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  |  Get Motivated  |  Rest and Recovery  |  Boost your immune system
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Boost your immune system


question
I moved from the south of England to the Scottish Highlands in October and found myself catching every germ that came along. Now I have my first cold of the winter. Is there any way food or supplements can help me survive the cold and flu season?
- yummum

answer

Check out these solutions from iVillage members.

Get your Zeds.

  • Get more sleep. Not getting enough sleep can reduce the effectiveness of your immune system by up to 50 per cent.

- pats_back

Eat your fruits and vegetables.

  • Drink fresh carrot juice at least once a day.
  • Try a fruit, vanilla yoghurt and bran cereal parfait. Layer in a glass using three different fruits.
- Jan

Drink up.

  • Drink a lot of liquids -- especially water and herbal tea.

- blackcat

Don't forget your vitamins.

  • Reducing stress and taking a well-balanced vitamin and mineral supplement is good for general wellbeing. We do not get enough nutrients from our poor British diets.
  • Take 500 mg of Vitamin C once per day when you feel a cold coming on or when people around you are sick.
  • I just read that vitamin E boosts the immune system.
  • At the first sign of a cold, I pop zinc throat pastilles and I swear by them. Just don’t take them on an empty stomach.

- flowerfairy

Consider herbs and supplements.

  • Try goldenseal root combined with echinacea. Take as directed on the bottle for two weeks, then stop for two weeks during the cold and flu season.
  • I have taken echinacea, but it should not be taken on a regular basis (for more than three or four weeks) because your body will build up an immunity to it.
  • Try acidophilus (found in health food shops). It promotes good bacteria in the intestines.
  • I love coenzyme Q-10. I am having chemotherapy, and I really can tell the difference when I don't take the Q-10.
  • Try adding astragalus, echinacea and cayenne (which is essential to properly process and use B vitamins). Omega fatty acids found in oily fish such as salmon are super antioxidants.
  • Try cat's claw. Just don't take it if you are pregnant.

- shnarf

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