Kfamily Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 Do the gummy vitamins have any value? My girls will take these but I haven't bought any in awhile. My older dd is old enough now to swallow pills whole so I could get her something else. If not vitamins, would else could I do? My younger dd loves orange juice, strawberrries and apples. She also loves fruit smoothies. They are slightly picky eaters so what else could I add to their list. They both will get lots of outdoor time next month or so (when it cools a little more). Any advice is much appreciated!!:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela H in Texas Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 I'd actually be interested in this also...for all of us. With the presidential panel coming back with serious concerns about H1N1 this fall, including that up to 30-50% of the population could get it and 30,000-90,000 deaths, along with normal fall concerns, I would like to do a little more to protect my family. I'm not an alarmist, but I figure it won't hurt to boost our immune systems a little (mine being weak and a virus being able to throw my dd out of remission). Thanks :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loupelou Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 Lots of fruits, vegetables & beans. Omega 3's are important - add some flax seed to the smoothies. Get RID of sugar, it's amazing the kind of havoc the stuff will wreak on your body! Don't forget the garlic.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kfamily Posted August 25, 2009 Author Share Posted August 25, 2009 What is flax seed? Where could I find it? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela H in Texas Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 It'd be best to get it at your health food store and ground it each individual time you use it. Even Walmart has ground flax seed, but it really is best to grind it fresh each time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 What is flax seed? Where could I find it? Thanks! Health food stores, Whole Foods, and the baking supply aisle of your local grocery store would have it. (Bob's Red Mill is one brand that I can get at my neighborhood grocery store.) To get the benefit of the seeds you have to grind them up...the outer coating of the seed is so tough that it won't be digested and just moves on through. I grind them in a coffee grinder and sprinkle about a tablespoon on my cereal. (I grind enough for a few days---stored in the refrigerator--and keep the rest of the seeds in the freezer.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 Refined sugar is an immune suppressor. Decrease that and increase fiber (whole, raw fruits, not juices, unless you freshly juice raw fruit and drink it right away), raw veggies as much as possible, filtered water. Reduce stress and increase exercise. I have no financial interest in the company, but Melaleuca vitamins are supposed to be excellent and I know they've added more and have improved their absorbability (most OTC vitamins are never absorbed because of the binding properties in them that don't dissolve. Children's vitamins can also be high in sugar). I take them myself and have noticed increased energy and better over-all health. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenniferB Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 I've read in more than one place that immunity begins in the gut. Focus on these 2 things, and you'll be on the right track to a healthy gut. #1 - Good bacteria, either in the form of foods such as yogurt (not the sugary kind), keifer (not the sugary kind), cultured vegetables, or probiotic pills are some good sources of beneficial bacteria. Lots of good information and products can be found on this website: http://www.bodyecology.com/aboutdonna.php #2 - Food needs to move smoothly through the gut. This can be helped by regularly eating whole grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 Refined sugar is an immune suppressor. Decrease that and increase fiber (whole, raw fruits, not juices, unless you freshly juice raw fruit and drink it right away), raw veggies as much as possible, filtered water. Reduce stress and increase exercise. I have no financial interest in the company, but Melaleuca vitamins are supposed to be excellent and I know they've added more and have improved their absorbability (most OTC vitamins are never absorbed because of the binding properties in them that don't dissolve. Children's vitamins can also be high in sugar). I take them myself and have noticed increased energy and better over-all health. These are the vits that my kids take during the winter also. Last winter they did not get sick at all. My two oldest have not even had colds in 2 yrs. Whatever you choose look for gelcaps or chewables, because many 'hard pills' don't dissolve and just pass on through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdrumm4448 Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 I also recommend probiotics. My kids, 7 and 4, both take them 3-4 times a week. We're never sick. Now that I said that, someone will get the stomach flu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jensway Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 Linus Pauling recommends Vitamin D. "There is considerable scientific evidence that vitamin D has a variety of effects on immune system function, which may enhance innate immunity and inhibit the development of autoimmunity." We are taking it, as we have heard that it will help protect us from seasonal flues and colds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 In addition to probiotics (which I wholeheartedly agree with), I give my kids elderberry syrup (I like Honey Gardens) and add astragalus to broths, soups, rice and pasta (a couple of root "tongues" in the pot) during cold and flu season. (My kids also chew on them just by themselves, but that may be a weird personality thing) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 I just rely on large quantities of fruit and vegetables, in addition to daily exercise. They would normally have juice and a fruit at breakfast (with a gummy vitamin), fruit and a raw veg at lunch, a fruit smoothy in the afternoon and two cooked veggies with supper, in addition to any fruit they might pick up for themselves during the day. They are extremely healthy and rarely pick up any illnesses. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Is it okay to take several things at once? Such as probiotics and vitamin D and a multivitamin or elderberry syrup, etc? And how much vitamin D and elderberry syrup should kids take? What about adults? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Do the gummy vitamins have any value? My girls will take these but I haven't bought any in awhile. My older dd is old enough now to swallow pills whole so I could get her something else. If not vitamins, would else could I do? My younger dd loves orange juice, strawberrries and apples. She also loves fruit smoothies. They are slightly picky eaters so what else could I add to their list. They both will get lots of outdoor time next month or so (when it cools a little more). Any advice is much appreciated!!:001_smile: An acquaintance who is really hyper about this kind of stuff told me her research showed that one brand of gummy vitamins had some kind of contaminant in it. It may well have been w/i govt guidelines, but she has different standards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara R Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 The reason why the 1918 flu virus killed more young people than old people was because of the better immune system response in younger people. The virus was so fast and powerful that it got to the lungs quickly. The immune system got in gear and attacked the virus in the lungs. The lungs are not meant to be the battleground for an immune system attack. The victims' lungs filled with blood and the debris of the immune system battle, and they died. If the immune system killed the virus before it got to the lungs, great! A good immune system is a good thing, and I certainly don't think that someone with poor nutrition would be better off than someone with good nutrition. Still I wouldn't want anyone to have a false sense of security, in case this h1n1 really does get bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in PA Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Around here we rely on a mix of what people have already posted. The kids eat a ton of fresh produce, I make sure they make lots of vitamin D, and they get good bacteria from yogurt I make. I have never given them vitamins, but am planning to give vitamin D starting this fall once we are forced back indoors by the weather. My kids do catch colds, but it usually stops there for them. I am always amazed by how many of their friends end up spending half the winter on antibiotics for secondary infections, or just seem to stay sick from October to April. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kfamily Posted August 26, 2009 Author Share Posted August 26, 2009 Thanks everyone! You have all given me a lot of great ideas and some things to look up too!:001_smile: Thanks so much!:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Is it okay to take several things at once? Such as probiotics and vitamin D and a multivitamin or elderberry syrup, etc? And how much vitamin D and elderberry syrup should kids take? What about adults? I don't know about the elderberry syrup, but don't take a multivit and vit d together. Multivits contain vit d, and according to our pedi kids are overdosing on vit d because people don't realize it is fat soluble. Getting it from the sun is different than a bottle. Probiotics can be taken no matter what else you are taking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruby Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Don't forget to wash your hands more often. Especially over the next few months as the public school viruses start to make their rounds. We go to gymnstics five days a week so inevitably someone thinks it is okay to show up and cough all over everyone. Lots of little hands touching everything down there. Ruby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 I personally am laying odds on vitamin D. + a good multi + wild salmon oil supplement I'm sending the kids out regularly now in mid day for 5-10 min (they're very fair) for a bit lof natural vitamin d therapy. My reading indicates that Vit D depletes after about 4 mos of no exposure to UV or supplementation, which puts us into January. (by Oct at my latitude - above 45 - the UV radiation is too weak to stimulate Vit D; above 42 it's Nov-Feb that's the blackout period) I have elderberry extract but I'm undecided about taking it as there is some controversy about triggering cytokine storm in influenza. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyGrace Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 hornblower-I'm interested about the elderberry, and had started a thread about it last night. Is it true that it's okay as a preventative, but not after you have this swine flu? (Apparently the cytokine storm with swine is different than with regular flu, and that's what the elderberry affects.) Because I'm thinking even taking it as a preventative would start that unwanted cytokine storm that is prevalent with swine flu? :confused: Would love to hear your thoughts on this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyGrace Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 (edited) Here is a list I made up of things we do on a regular basis to help immunity. I wrote them all down the other night to make sure we're being vigilant with them as fall/winter and virus season approaches. We haven't been sick in two years, but we also eat an almost all organic/low sugar/no processed foods/preservatives/artificial colorings and ingredients diet and drink raw milk, in addition to these things. (Caveat-we are far from perfect with diet as mentioned above-we eat occasional cookies, etc- but at least we strive for the best we can do with it. And it has been a process over years.): -green smoothies every day (TONS of raw veg/fruits-lots of kale, etc. in our Blendtec blender) -vitamins D, C, E, multi, calcium/magnesium (and I take B complex) -flax and fish oil -probiotics (homemade kefir/yogurt) Thing to have on hand to boost immunity in a crisis: -extra C -echinacea -zinc -garlic -Airborne -raw apple cider vinegar/raw honey mixed in lukewarm water (Google this-EXCELLENT!) -increase fluids -gargle with plain water 1x/day and/or saline nasal rinses-both rinse out susceptible germ passages (nose/throat) I'm also looking into elderberry extract. I do what I can and entrust our bodies into the Lord's hand. Hope this helps someone! Edited August 26, 2009 by HappyGrace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 HappyGrace - I would refer you to this page http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=116563&highlight=elderberry where the entire thread is very informative but esp post #4 & #5 show the differing pov's on the elderberry issue. I'm leaning to leaving my elderberry in the medicine cabinet. Still deciding about resveratrol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyGrace Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 HappyGrace - I would refer you to this page http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=116563&highlight=elderberry This is exactly the info I needed to see-thanks! I decided I'm going to leave elderberry out of the mix, I think. We do so many other immune-boosting things, plus our diet in general, and with the mixed opinions on elderberry and H1N1, I don't think I'll do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutor Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 What is flax seed? Where could I find it? Thanks! Dh just bought some at WalMart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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