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  |  Natural Health  |  Herbs & Supplements  |  Boost your immune system
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Some surprising facts from the Colonel

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?

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.

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.

Drink up.

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

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.

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.

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