How do I boost my immune system?

[tillyblue]

For the past 2 yrs I seem to catch every cold, sick bug, sore throat going.

I am not overweight, not fantastically fit , eat reasonably well and get about 7.5 hours sleep a night.

If you are a healthy one please tell me what I am i doing wrong and how do I boost my immune system again? All advice much appreciated.

im not healthy but you do need to take vit c regularly - not just now and again

some one will say echinacea, but thats just bollocks, its been proved to be bollocks but this myth persists.

also superfruits goji berries blackcurrants

thank you Custardo. Someone told me about spirulina too?

Have you goet small kids? If so, wait a few years and you will miraculously become really healthy again!
Excercise is good for your immune system. Also, frequent hand washing - it seems obvious but it is easy to forget. Most bugs and colds are passed on by touch and frequently enter the body when you touch your face so try not to do that either.

Also, make sure you are not aneamic - that lowers your immunity in a big way.

Sounds whacko but spend a little time each day imagining your body as a powerful healthy system, manufacturing plenty of white blood cells and infection fighting stuff. And try to keep upbeat and think of good things that you have to look forward to. Your mental state can have an effect on your immune system.

I thought this was bullshit but a close friend of mine has terminal cancer at 34 (obviously devastating) and his specialist has basically said that the only thing keepinging him alive is his positivity and that when it come down to it when medical intervention fails, it is a persons belief or will to live that can keep the immune system going.

Sorry, didn't mean that to be a downer, but just to illustrate the power of the mind in these matters.

How old are your children, tilly? I agree about getting lots fo bugs when your children are young. I was anaemic for a while and couldn't believe the difference when I was not!

Otterchocdog, many doctors do indeed say willpower has an effect on fighting cancer but I don't there is evidence to back this up. Lots of people have great willpower and still die of cancer or other diseases. I don't think it's what you meant but it's very easy to read comments like this as "if you die of cancer it's because you didn't fight hard enough". Now that would clearly be whacko and bollocks.

Hmm, youngest is 2yrs.

I am slightly anaemic, had lots of blood tests recently, everything normal.Didnt realise that could make a big difference to your immune system, did you both take iron tablets and see improvement?

Otterchocdog,your friend sounds like an inspiration, I will try the power of positive thought. Generally I am so busy rushing around that I dont have time for any thought!!

Thingone - Of course this is not what I meant... I think it was clear from the way I phrased it - he has been given weeks to live and his will to live is the only thing keeping him going- but he is going to die of it, and soon. It is terminal. I wasn't saying it's amazing he's beaten cancer by positivity and people who don't just aren't trying - I was just trying to illustrate the power of the mind in immune matters because make no mistake, that's what keeping him alive.

have a look at this

OCD (oops, bad abbreviation) I did say i was sure that wasn't what you were saying but you do hear people saying "well he didn't have anything to live for anymore" "he'd had enough" and as someone with cancer I find it all somewhat galling!

What has been shown, I think, is that depression does dampen the immune system.

Thingone,
thank you for your advice on the anemia thing. I have looked up a bit more and am quite surprised. I will trot off and get some iron tablets to begin with.
I just read your last post to OCD and was surprised to see that you have cancer? How's it all going with you ?

Ilovemydog thanks, interesting stuff.

lol at OCD, ThingOne (have you seen the state of my house recently?).

But yes, I agree that the reality is that the ulimate outcome of things such as cancer and other serious illnesses are beyond the control of the sufferer. To suggest anything else would be nuts quite frankly.

Not to mention rude and insensitive

Puts down popcorn as fight not happening on thread afterall!
Otterchocdog where does your name come from ?

erm it's very silly. Brown labrador pup who loves swimming and I always think she looks like an otter [silly dog person emoticon]

I knew it!!! I have the very same!

I have to say, whether it's scientifically proven or not I have always found echinacea to work for me.

Perhaps because I believe it works, that is half the battle?

When I used to get run down I would always catch every cold and bug going around and it would be a downwards spiral of constant cold sores and bleurgh.

It doesn't happen any more.

Otherwise, would agree with lots of greens and oranges.

OCD - I have stalkery long lenses trained on the state of all mumsnetters' sitting rooms. I have just been to polish my cushion before going to bed. Not.

Sorry you didn't need your popcorn tillyblue. I hope you ate it anyway. I'm still expected to make a recovery from my cancer but I have had secondaries so the oncologist used the word "guarded".

If yo get constipated from normal iron tablets - ferrous sulphate - you can ask for ferrous fumarate. They are more expensive for your GP to prescribe but I tolerated them a lot better. I was anaemic after my major surgery. I just didn't pick up as I should have done. After six weeks on iron tablets I perked up no end. Later on I had to have a blood transfusion which had an instant result!

Very glad to hear that about the cancer, I am sure you have been through a lot this year. Here ..catch ...(legs a handful of popcorn at Thingone's tidy sitting room)
i have made a note to go get iron tabs from pharmacy in am.

I find Garlic capsules help me.

almonds help your immune system. not sure how. but they do. and they taste good too.