New Year's Immunity building plan...

[MoHoHo2]

OK, I am officially fed up of feeling run down and my new year's resolution is to build my immunity...
Basically I've been sick with one thing or another continuously since mid-Dec(cold/cough, then chest infection, and now a sudden outbreak of about 20 mouth ulcers simultaneously - ouch!), and with the prospect of work on Monday I need to get better, and stay better.
I guess I know why - we've had a really manic christmas, with my Mum in hospital and us having to change plans at the last minute and then drive a 900 mile round trip over Christmas (with 2 kids, 4 & 1 !) Lack of sleep through disrupted sleep patterns/environments, too much alcohol etc etc etc - you all probably know the sort of thing..

Anyway, my initial 'resolutions' to try to build my immunity are:

• drink more water, less tea/coffee
• take multivitamins (esp. iron + B vits) every day
• try not to get so stressed (yeah- right!? And how?)
• Echinea (sp?)
• Try to get at least 7 hours sleep a night

Anyone got any magic solutions to add?

Exercise? Makes you feel more energised.

Eat lots and lots and lots of veg & fruit.
Wash your hands frequently; best way to prevent colds!
Protect your vulnerabilities... I wrap a scarf around my head & face on very cold days or my sinuses scream and are prone to infection. Look like a wanna-be Muslim gal, but I don't care, protecting my sinuses is more important!
Exercise is a funny one... very aerobic exercise is known to weaken the immune system for a few hours, but reputed to strengthen the immune system long term.

If you struggle with cutting down on the tea and coffee give decaf versions I try. I had to cut caffine down earlier in the year and now have decaf tea. It's nice now I am used to it But expect huge headaches for a few days as you go through "caffine" cold turkey.

I was like you a few years ago - had a winter where I caught absolutely everything: flu, colds, tonsillitis, mastitis and felt totally miserable. I found the best thing I did - and I hate to say this because it's going to make me sound like a right clart (Scottish for dirty person) was being absolutley rigorous about washing my hands after going to the loo and before eating, which I hadn't been that great about doing before. Also, making sure my feet were dry and warm. At the time I was ill, I found that I had holes in the soles of my work boots and often by the end of the day my socks or tights were soaking.
Finally, if you feel that rotten at the moment, why not take a couple of days off sick, while kids are at nursery, or wherever, and spend it catchng up on sleep and looking after yourself. It would give you a tremendous head start to feeling better in the long-term.

I second zebra's lots of veg plan.

Good ways to squeeze in more fruit and veg are:

-soup (I have vegetable or Gazpacho)
-fruit salad involving lots of exotic fruits like pineapple and mango as a treat at weekends
-spinach omlettes
-keep bite-size fruit like grapes or cherries in the fridge and eat one every time you go to the fridge for something.
-carrot cake (my favourite! )

Also the washing hands thing. In particular, be aware of how often you rub your eyes if you haven't washed your hands: this is the most common way of catching a cold. I haven't had a proper cold since I discovered this.

And don't feel too bad about tea. It may have caffiene but it also has lots of good antioxidants.

Finally as a way of cutting down on alcohol, my favourite is what the Spanish call "Tinto de Verano" - red wine with lemonade. Or alternating hard drinks with soft works too.

More exercise definitely worked for me. I've been power-walking/jogging for five years now 3 x a week and I haven't had a bad cold/flu in that time. Previously I got everything going. 3 kids under 5 didn't help though .Its also helped with my depression/anxiety and generally my PMS is loads better.

MoHoho2 - re the mouth ulcer thing, have you recently changed your toothpaste? Its just that I had sudden outbreak of mouth ulcers and it turned out to be something in my new toothpaste - I think it was Colgate Power Gel. I would never have thought of it but was moaning to a friend and the same thing had happened to her. As soon as I changed back to Colgate Total they got better.

I bought a bike and took up cycling to work (as long as it's not too cold) in an effort to control my migraines. Dh commented a couple of weeks ago at how much more "chilled" I am these days. I take out my frustrations on the hills and the result is fewer migraines and nicer mummy. (and fewer pounds )

Have you got a juicer? They are great for that sort of thing and you make such delicious drinks. I have just bought the Breville Anthony Worrral thompson one which you can shove whole apples etc into and it's brilliant.

Yes, CD - they're great until you have to clean the damn things. If there is a self-cleaning juicer on the market I will buy it.

Oh yes, and you can also stick the pulp from the juicer in the freezer to make instant-ish sorbet!
Maybe I'll get mine out again after all...

Message withdrawn

...I went to see a nutrionalist as part of my get well plan and she was very good.

Cut out refined sugar - try and avoid anything with sugar.
Eat meat 3 times per week
Eat oily fish 3 times per week
Eat eggs 3 times per week
5 portions of fruit and veg a day
Wholeweat pasta, rice etc.

...I have been strict about this diet, but was going to let myself blow it over xmas, and boy afte I had scoffed some After 8's I felt awful...I could really feel the negative affect of so much sugar.

I take a supplement called VMM - specially formulated to support the immune system. It contains various herbs including echinacea, rosemary, thyme, hyssop, ginseng, hawthorn, Irish moss and mullein leaf.

I rarely get any colds or infectious diseases, even when members of my family are suffering. If I get the sniffles, it hardly ever develops into anything more, it's gone within a day or two.

VMM is made by Neways and is available by mail order from Revital 0800 252875

Lamin - good point about the toothpaste - I had wondered this too, especially when I read on a mouthulcers website (! www.mouthulcers.org - quite extraordinary really ! ) that something called SLS in toothpaste might cause mouth ulcers, and while we've been tramping around the country at in-laws/ hotels etc I've been using whatever toothpaste is handy!

SB34 - Thanks for asking about my mum - she's been out of hospital over Christmas/ new Year, but due to go back in for more Chemo from next week. She's still pretty unwell really. We managed to make a flying visit, and although she was pleased to see us ,I could see the kids were tiring her after about 2 hours...

Zinc. Have been taking this for a few months and have not had one cold this winter despite people collapsing all around me, and I get everything usually. I will, of course, get one now.

I was due to be starting a detox diet tomorrow (having to postpone as going to doc on Tues for dizziness...).

It's a month long plan and not diet in the sense of losing weight (although that may be a nice side effect...) but more in terms of cleansing out my system. The one I'm planning to follow is by someone called Jane Scrivner.

I've also been exercising more (and feel much better for it already) and drinking lots, and trying to get a decent amount of sleep.

SenoraPostrophe, just to follow up on the juicer thingy, my old one used to take about 10 mins to clean, this new one takes about 1 or 2 mins, really amazing. I thoroughly recommend it.