Help me stay healthy and well - please!

[Hulababy]

I am forever picking up every cold, bug, virus, etc. that is going round. It is even worse now I have gone back into schools. I pick up everything and anything, especially the viral infection stuff.

So, after having had 7 weeks off school with a pretty bad case of pnuemonia, being back at school just two weeks and having been formally discharged from the hospital, I now have a throat infection!

I went to the drop in centre at the hospital as I couldn't get a GP appointment, and I am coughing lots and it is hurting my chest. So, being a bit paranoid at the moment thought a trip to hospital was worthwhile. Fortunately my chest and lungs are clear. However my temp is up slightly, my heart is racing and my glands are up - and I have a throat infection. Probably got it from DD who was poorly with tonsilitus last week or two. It is likely to be viral so no abs for now unless it gets worse.

So, yet another illness (fortunately can still work with this one)....

What can I be doing to prevent getting all these bugs?

I do all the hygiene bits as much as I can at school at home - hand washing, tissues straight to bin, antibac spray when can't wash, etc.

Which vitamins are best? What else can I take?

I didn't know you'd gone back into schools Hula. Must have missed that.

I think this winter has been dreadful - dd has had one thing after another since November - it's driven me mad - I know she's sick of it.

dd takes a multi-vit and my mum has recommended echinacea. Apparently you take it for a couple of weeks and then have a couple of weeks off and then take it again. Mum has stayed well so I think I might give it a try with dd.

Do you get much exercise in the fresh air? I don't suppose you've been able to with the pneumonia.

CC - went into primary schools, as a TA, last January. Since then have had so many bugs.

Since January I haven't done much at all. Fell ill on the 3rd Jan and only went back to work two weeks ago. Had to avoid cold and damp weather - great considering the weather we have had this year so far! Did have a week down south on the coast though and got loads of walking outside in fresh air then.

Am just starting diet (as of Monday gone) and will be starting exercise too - although will wait til throat infection gone now obviously. May try and get bike out a couple of times a week. But in general I am rubbish re exercise.

The littlies are just a walking bundle of bugs aren't they?

For me it's certainly exercise that helps to boost my immunity. I think it would help dd but teenage girls and exercise tend not to be a popular combination

I would suggest a multi-vitamin, high dose vitamin C and EFA's to boost immunity. I'm trying to do this myself and it definitely makes a difference.

Try looking at this website here. They also give advice on what you can take.

Exercise is a good way- my son exercises like mad all year round and since doing so has had hardly any colds etc.

If you can manage 30 mins of fairly vigorous exercise a day- walking etc- it really does help.

Vitamins are useless TBH- lots of research out there saying they are a complete waste of money unless you are eating a very poor diet.

The only ones you might be short of are trace elements such as selenium- you can get that with 3 brazil nuts a day- and zinc.

Any excess Vit C above what you need in a day is just excreted so it is a waste of money.

Hula- a good probiotic- not the actimel shite types, but the ones from health food stores/chemists etc.

(someone recommended a brand on another boosting-immune-system thread ages ago, I'll try and find it)

www.johnlewis.com/Electricals/Health+and+Personal+Care/Health+and+Personal+Care/Body+Fat+Scales+and+ Monitors/636/ProductCategory.aspx

FAT SCALES!

I second the tips re: echinacea and good probiotics.

Have you also thought about using essential oils? Having a burner or two going in the house, with anti-viral and anti-bacterial oils (eg rosemary, eucalyptus, lavender, tea tree, myrrh, lemon, sage, thyme) in them will help keep your immune system up and purify the air you're breathing.

Also, gargling morning and night with a very weak solution of tea tree will help knock throat infections etc. on the head (use one drop of tea tree in a small cup of water and gargle, don't swallow) and can stop colds etc. before they develop too much.

HTH.

yes snowtiger i second the teatree gargle, and the echinacea.

Hulababy have you thought about what and how you're eating? if you eat fruit on an empty stomach that is helpful for getting the best vitamins and minerals out of the fruit.

also the Blood type way of eating is incredibly good for yr immune system. The book is by Dr. peter D'Adamo and is a revelation worth looking at.