I'm laid low with flu, in August. How rubbish is that? So I need the help of the mighty Forumers!

I have a pretty healthy diet, but I'm always on the go and have a tendancy to catch whatever is going around. Last winter I had about three bouts of tonsilitis and a couple of stinking colds.

Have just moved to Edinburgh, and it's pretty baltic up here already, so don't want to spend the whole winter snivveling. Life's too short and I have a great new job to concentrate on!

Does anyone have any tips to boost my immunity? Cold fighting foods and such?

Vitamin C & Antioxidants :thumbsup:

Clear out those free radicals.


Fine filter coffee, red wine, tomatos, beetroot are good for the antioxidents.


Vit C - fresh fruit, peppers etc

Get well sooon!

Hiya

You might wanna have a look at these pages :

http://nutrition.about.com/od/dietsformedicaldisorders/f/flunutrients.htm

http://www.wholehealthmd.com/hk/remedies/disp/1,1459,529,00.html

Just dont eat too much Garlic ! Then again, you'll keep people away from you and lessen the chance of catching things from them :thumbsup:

Invest in a juicer, if you can stomach it take a small glass of Lemon ,garlic, fresh ginger and chilli juice washed down with an espresso.

Originally posted by JBee
I'm laid low with flu, in August. How rubbish is that? So I need the help of the mighty Forumers!

I have a pretty healthy diet, but I'm always on the go and have a tendancy to catch whatever is going around. Last winter I had about three bouts of tonsilitis and a couple of stinking colds.

Have just moved to Edinburgh, and it's pretty baltic up here already, so don't want to spend the whole winter snivveling. Life's too short and I have a great new job to concentrate on!

Does anyone have any tips to boost my immunity? Cold fighting foods and such?

i seldom suffer with colds or flu, i eat an absoluteley crap diet (lol)but i have a PMA.
sorry to hear your suffering, it's probably a build up of stress & being generally run down thats allowed the nasty bugs to take hold.
i do swear by multivits with iron(cos im aneamic).

Thanks for the kind wishes guys.

But generally I'm a very healthy person. I eat most of the things you've all suggested, and I already have a juicer. What's a PMA Willman?

Originally posted by Disco_Cat
Invest in a juicer, if you can stomach it take a small glass of Lemon ,garlic, fresh ginger and chilli juice washed down with an espresso.

What's so special about this particular combination Disco-Cat?

I eat the above ingrediants seperately, or in juices, apart from the chili juice. Do you mean juicing fresh chillis?

regular excercise helps to keep the immune system healthy.

Originally posted by Cyclone
regular excercise helps to keep the immune system healthy.

Yep, I do that too Cyclone. Like I said, I'm actually a pretty healthy person where diet and exercise is concerned. I was hoping for a few wonder food suggestions like Disco-Cat's wierd drink...

Originally posted by JBee
What's a PMA Willman?

i assume he means postitive mental attitude.. either that or paramethoxyamphetamine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramethoxyamphetamine), but given the opinions he has expressed in other threads i doubt the latter ;)

Oysters, 70% zinc

Zinc is what keeps your immune system going.

If you have a low immunity then you should go to the doctors first and get checked out.

Drink lots of water and stay off sugary things. The general thing about fruit and vegetables must be said and cut down on the red meats as they slow digestion. Wholemeal bread and bananas help speed up recovery of essential nutrients from food. Maybe (disclaimer).

You've got flu?

At this time of year??

:suspect: You been hangin' around any chickens lately?:suspect:

Try browsing through (or buying) one of Patrick Holford's books on nutrition. The Optimum book of Nutrition (or something along those lines) is packed with easy to understand dietary advice.

Originally posted by JBee
Yep, I do that too Cyclone. Like I said, I'm actually a pretty healthy person where diet and exercise is concerned. I was hoping for a few wonder food suggestions like Disco-Cat's wierd drink...

Hi, I had the same problem as you last winter. I eat a healthy balanced diet, & in every other way you would describe me as quite fit & healthy, but from about October to March I was constantly either just recovering from a cold or just catching a new one!
I started taking echinacea tincture (15 drops in some water a day) and haven't had a single cold since, which is really good going for me! You can buy it at Holland & Barrett or the Herbal Tea place at Sheffield market. Apparently it's important that you get the liquid & not the pills/capsules.

You can make your own tincture as described here, using the plant and some 80% proof vodka :P

http://healthyherbs.about.com/library/blrectin1.htm

Think I may have to try this out, purely for medicinal reasons of course :thumbsup:

Originally posted by Disco_Cat
Invest in a juicer, if you can stomach it take a small glass of Lemon ,garlic, fresh ginger and chilli juice washed down with an espresso.

That combination sounds like the foulest potion on earth. Why would you want to wash it down with espresso?

Hope you are feeling better soon :thumbsup:

You say you've just moved to Edinburgh? Sometimes the change in air can cause problems, particularly if you've moved from somewhere with cleaner air to somewhere more polluted - your body will need to adjust to the different allergens and pollutants about.

As you already eat and keep healthy i'd suggest a visit to your GP just to get checked out.

Maybe increase your 'good' foods - fruit and veg to help your body cope. Avoid getting run down and over tired. The body heals when you are asleep so make sure you get plenty of rest.

Hello All,

Thanks again for your helpful comments. I'm on the mend now and back at work, after doing the most healthy shop EVER at Sainsburys last night. The woman at the check-out looked at me incredibly strangely. But the lady putting stuff on the conveyor belt behind me was a bit lardy, and was piling on bottles of coke and crisps, so I felt quite smug and Dr Gillian-esque in comparrision!!! :D

A quick point about echinacea though for those who use it... It's worth the ladies noting that it can decrease the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill in the same way as St John's Wort can. Hence I avoid it. I think it's unlikely you'll end up sprogged up as a result, but I'd rather not take my chances!!!

Regular doses of vodka ( by mouth) may not make you any healthier, but it will stop you worrying about it.
regards

Originally posted by JBee
Thanks for the kind wishes guys.

But generally I'm a very healthy person. I eat most of the things you've all suggested, and I already have a juicer. What's a PMA Willman?

positive mental attitude - be happy.

chew the ends of pens, in the future your body will be so used the the harmul effects you will not get very sick from anything. It worked for me :thumbsup:

It's kill or cure...

Wilf

Originally posted by chumpy
Regular doses of vodka ( by mouth) may not make you any healthier, but it will stop you worrying about it.
regards

I already administer large doses of red wine on a regular basis Chumpy.

Mmmmm.... You've gotta love all those healing antioxidants!!!

***Sits back and waits for some smart @rse to point out why my immune system is really low... Liver damage anyone?!!****

Originally posted by JBee
I'm laid low with flu, in August. How rubbish is that? So I need the help of the mighty Forumers!

I have a pretty healthy diet, but I'm always on the go and have a tendancy to catch whatever is going around. Last winter I had about three bouts of tonsilitis and a couple of stinking colds.

Have just moved to Edinburgh, and it's pretty baltic up here already, so don't want to spend the whole winter snivveling. Life's too short and I have a great new job to concentrate on!

Does anyone have any tips to boost my immunity? Cold fighting foods and such?

I atke multi-vitamins and iron tablets daily.

eat a lot of fruit and salad.

have a silly youghurt drink thingy.

something works.