run down, tired, frequently getting bugs - any ideas for boosters?

[bossykate]

hello everyone

am off work with a flu-ish virus which has been bubbling under for the last 10 days or so. i have had quite a few sick days this year - since going back to work after dd. have also had an eye infection this week. both these bugs were caught from the kids, but i have gone down with them worse than either or them, or dh for that matter. i'm also getting increasing frequent, increasingly severe migraines.

any ideas on how i could boost my energy levels and immune system?

thanks in advance

[bossykate]

bump - i suppose most/many of us have this problem!

[compo]

a lot of people swear by flourofix (think that's how you spell it!!)

[mazzystar]

echinachea?

cut your caffeine consumption?

gentle exercise?

[Zephyrcat]

Hiya - How about trying a Berocca every morning? My dp swears by them and we are all currently run down with horrid colds and sore throats but he is fine!!

It's basically an effervescent (sp) tablet which makes an orange drink and it really does pick you up and give you a boost.

Absolutely fantastic for hangovers too!!

[bossykate]

thanks ladies

compo - do you mean floradix? not sure if i have spelled it right either. if so, now i remember, that's the one everyone raves about, isn't it?

mazzystar - i've tried echinacea before to no avail. gentle exercise is a very good idea - i'm getting hardly any since we moved (much closer to public transport now, so not automatically getting two brisk walks per day).

caffeine - i don't think i have that much, e.g. didn't need to decrease tea and coffee drinking during pg to stay within the 300mg per day guidelines. do you recommend cutting it right out?

[bossykate]

berocca! great idea, thanks.

[mazzystar]

for what its worth, I always feel much better and sleep much better if I cut the caffeine almost completely (still drink a cup or two of green tea, but the antioxidants make up for the caffeine, maybe).

re the migraines - reflexology? acupuncture?

[motherinferior]

BK, sweetie, I am so sorry. FWIW I'm quite a fan of acupuncture too, and of exercise as well, for boosting both the physical and the emotional immune systems.

[Belo]

my dad says a drink of spirits (eg whisky) every night kills all bugs. hes hardly ever ill, and hes happy!

[puff]

I was listening to a health programme on the radio and the recommendation was echinacea should be taken in conjunction with vit c and zinc supplements for greatest effect. They wont prevent succumbing to a virus, but will alleviate the symptoms and help you recover more quickly. I tried this when I got a bad cold, then chest infection recently and it did seem to help.

[bossykate]

hello everyone

thanks for all these great suggestions. i think the plan will be:

• multi vits
  
• multi minerals (apparently everyone should take these as you can't get everything you need from diet alone)
  
• probiotic supplement of some kind
  
• cut down on caffeine
  
• early nights
  
• acupuncture for the migraine (my sis gets bad migraines and swears by this)
  
• exercise - need to do this but don't quite know how i'm going to fit it in - but i do need to do more.
  
  thanks again everyone, i really appreciate these suggestions