Tis the season for immune support supplements - what are your favorites?

[Jenn in Mo]

I think every September I spend days browsing Vitacost.com's website for the best vitamins at the best prices to fill up the cabinets for winter.

 

I'd love to hear your tried and true favorites, particularly in children's vitamins. My eczema prone kiddos need multivitamins with extra B5, B6, and magnesium...not as easy to find as you'd think.

 

I know D3 is a must, but is there a difference in quality from one brand to another?

 

I like for us to take Vitamin C, but get confused every year on which kind is the best. One year Ester C was all the rage and the next year it was taboo. I have no idea what's thought to be healthiest this year.

 

Anything else you keep in stock?

[Jean in Newcastle]

We do a Vit A & D combo - we like Carlson's brand.

 

I like to have oscillococillum (homeopathic remedy for flus) on hand to use at the first sign of a virus.

 

I also like elderberry extract - Sambucus. It tastes good and builds up your immunity toward viruses.

[ma23peas]

I like for us to take Vitamin C, but get confused every year on which kind is the best. One year Ester C was all the rage and the next year it was taboo. I have no idea what's thought to be healthiest this year.

 

Anything else you keep in stock?

 

Every now and then we buy Gummy Vites from Sam's Club...but I'd rather spend my money on fresh veggies/fruits/dark veggies/high natural sources than trust a manufactured one...the FDA does not require frequent enough checks on some of them to make me trust their content, then I question their bioavailability...I'm flushing all that excess that my body doesn't use down the toilet where it comes back to bite me? I'm also against taking pharmaceuticals (used to be a rep) but I have strong fears about what we put in our bodies coming out in by-products in our wastes and being refiltered into our drinking water...

 

See, we all have things we worry about! I've never had a flu shot, had the flu once in my lifetime....it's been 3 years since I've had a common cold...so I just try to eat well and cut out the non important stuff...

 

Tara

[flobee76]

In addition to our daily intake of:

 

Fermented Cod Liver oil

Vit. C

Cultured Fermented drinks (Kefir, water kefir)

 

we'll add these when someone is on the verge of a cold:

echinaecea tea

elderberry syrup

ginger tea

PLENTY of bone broth soups

 

 

We TRY to always keep these homeopathic meds on hand:

Hyland's C-Plus Cold Tablets

Hyland's Cold n Cough

Cold Calm by Boiron

Oscillococcinum also by Boiron

[wulfbourne]

Vitamin D and omega 3's are the staple here. From my understanding the liquid vitamin D is best, but we still just do a pill because it's easier.

 

I also start switching over to more foods that will build up the body nutritionally. Soups and stocks. I'm hoping to try bone broths and such this year. I remember reading that dark meat is good for the extra zinc which helps too.

[Guest Katia]

We use D3 from NOW foods.

 

An Omega 3-6-9 liquid from Nordic Naturals.

 

And an elderberry syrup from Honey Gardens that uses organic elderberries from New Zealand, raw honey, and organic echinacea.

 

These are a powerful combination for our family.

[Wyndie]

We take cod liver oil daily for the D, we also take a cheap brand of Vit D from Whole Foods when anyone thinks about getting sick. ;) Fermented foods and drinks and bone broths are what we live on if anyone does get sick. We also take Juice Plus b/c no matter how many veggies I stuff in these kids a day, JP is even more and it's shown to be immune boosting b/c it's all raw whole foods.

[Kate CA]

Hey Chicka!

 

I buy this for my two teens: http://www.vitacost.com/Natures-Plus-Source-of-Life-Power-Teen

 

This for my three littles: http://www.vitacost.com/Source-Naturals-Mega-Kid-Chewable-Multi-Vitamin

 

This for my teens and my dh and I: http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Vitamin-D3-as-Cholecalciferol-1000-IU-200-Capsules

 

This for my three littles: http://www.vitacost.com/Natures-Plus-Source-of-Life-Animal-Parade-trade-Vitamin-D3

 

Probiotic for Kids: http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Probiotic-Tabs-for-Kids

 

Vit. C for Kids: http://www.vitacost.com/Natural-Factors-100-Natural-Fruit-Chew-C

 

Immune Support for all when needed: http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Astragalus-1-000-mg-per-serving-120-Capsules

 

For the Mama and the Papa:

http://www.vitacost.com/Carlson-Super-Omega-3-Fish-Oils

and

http://www.vitacost.com/Natures-Way-Alive-Multivitamin-Whole-Food-Energizer-180-Tablets

and

http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Probiotic-15-35

 

I think Vitacost loves us.

:D

[FaithManor]

We use Sambucus chewables for the kids - I like this brand of elderberry extract for them. Our D3 is Carlson's drops, they are pretty much tasteless and I put them under the tongue where absorption is high.

 

At the first sign of illness, I put olive leaf oil and oregano oil in veggie capsules for those that can swallow capsules, for the youngest....well...it doesn't taste all that great but I try to hide it in yogurt and then let him have a huge swig of orange juice to wash it down. He's a real trooper about taking meds.

 

I think that our form of vitamin c is rose hips.

 

Faith

[goldberry]

Elderberry rocks! We use Sambucol.

D3

Oregano

[Jenn in Mo]

Wow! Awesome thoughts! Thanks, gals!

 

Kate, I have nearly ever item in my vitacost cart now. Thank you! And the B's were in there! Good stuff! You saved me hours of surfing that site.

 

I'll definitely be looking into oregano oil (and several others.) Thanks!

[juelle]

Source Naturals Wellness Formula. No yearly bouts with strep since we started with it.

[Kate CA]

Wow! Awesome thoughts! Thanks, gals!

 

Kate, I have nearly ever item in my vitacost cart now. Thank you! And the B's were in there! Good stuff! You saved me hours of surfing that site.

 

I'll definitely be looking into oregano oil (and several others.) Thanks!

 

Glad to help! I have the oregano oil too, but since it isn't really a pill so much as a "Here open your mouth while I poison you for your own good" sort of thing I figured I would come back and post it later if no one else did. :D We use it more for topical than internal, but if I have icky sickness we use it under the tongue. We ALL just love it. HA! :lol:

[Jean in Newcastle]

Source Naturals Wellness Formula. No yearly bouts with strep since we started with it.

 

I'm going to look for this. I looked it up and like what I see. And I like this brand very much for other supplements.

[Jenn in Mo]

Bumping for more ideas before I place my Vitacost order tomorrow.

[Kate CA]

Bumping for more ideas before I place my Vitacost order tomorrow.

 

Jenn, do you have specific needs or weaknesses in specific children or are you just looking for general immune support? This thread has some good recommendations too:

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=275923&highlight=oregano

 

Try searching this site as there have been some great discussions on this here. I found out about oregano oil here and it is really something. (Something nasty-tasting, but it does work well! :) )

[Orthodox6]

http://www.gaiaherbs.com/products/by_ingredient/306/Black-Elderberry

 

I like this company's products. Their elderberry syrup, I have used for several years.

[Sandra in FL]

Hey Chicka!

 

I buy this for my two teens: http://www.vitacost.com/Natures-Plus-Source-of-Life-Power-Teen

 

This for my three littles: http://www.vitacost.com/Source-Naturals-Mega-Kid-Chewable-Multi-Vitamin

 

This for my teens and my dh and I: http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Vitamin-D3-as-Cholecalciferol-1000-IU-200-Capsules

 

This for my three littles: http://www.vitacost.com/Natures-Plus-Source-of-Life-Animal-Parade-trade-Vitamin-D3

 

Probiotic for Kids: http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Probiotic-Tabs-for-Kids

 

Vit. C for Kids: http://www.vitacost.com/Natural-Factors-100-Natural-Fruit-Chew-C

 

Immune Support for all when needed: http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Astragalus-1-000-mg-per-serving-120-Capsules

 

For the Mama and the Papa:

http://www.vitacost.com/Carlson-Super-Omega-3-Fish-Oils

and

http://www.vitacost.com/Natures-Way-Alive-Multivitamin-Whole-Food-Energizer-180-Tablets

and

http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Probiotic-15-35

 

I think Vitacost loves us.

:D

 

Kate, please remember to be careful giving iron to men. Since they don't menstruate it can build up. Even though I didn't give my dh multivitamins with iron, his iron is in the high range (too high for my taste) now that he's in his 50s. I'm having him donate blood every 2 months to lower the iron.

[Heather in OK]

My first line of defense is nutrition. We don't put crap into our bodies.

 

Then I keep homemade elderberry syrup on hand. If anyone is knowingly exposed to something and/or starts showing symptoms, we start dosing up on the syrup.

 

This is the recipe I use. Got it from a friend but I'm not sure where she found it:

 

Elderberry Syrup

 

1/2 dried elderberries

1 cinnamon stick

5 whole cloves

1 Tbsp grated ginger

2 cups water

 

Put all ingredients into a saucepan, cover and bring to a boil. Once it begins to boil, bring down the heat and simmer covered for 30 minutes. Remove from heat, strain and stir in 1 cup honey. Store syrup in a closed jar int he refrigerator. Just 1 tsp a day to prevent coughs and flu.

[sbgrace]

My son has immune system issues and so I've researched to try to keep us all (and so him) healthy.

 

Top ones:

Healthy vitamin D levels--we all take D3 and maintain levels in the 50's or above. I think this is the single best thing you can do for an immune system.

 

Probiotics and probiotic foods. Make sure the probiotics you take have been proven to colonize and better if they have been proven to boost immune health. Probiotics or probiotic foods that don't survive digestion are a waste of money. We use Klaire labs, Culturelle, and especially (always with one of the others) Florastor. Florastor has research supporting immune enhancing effects. http://florastor.ca/florastor-information/how-florastor-works/ Actually, my husband and I do probiotic foods and Florastor. The boys do foods, Florastor, and either Klaire or Culturelle.

 

Epicore has research to support immune boosting effects and it's safe and healthy. http://epicorimmune.com/epicor_qa.asp

 

Recent research seems to indicate zinc increases immune response. We use Optizinc because of superior absorption compared to other zinc forms. http://www.vitabase.com/supplements/vitamins-minerals/minerals/zinc.aspx

 

We take cod liver oil.

 

My son with immune system issues takes a bovine colostrum product.

 

We do some other things that probably boost systems--vitamin C and selenium for example. You have to be careful about selenium supplementation. You have to watch diet and supplements make sure you aren't at toxic levels. Compared to other things it has a very small safety margin and can be toxic.

We have a diet with a lot of vegetables with beta carotine and related vitamins.

Edited September 9, 2011 by sbgrace

[Orthodox6]

I could look online -- and shall -- but if you have a(n affordable?) source for dried elderberries, do you mind sharing it?

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

My first line of defense is nutrition. We don't put crap into our bodies.

 

Then I keep homemade elderberry syrup on hand. If anyone is knowingly exposed to something and/or starts showing symptoms, we start dosing up on the syrup.

 

This is the recipe I use. Got it from a friend but I'm not sure where she found it:

 

Elderberry Syrup

 

1/2 dried elderberries

1 cinnamon stick

5 whole cloves

1 Tbsp grated ginger

2 cups water

 

Put all ingredients into a saucepan, cover and bring to a boil. Once it begins to boil, bring down the heat and simmer covered for 30 minutes. Remove from heat, strain and stir in 1 cup honey. Store syrup in a closed jar int he refrigerator. Just 1 tsp a day to prevent coughs and flu.

[Sandra in FL]

My son has immune system issues and so I've researched to try to keep us all (and so him) healthy.

 

Top ones:

Healthy vitamin D levels--we all take D3 and maintain levels in the 50's or above. I think this is the single best thing you can do for an immune system.

 

Probiotics and probiotic foods. Make sure the probiotics you take have been proven to colonize and better if they have been proven to boost immune health. Probiotics or probiotic foods that don't survive digestion are a waste of money. We use Klaire labs, Culturelle, and especially (always with one of the others) Florastor. Florastor has research supporting immune enhancing effects. http://florastor.ca/florastor-information/how-florastor-works/ Actually, my husband and I do probiotic foods and Florastor. The boys do foods, Florastor, and either Klaire or Culturelle.

 

Epicore has research to support immune boosting effects and it's safe and healthy. http://epicorimmune.com/epicor_qa.asp

 

Recent research seems to indicate zinc increases immune response. We use Optizinc because of superior absorption compared to other zinc forms. http://www.vitabase.com/supplements/vitamins-minerals/minerals/zinc.aspx

 

We take cod liver oil.

 

My son with immune system issues takes a bovine colostrum product.

 

We do some other things that probably boost systems--vitamin C and selenium for example. You have to be careful about selenium supplementation. You have to watch diet and supplements make sure you aren't at toxic levels. Compared to other things it has a very small safety margin and can be toxic.

We have a diet with a lot of vegetables with beta carotine and related vitamins.

 

Why do you have to be careful about selenium supplementation in particular?

[Kate CA]

Kate, please remember to be careful giving iron to men. Since they don't menstruate it can build up. Even though I didn't give my dh multivitamins with iron, his iron is in the high range (too high for my taste) now that he's in his 50s. I'm having him donate blood every 2 months to lower the iron.

 

Thanks! Since this was posted (a year ago now), I have switched to something better that is actually made for men. It is by the same great company, but is specific for my husband.

 

http://www.vitacost.com/Natures-Way-Alive-Mens-Multi

 

:)

Edited September 11, 2011 by Kate CA

[Jean in Newcastle]

Why do you have to be careful about selenium supplementation in particular?

 

Selenium is a trace mineral that is good in healthy doses but can cause very serious problems (even death) if taken to the point of toxicity. Some parts of the world (including parts of the U.S.) have too much selenium in the soil and so supplementing would be a bad idea for someone who lives and gets their food from there. I take selenium and it has been helpful for my thyroid function but I live in a low selenium area of the country and I've been tested and my selenium level is much lower than it should be.

[Sandra in FL]

Selenium is a trace mineral that is good in healthy doses but can cause very serious problems (even death) if taken to the point of toxicity. Some parts of the world (including parts of the U.S.) have too much selenium in the soil and so supplementing would be a bad idea for someone who lives and gets their food from there. I take selenium and it has been helpful for my thyroid function but I live in a low selenium area of the country and I've been tested and my selenium level is much lower than it should be.

 

Short of periodically testing everyone in the family, it would be hard to know what our levels are. Of course, I would live in a high concentration area (Dade County with 0.50 +/- 0.22) but have no idea where the food we're eating comes from. Does this include the water supply?

[Jean in Newcastle]

Short of periodically testing everyone in the family, it would be hard to know what our levels are. Of course, I would live in a high concentration area (Dade County with 0.50 +/- 0.22) but have no idea where the food we're eating comes from. Does this include the water supply?

 

Yes, it includes water.

[Sandra in FL]

Yes, it includes water.

 

Sigh... we have a reverse osmosis system so that should filter it out, right? Our meat comes from Morgan county, TN which is .027 (in the middle). Have no idea where our brown rice, fruits and vegs come from. Our multi-vitamin has 200 mcg per serving so maybe I'll just do 1 capsule instead of 2.

[jplain]

Just a caution for those to whom it might be relevant. If your (or your child) are dealing with autoimmune disease, carefully research the supplements you choose to support the immune system. Some believe it can be dangerous to strengthen an immune system that is already predisposed to autoimmune attacks. Taking echinacea, for example, may cause autoimmune disease flare ups.

[Miss Peregrine]

We used to use Kidgreenz every fall through winter.

[Jean in Newcastle]

Sigh... we have a reverse osmosis system so that should filter it out, right? Our meat comes from Morgan county, TN which is .027 (in the middle). Have no idea where our brown rice, fruits and vegs come from. Our multi-vitamin has 200 mcg per serving so maybe I'll just do 1 capsule instead of 2.

 

I've seen that some reverse osmosis systems have selenium listed as one of the things they filter out but I don't know if your particular system does. I'd just look up the specifications for your model.

[Jenn in Mo]

Thanks, all! Kate, I'm mostly interested in basic immune support, but two of mine are very prone to croup/breathing issues in the winter. Last winter was great though and I'm hoping it was the extra care we took in supplements and diet. The only thing that got us down last winter was the sinus junk. I've added a couple things to the cart this year for sinuses and I'm hoping we'll avoid the nasties.

 

It never occurred to me to make my own elderberry syrup! One poster asked for a source of elderberries and the two places I would look would be http://www.frontiercoop.com/ or http://www.bulkherbstore.com

[Orthodox6]

Thank you very much for the suggestions. Neither supplier carries dried elderberries; however, I found some other useful items at Frontier, a supplier some of whose products I already buy locally.

 

I'll go search . . .

 

 

It never occurred to me to make my own elderberry syrup! One poster asked for a source of elderberries and the two places I would look would be http://www.frontiercoop.com/ or http://www.bulkherbstore.com

[Beauty From Ashes]

We really like Klaire Labs products. They are very clean and pure.

 

We use Vit D3, C, Pro and Prebiotics (seperately, not in one pill), and Elderberry syrup. That's our flu shot right there.

[chepyl]

I had a house full of sickies last year. Pretty sure it was swine flu, but the doctor did not tesy since treatment is the same, but we had been exposed. Anyway, I took Airborne as much as it said to for a week and I stated to feel a little sick one day, bit it went away later that day. I now keep that around for when I get exposed to something.

[Kate CA]

The Bulk Herb Store does here:

 

http://www.bulkherbstore.com/EW?s=Admin%20|%20elderberry

 

Thank you very much for the suggestions. Neither supplier carries dried elderberries; however, I found some other useful items at Frontier, a supplier some of whose products I already buy locally.

 

I'll go search . . .

[Kate CA]

Thanks, all! Kate, I'm mostly interested in basic immune support, but two of mine are very prone to croup/breathing issues in the winter. Last winter was great though and I'm hoping it was the extra care we took in supplements and diet. The only thing that got us down last winter was the sinus junk. I've added a couple things to the cart this year for sinuses and I'm hoping we'll avoid the nasties.

 

It never occurred to me to make my own elderberry syrup! One poster asked for a source of elderberries and the two places I would look would be http://www.frontiercoop.com/ or http://www.bulkherbstore.com

 

I have an asthmatic and I keep two things here all the time for that, Lobelia tincture and Oregano Oil. I alternate with rubbing them into the chest and back and the OO on the bottom of her feet when she comes down with something. I also give the OO internally. We do have an inhaler and that happens first, but I know the other things have helped too. :)

 

I am considering making that elderberry syrup. That is a great idea!

[Sandra in FL]

I have an asthmatic and I keep two things here all the time for that, Lobelia tincture and Oregano Oil. I alternate with rubbing them into the chest and back and the OO on the bottom of her feet when she comes down with something. I also give the OO internally. We do have an inhaler and that happens first, but I know the other things have helped too. :)

 

I am considering making that elderberry syrup. That is a great idea!

 

Kate, would you please share how many drops of OO you rub into chest, back and bottom of feet and how often? Also, how many drops internally (ds is about 55 lbs.)? When you say you alternate with the Lobelia tincture is that per day or each time? Do you rub the Lobelia on the bottom of her feet too? Where do you get the Lobelia tinture and how much do you rub on? TIA.

[Kate CA]

Kate, would you please share how many drops of OO you rub into chest, back and bottom of feet and how often? Also, how many drops internally (ds is about 55 lbs.)? When you say you alternate with the Lobelia tincture is that per day or each time? Do you rub the Lobelia on the bottom of her feet too? Where do you get the Lobelia tinture and how much do you rub on? TIA.

 

I sort of eyeball it. It doesn't take much because it spreads around. I just make sure it goes all over the bottom of the feet and the chest/lung/back area. I guess maybe 5 drops or so? If you find the OO irritates the chest skin (because the OO is pretty strong stuff) mix it equal parts with olive oil. If that doesn't help then just use the lobelia on the chest/back. The OO should not bother the bottoms of feet.

 

The rotating - I mean that I put one on and then the next time (maybe a few hours or so later depending on the seriousness of the sickness) I put the other. I put 3-4 drops of OO under the tongue and then let them swallow water right away. It is pretty darn nasty, but they do it anyway.

 

We only use the lobelia in the mouth if they are struggling to breath after the inhaler or we don't have it. It was a lifesaver for ME one time when I was in a highly allergenic area without an inhaler. I took maybe ten drops in water and swallowed it. I could then take a deep breath. It opens up the air passages right away, but it is temporary. It helped me immensely until I could get to the inhaler. You don't want to take too much lobelia at one time (like you can with some other tinctures) because it can be an emetic! This has some good info on it: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/lobelia-000264.htm

[Jenn in Mo]

I have an asthmatic and I keep two things here all the time for that, Lobelia tincture and Oregano Oil. I alternate with rubbing them into the chest and back and the OO on the bottom of her feet when she comes down with something. I also give the OO internally. We do have an inhaler and that happens first, but I know the other things have helped too. :)

 

I am considering making that elderberry syrup. That is a great idea!

 

Thanks, Kate! I'd never even heard of Lobelia before, but I will definitely look into it. Both of the girls have asthma.