I Need Your Knowledge
I’m asking for recommendations regarding Immunity Boosting Supplements. Anybody got some good hints?? My oncologist always says excercise (blasted word) is the best way to boost your immune system, but do you have any other suggestions?
Jen,There is this HUGE nutritional store with great counselors called Naturtyme. You could call them and ask. They could tell you over the phone for free. People come to them from all over the East. Their phone number is 315-488-6300 or they have a website http://www.natur-tyme.com I am sure you can ask them question. I LOVE them. The people are so nice and not pushy, sales people. XOXOXO
Still happy dancin’ here! So thankful to the Lord (for your buddy NED). LOL, NED is probably one dude your hubby is happy to let you dance with, huh?You may rue the day you ever asked me this (wink, wink), but here goes…A really, really good book that you might wish to buy is called, Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC. It’s JAM PACKED with info on nutrients, supplements and even natural remedies for nearly every illness and condition you can think of including many forms of cancer, and is updated every year or two with current research findings. It is my gold standard reference manual around here. I think they run about $30 at a chain bookstore or health food store. For a temporary boost (whevever you are feeling like you’re coming down with something) I would suggest taking plenty of Vitamin C (500-1,000 mgs morning noon and night to keep it in your system throughout the day), along with an Echinacea or Echinacea-Goldenseal supplement, as this gives you a power boost through a cold or flu (Airborne is a great product for this if you’re so inclined). However, you shouldn’t take the Echinacea supplements for long periods of time or it can diminish their effects. Just when you’re feeling icky. You almost can’t get enough vitamin C in your diet, and it’s especially beneficial for fighting off the nitrates and nitrites in things like cured bacon, cold cut lunchmeats, hotdogs, hams, pepperoni, etc. Having a Vitamin C filled fruit juice or veggie in conjunction with any one of these foods helps to flush out the substances that are bad for you.Another important one, especially with arthritis and for good bone health, is a coral calcium supplement (this includes the naturally occurring 2:1 (desirable) ratio of Calcium to Magnesium that builds and mends bones). Then add in a small dose of zinc (no more than about 10-15 mg per day). If you can’t find coral calcium, then I recommend Calcium citrate (there are several types, but this one is most readily absorbable) and magnesium taken separately in a 2:1 ratio (1000 mg: 500mg, for example). Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc are the ‘magic’ elixer for preventing illnesses (viruses, and bacteria like strep, etc.) from taking hold in your ear/nose/throat, or so the specialist told me my freshman year of college. Adding those in did seem to help me keep from getting sick so much from that point on.There are more that you might want to research with careful consideration to their effects with any meds you might be taking (Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Iron) though these can be incorporated into your diet with foods easily enough and without any harmful side effects, but the other ones I mentioned are good for starters. Getting as many 100% whole grains (in place of white flour products) into your diet as possible always helps. They’re chock full of good bone building, immunity building nutrients. Ezekiel Bread toast, brown rice, 100% whole wheat pastas, bagels, tortillas and bread are good, too. And it goes without saying that as many colorful fruits and veggies as you can cram into your daily diet will be beneficial, too. Veggie sticks and dip, dark green salad leaves with colorful veggies in salads, baby spinich added to pita pocket egg salad sandwiches, and juicing of all these things are other powerhouse antioxidant snacks, as are yogurt and 100% fruit juice smoothies. Homemade guacamole counts, too. Avacados are perhaps my favorite green veggie (or fruit, whatever you want to call it). Onions and garlic are good natural immunity enhancers, so incorporate them in as much as possible, especially raw. One thing that really helps boost immunity is to cut back on sugars accross the board in your diet, (particularly high fructose corn syrup based products, which sadly, includes coffee flavor syrups, many hard and chewy candies (caramel included), sodas, ice creams, bottled teas, and even ketchup), as viruses thrive where sugars are present, because the sugars make the immune system really sluggish. If we all eliminated this one ingredient from our diets, many illnesses would be scaled back and even eliminated, and rates of diabetes would drop drastically. Anyway…hope all that helps!While I do hold to these things as a rule with my kids, I find I ‘cheat’ far more than I should myself. Hence my, um, wobbly bits, lol.
Fitfuel.com has tons of great stuff however, to be completely honest, the best way to boost your immune system is with diet. Loads of vegetables, all kinds, and fruits are the best way, and easiest way for your body to absorb nutrients. Supplements, while great, are supposed to SUPPLEMENT your nutrition, not replace it.
OH! I know this one! Hold on…….:( I can’t remember. I suppose i’ll have to start with brainpower supplements and then get back to you on immunity issues. Although I am already getting highly educated from the comments you have thus far.
Tell your doctor that I am a super freak – a healthy person who started getting common colds AFTER I began running regularly.I don’t have any suggestions, but it looks like you’ve got some great advice…
Sorry. Can’t help. But I’ll sure be lurking your comments. ;)Happy weekend, you NED woman, you. xxxooogretchen
I love, love, LOVE Echinacea. Works soooooo well at keeping a person healthy. You feel a cold coming on, you take more. You feel good, you take less, maintain. :-)Happy NED!
Uh … chocolate and coffee? Wait. That boosts energy and ‘happy’. Sorry. That’s all I know. 😉
you do NOT want advice from me. i do know what DOESN’T work- ignoring it and pretending you’re 19. haha!ps- just tagged you for a meme at my place!
Without an internet search and a lot of reading, I’ll tell you what I’ve been told by doctors. Supplements aren’t the best way to go. Correcting your diet is. Sorry.But I’ve found that to be true about MOST needs the body has. I good, balanced diet and exercise will do more for the body than all the supplements in the world. Do I follow that advice?No comment.Jus’ sayin’.And you DID ask.
My friend Kim swears by all kinds of herbs, but I don’t know what the scientific truth really is. Can your onc recommend an oncology nutritionist at your hospital or one nearby? There are many around, and surely one would have either an appointment or a book to recommend.Good luck and congats on being NED!
I was going to suggest a weekend with Todd away from the kids, but I don’t know if that’s what you have in mind. 😉
Thank you for your (serious) answers. I actually asked for Todd, but I’ve written down all the info and will go from there.I usually try to eat well – lots of veggies and fruit, whole grains, moderation, lots of water — that sort of thing. Just so you know. :o)For all you other people – Thanks for the laughs!! LOL!!!
I can tell you what I take for my CFS, which is the biggest contributer to my complete lack of an immune system. I actually don’t take a whole lot, but one of my supplements is a “scoop” that you drink, which has 35 vitamins and supplements in just one scoop! Let me know if you’re interested. 🙂
Darling…exercise is all I’ve been told…drat!!! I’m taking calcium with vitamin D for the old bones, eating “good” food (when I remember) and she just keeps telling me exercise and weight bearing exercise too…
Jenster, It has been months since I had time to catch up on my blogs and I was readng your post tonight. I work with a wellness company. I have thought of you many times in the past few months. And I know we have an immunity boosting supplement. I would love a chance to talk with you about it more. You can email me off blogger at jackiepyle@wedeliverwellness.com if you are interested. I am so glad that I checked your blog out tonight. I have totally missed reading your blog. Talk to you soon.
try BOOST andDanActiveI do both..deena