Boosting Immune System?

[alittleoffkey]

I'm going to be taking Papa to his chemo appointments... which are currently scheduled as 8 treatments, once every three weeks, straight through my normal sick-season. :doh:

I'm already out to get anyone who is sick that tries to get within 50 feet of Papa (;))... so, I figure I shouldn't catch a cold either. I'm already getting enough sleep (or at least really trying to :rolleyes:), taking Centrum and carrying germ-killer stuff around with me (and using it, especially before eating). I'm also avoiding sick people as though they have the plague. Pneumonia is going through our area really badly... and I've already had it twice :( (not this year :p).

So share your secrets! What do ya'll do that seems to defeat a cold, or keep them from showing up in the first place?

[Gypsy Rose]

500 mg. Vitamin C with bioflavenoids twice daily, Zinc 15-25 mg, and Vitamin E 200 mg.

This would be in addition to your Centrum.

This is what I take for a multivitamin- it's a good high potency vitamin/mineral - great when you're active or under stress:

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SW490/ItemDetail?n=4294967189%2b66

You can also get this in a formula without iron.

[sugarsgirl]

-lots of vitamin C.
-get lots of sleep
-wash your hands a lot

[Mandzanita]

Eat lots of Broccoli!! It's chalked full of immune boosting nutrients. I second everyone who mentioned Vit C and you can pair it with Echanasia (sp?) as soon as you feel the tiniest bit of something comming on. Along with taking vitamins and keeping your hands washed...just really fill your diet with anti-oxident rich fruits and veggies to give your immune system the natural stuff it needs to remain strong and kick the bad crud.

[alittleoffkey]

*wrinkles nose* I can eat broccoli for Papa. Really. I'm pretty certain. :puke:

Can I eat turnip/mustard/spinach greens instead? :innocent:

[JackieB]

Lots of sleep, wash your hands, don't rub your eyes with your fingers, put your fingers in your mouth if you haven't washed them.

Papa is lucky to have you on his side!

[alittleoffkey]

That's my big battle of the moment JackieB - I chew on my fingers constantly... so I'm making a serious, solid effort to STOP. I've nearly-stopped a couple of times... but this time I mean it. :) I also have a habit of eating with my fingers (in my defense, it is illegal to eat fried chicken with silverware in the town closest to my house :D). But no more! Clean fingers OUT of my mouth! Any time I've noticed my hands drifting anywhere near my face they've gone into my pockets.

And thanks for the compliment, that means a lot. :)

[Mandzanita]

If you HATE broccoli then go for any dark colored veggie.

Here's a link that may be helpful!

http://naturalmedicine.suite101.com/article.cfm/10_ways_to_boost_immune_health

[oursarge]

Lots of sleep, wash your hands, don't rub your eyes with your fingers, put your fingers in your mouth if you haven't washed them.

Papa is lucky to have you on his side!

I agree with Jackie B, about the hand washing and not rubbing your eyes etc and also that Papa is lucky to have you and you are lucky to have him.

My friend swears by echinacia [spelling], she was so sick the other day and took some and she is fine now you'd never know there was a thing wrong with her. Problem is if you are allergic to ragweed don't use it. I am very allergic to ragweed so I can't use it but I know it worked wonders for her. She called me the other day and sounded like her husband, her voice was so deep and messed up. The next day she sounded just like herself again, her voice and lungs were clear. Her kids also use it to prevent colds.
Good luck, the cold, flu, bronchitis season is starting early this yr.

[Gypsy Rose]

*wrinkles nose* I can eat broccoli for Papa. Really. I'm pretty certain. :puke:

Can I eat turnip/mustard/spinach greens instead? :innocent:

Pill form may not be as good as the real thing, but I hate veggies, so I take this:

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SWR016/ItemDetail?n=4294967189%2b34

If you're not allergic to echinacea, this would be better- it's a drink:

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SWR009/ItemDetail?n=4294967189%2b34

[carla]

I usually stay pretty healthy w/o any deliberate measures. I do wash my hands thoroughly, though, and of course even more so in clinicals.. :ick:

I had a neighbor who used to swear by this:

https://www.juiceplus.com/nsa/pages/Welcome.soa

May not be a bad idea for Papa too, but I think they're a bit costly if I'm not mistaken (didn't check site yet).

[zoel_222]

I used to take 3 Astragalus (http://www.vitacost.com/Natures-Way-Astragalus-Root?csrc=GPF-033674101803) a day for almost a year. That stuff was awesome. I never got sick on it and it made my allergies almost non-existent. I stopped taking it because one day it was on back-order at the health food store I bought it from and the whole 10 days I didn't have it I was SICK. I didn't like being dependent on it, but if you're looking to boost your immune system this stuff works! You can find it at any health food store in the vitamin section and I have seen it at Fred Meyers.

[Syble413]

First of all, I am so sorry your papa is having to have chemo. ~HUGS~ to you both.

Airborne is a very good OTC product that has many (if not all) of the vitamins & herbs that have already been suggested. Our pharmicists at work recommend it often.

[lovesfortune]

I have no advice, but I'm taking notes! :) I'm always sick it seems. Must be the lack of sleep!

Just wanted to say sending healthy vibes you way for you and Papa!

[alittleoffkey]

Thanks everyone for the hints, advice and good vibes! I'm busily doing research, keep it coming! :)

[rums_mom]

Echinacea should not be taken long term. You can become resistant to it. Should be taken to boost your immune system or if you feel under the weather.

I ditto what everyone else said so far. And I have been drinking the DanActive Probiotic Drink and I swear by it. I can really feel a difference when I take it regularly. It is in a little bottle so it isn't much and it tastes like a fruit smoothie.

[offgridgirl]

Echinacea should not be taken long term. You can become resistant to it. Should be taken to boost your immune system or if you feel under the weather.
Ditto on Echinacea.....6 weeks on and two weeks off. Fruite smoothies with Seaweed and Hemp will also help boost your immune system!! Lots of sleep and wipe door knobs and car door handles!!:cool:

[magayle]

check out the post i made on the health benefits of hydrogen peroxide....many of the links spoke of using it during chemo treatments...or check out the book HYDROGEN PEROXIDE MEDICAL MIRACLE by William Campbell Douglass, MD...it's really interesting stuff

[FoxFireEMT]

ALOK, I second everything that everyone says. I drink EmergenC. along with other vit C filled stuff. But my main reason for answering is:

You are a great person and like Jackie says Papa is lucky to have you on his side.

[alittleoffkey]

It's ironic that this post popped back up today. My father kindly (<--sarcasm) shared his cold with me, so I'm completely miserable right now. :rolleyes: I've been taking Airborne pretty religiously, especially when anyone's sick around me. Unfortunately I ran out just before school started back, and I hadn't bought anymore. :doh:

Thanks for the replies and the new info; I'll add them to the list in my search for optimum health. :cowboy:

[ImaBronsonBear]

I drink EmergenC.

I do too! I absolutely cannot stand Airborne (which my parents swear by), so i take that instead. I can choke EmergenC down just fine, Airborne i nearly gag on.:p

As for staying healthy - eat healthy. Lots of fruits, lots of veggies, no fast foods, no sugar, no candies. Salads with lots of different veggies are really good! Ok, i like them, but maybe i'm wierd. Ok, forget that, i am wierd. Lots of Vitamin C, i'd say eat oranges, but you don't have three trees full of them in your front yard.;)

I hope your Papa starts feeling better and that the chemo works!

[alittleoffkey]

I do too! I absolutely cannot stand Airborne (which my parents swear by), so i take that instead. I can choke EmergenC down just fine, Airborne i nearly gag on.:p

As for staying healthy - eat healthy. Lots of fruits, lots of veggies, no fast foods, no sugar, no candies. Salads with lots of different veggies are really good! Ok, i like them, but maybe i'm wierd. Ok, forget that, i am wierd. Lots of Vitamin C, i'd say eat oranges, but you don't have three trees full of them in your front yard.;)

I hope your Papa starts feeling better and that the chemo works!

I eat healthier than 99% of the people I know - Nana and Papa have a huge garden every year so I'm pretty wealthy in all of the green beans, turnip/collard/spinach greens, corn, okra, etc that I can eat. :cool: I'm also mildly addicted to the original V8, so that's another strike in the healthy column. :D

I make the airborn in a glass slightly larger than a tall shot... two or three gulps and it's all gone. :D

Thanks for the comments about Papa. :) His PSA has dropped from the 60s (when he started chemo) to the upper 30s. Granted, a healthy PSA level is between 0 and 3 but we're well on our way! :cowboy: