Supplements and food to help immune system

[Only me]

It's that time of year again. My ds goes to public high school and has already missed 3 days from being sick. He can't afford to miss any more and dd is on a travel hockey team this year and really needs to keep well. As I type I'm in bed sick myself.

 

I really want to stock up on vitamins and supplements now to build our immune system as well as improve our diets. I would appreciate any suggestions

[MIch elle]

Have you tried chicken bone broth or homemade chicken soup made with the whole chicken?

[gardenmom5]

help to improve your liver function - as that contributes to the immune system.

also - having health gut bacteria.

 

cut down on sugar, cut down on "fake" foods (hydrogenated anything, artificial sweeteners or anything in an unnatural form.)

 

increase citrus

[Liz CA]

Beets

drink water with lemon or lime squeezed juice

Garlic

Ginger (if combined with garlic it supposedly has a very strong immune boosting effect)

Make echinacea tinctures for emergency treatment of colds / flu

Vitamin D3 (available as a liquid - faster absorbed - in most health food stores)

Immune Stimulator (naturessunshine.com)

Mushrooms

Fermented Cod Liver Oil (available at http://www.greenpasture.org/public/Products/CodLiverOil/) - comes in a variety of flavors

Elderberry Syrup

 

 

[MME3]

Buy a juicer and juice. It's the fastest way to get tons of fruits/veggies, much more than you could ever eat and most juices taste really good. My kids all love making their own concoctions. Also, vitamins and extra vitamin c. Check out Andrew Sauls web page doctoryourself.com he has several books about boosting your health via vitamins and juice

[Peaceful Isle]

Apple cider vinegar keeps me from colds. It puts your body in an alkaline state and it is hard to get sick unless your body is more acidic. Just a thought

[Tiramisu]

I like all of these ideas. I like sleep, exercise, a healthy diet, a good vitamin supplement with extra D3, and probiotics.

 

I'm for moderation in trying to build immunity. I have a friend who believes his life-threatening autoimmune disease was caused by taking echanacia (sp?) and we've been warned by our rheumatologist not to use any immune system supplements with my dd who is being watched for a developing autoimmune disease. 

[prairiewindmomma]

As to the immune stimulating stuff....elderberry is in the same category as echinacea. Ashwandagha is an immunomodulator that would be a better choice.

 

Sleep, water, hand washing, no sugar, lots of veggies, and apple cider vinegar!

[sbgrace]

Well, first make sure handwashing and complete drying are happening before hands go in the face. Most things have to be put into your mouth/nose/eyes to get sick.

 

Supplements proven to boost immune function, in order I would place helpfulness:

Vitamin D3 (a healthy adult can take just under 10,000 IU a day without toxicity, kids would be lower depending on size; most people use 1000 IU per 25 pounds daily, so more would be needed to raise levels. Most people are deficient.)

Epicore

Florastor (other high quality probiotics...but those without research are wasting money...they need to survive digestion to do any good).

Colostrum

 

I tend to avoid medicinal herbs or supplements without actual illness you are trying to fight. If the supplement kills off bacteria, for example, it's going to kill off your good gut bacteria, which is vital to the immune system.

 

 

[Um_2_4]

We swear by zinc and Vit C here. DH takes those and all of the office comes down with whatever is running around at the time and DH and I keep it at bay with that. And I am one to catch every little thing, but if I pop Vit C the minute I start to feel that achy ear or scratchy throat it is usually gone in less than 24 hours.