the immune system. Especially if your breathing clean air and drinking great bottled spring water. Also be aware that juice fasting is usually more healthy for people. Fresh juice is the best juice, especially fruit AND vegetable juice. Try to make your juices have more vegetables than fruits, and use the fruits just to make them taste good and agreeable. Fresh juice is an excellent immune general-well ness tonic.

If you follow all the advice I listed here, I think you will be in pretty good shape ; )

 

I think I got lots of good advice to get me going!

I got mono when I was 21 and had symptoms for 4 months. I've never had an outstanding immune system, but now I get every little thing that goes around and get it twice as bad. Been taking a Vitamin C supplement and also a daily vitamin so far. I generally eat pretty healthy, but I think I would like to try a juice fast. How long should one do this?

 

First of all you have to start treating your body with respect, which means cutting out all processed foods and getting down to preparing your own. You are what you eat. Hemp is a great super food and I would recommend hemp oil and black seed oil as food suppliments as they are high in omega fattys and GLAs minerals , vitamins etc. Hemp flour and seed as a highly nutritious source of protein.

Fruit smoothies are great and also veg juices - beetroot is a real super juice. Carrot, apple, blackcurrent and honey is a wonderful combination and honey is really good for the immune system - bees are the worlds first pharmacists. If you can afford it it is worth having manuka honey for a while to get over a low period.