Your best immune boosting secrets please.

[Jenkeywoo]

We are utterly fed up of being ill. We had a bout of illness in October that left us coughing still as xmas. We are now all ill again, it started with fever about 3 weeks ago, then went on to cough, sore throat etc - the dd's also have conjunctivitis at the moment. The doctor says it's viral so there's nothing we can do.

dd1 was ill last week and appeared to be getting better this week although was still coughing. She was meant to be having her grommets operation today - we have waited months and months. Today when we got to hospital they took her temperature and she had a fever so they refused to do the op. This afternoon she was really listless and so has gone to bed on calpol again.

We need to know how to boost our immune systems - we feel we are relatively healthy - neither dh or I drink alcohol or smoke. I avoid caffeine. We all eat well, and do eat our 5 fruit and veg. We do have the odd take-away but over all I think we have a relatively healthy lifestyle. DH and I have been trying to go out running but my chest is so bad that I can't run more than a few yards. (after coughing from october to xmas last year I was diagnosed with adult onset asthma).

So - any ideas on how to over-come this? the dd's take haliborange fish oils - but we clearly need something else? We did take sambucol for a bit but it was really expensive.

Any immune boosting secrets greatly appreciated.

vitamin c

echinacea was proven to be pointless - but i cannot back that up becuase i can't be fucked looking

vit c vit c vit c

i recommend the bassett chewy ones

and not the cheapo ones from holland and barrett that look like pessaries - dont know whether to stickin yer gob or up yer arse

Sambucol does it for us.

It's boring, isn't it? We're just the same. Still breastfeeding dd, but it's no help - being the newest, she gets the most ill.
A good diet full of veg and fruit and vitamin C supplements help. I've heard that echinaccea is good. And washing hands after wiping yours and your children's snotty noses helps not pass them on.
BUT remember that being unwell is the best boost for the immune system - children who are exposed to childhood bugs are less likely to get more serious illnesses when older including Leukemia and type 2 diabetes. Not much comfort when you're up half the night with a sick child, I know!

Sunshine - been living in Cyprus for 2 years now and I'm amazed at how little illness we have had. I am sure being outside and sunshine has got to have some influence, not good when you are looking for something in a bottle to help though!!

Diet