help me be imune !! ive had enough !!
#229384 - 12/05/05 11:09 AM
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jenix
Reged: 10/04/05
Posts: 58
Loc: warwickshire,England
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Help me now ! lol ! I have just been to the doc to get something for my cold only to find i have a chest infection a severe one and i have to go to hospital for xrays tomorrow so now guess who's stressed out ? Anyway Over the last year i have had such a bad time of it and my immune systems taken a battering with me being low and depressed - so i was wondering what i could eat with out any side effects to boost my immune system - im sick of being ill !! help me please !
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-- jenix --
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Well, first of all, if you aren't eating a good balance of SF and IF fiber foods, including lean meats and *plenty* of vegetables, then you should definitely be taking a multivitamin. They can be irritating to the GI tract, but I've been taking my good ol' Flintstones chewables for years now, and they're the only vitamin that hasn't given me stomach problems. Give them a try!
You could also be taking a vitamin C supplement. Be sure to read the ingredients, to make sure that you're buying on that's sweetened with sugar, and doesn't contain ANY artificial sweeteners.
You could also try echinacea. I know there's debate about whether or not it really helps boost immune function, but I can only tell you my personal experience: I kick respiratory sicknesses in 1/3 to 1/2 the time if I take the stuff. Any health food store will carry echinacea, and even some supermarkets and Walmarts carry it now.
With any supplement, to minimize the possibility of it causing you GI distress, I'd take it immediately after a small, SAFE meal.
If you're not getting treatment for your depression, you should seriously think about that too. Medication can be a huge help, but even therapy or hypno (if your depression is more health-related than just a general problem) will help you deal with it more effectively. Depression really CAN take a serious toll on your health, and I'm afraid that most other helps for your immune system might not be of any use if you continue to be so low.
Finally, a couple more practical things: be sure you're dressed appropriately for the weather, and fergodsakes, get enough sleep! Lack of sleep really beats up your body, too.
Good luck with your xrays... and hope you feel better soon!
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Hello - I hope that the x-rays go ok. DO they think you have pneumonia? I have found that zinc nasal spray (OTC at any pharmacy) works wonders at the beginning of a cold or other upper respiratory infection. In terms of improving your immune system in general (I am a med student so let me tell you what I have learned) you should treat your depression because that in itself is a major cause of immune suppression (treatment does have side effects though). Exercise is very important as is eating a balanced diet - with a lot of vitamin C (oranges etc.). Sleep is very very important as well. Finally, drink TONS of water (TONS!)...your body can't repair itself when it is dehydrated or hydrated for a healthy person...you should drink way over the 64 oz recommended amount. I hope that helps!
Danielle
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wow you guys are great thankyou - i will do all of what u tell me and be super immune lol !! But what foods should i eat to help my immune system that are ok on the diet ?
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-- jenix --
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Hey - I think the reason neither of us wrote about foods that are going to improve your immunity specifically is because there are no specific foods (other than those high in vitamin C) that are going to improve your immunity. Your body needs balance...aka - a healthy diet that you would normally eat for IBS...Fruits and vegetables (cooked if that is better for your belly), low sugar, high soluble -fiber. Everything in moderation. I know that may not help very much, but I hope it helps a little! The immune system works best when your body is well nourished and hydrated. Good luck! Danielle
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The only food I know of that helps (apart from fruit/veggies generally) is garlic.
Echinacea is GREAT!  And I take 1g vitamin C a day...and it's REALLY helped me.
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I didn't mention food because what you need to be doing is aiming for a *balance* - as many fruits and veggies as you can safely eat, lean protein, and be sure to get your calcium too. This isn't specifically for your immune system, but for your overall health - your body can't fight off *anything* if it's malnourished, which is essentially what happens if you're not eating a balanced diet. That's why I suggested a vitamin, too, for extra insurance.
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