Improving Immune System
 

All,

I am generally very prone to getting small illnesses such as colds and flus and whatever happens to be going around. I would like to improve my immunity to everyday illnesses and am wondering what vitamins/supplements I can take for this. Thanks.

-Michael

Re: Improving Immune System
 

Airborne seems to work for me.

Re: Improving Immune System
 

lots of fresh vegetables and fruit

Re: Improving Immune System
 

not drinking alcohol

Re: Improving Immune System
 

i've not had a cold for months, even with lots of alcohol, after supplementing 1 gram of vitamin c per day.

Re: Improving Immune System
 

Take fish oil 6-8 capsules a day and drink 3+ cups of green tea. Also, how's your sleep schedule look?

Re: Improving Immune System
 

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not drinking alcohol

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wrong. day in and day out im appalled by the horrid advice on this forum. by now everyone should know that alcohol kills germs.

Re: Improving Immune System
 

go to a preschool, lick everything, contract every type of cold, and then you will be immune to all of them.

Re: Improving Immune System
 

Latest I've read is that vitamin D plays a major role.

Re: Improving Immune System
 

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not drinking alcohol

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Also get enough sleep.

Re: Improving Immune System
 

were you prone to colds before then?

I never seemed to get these minor sicknesses despite having a lifestyle of Chris Farley in college. It's probably largely genetic.

Re: Improving Immune System
 

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i've not had a cold for months, even with lots of alcohol, after supplementing 1 gram of vitamin c per day.

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Hopefully no one tells you that this doesn't do anything...

Re: Improving Immune System
 

echinicea(sp?) helps me when I feel a cold coming on usually

Re: Improving Immune System
 

High intensity weight training wreaks havoc on your immune system. Before working out, Mix 100 G of a carb product like ultra fuel and 25 gram of whey protein. You can add creatine to it also, but this only aids in building muscle. Drink half of it preworkout and the rest immediately after working out, along with Vitamin C and Vitamin E.

Re: Improving Immune System
 

You need to look at population studies, not individual case reports for what works and doesn't work.

The problem is that any one little "treatment" often in the scientific studies has very little benefit. Antioxidants are great, but there is no single "magic bullet".

The best things are going to be obvious:
Get enough sleep
Rest if tired
Periodization of training.

Also disease prevention, always wash hands when touching fomites. Stay away from sick people.

Re: Improving Immune System
 

Fomites? Is that like a potfor?

Re: Improving Immune System
 

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Fomites? Is that like a potfor?

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Fomite is an inanimate object that can carry an infectious disease agent. For example, a door handle or faucet in a public restroom.

Re: Improving Immune System
 

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i've not had a cold for months, even with lots of alcohol, after supplementing 1 gram of vitamin c per day.

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Hopefully no one tells you that this doesn't do anything...

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Go on ...

So far everything i've read about Vitamin C has been postive, from reducing colds (which is debatable) even to disposal of heavy metals, and the only side effect would be if i started taking 3g+ is diarrhea and since these cost so little i can't see any reason not to take them. I'd stop if you post some good reasons though.

Re: Improving Immune System
 

Nature Bee

Re: Improving Immune System
 

Vitamin C is great and all, but overdosing on it shows little to no positive effects on fighting colds and/or diseases. You get enough by taking a multivitamin and even a decent diet.

Re: Improving Immune System
 

you should start going to the gym with your roommate [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Improving Immune System
 

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You get enough by taking a multivitamin and even a decent diet.

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didn't they revise the rda to where it is pretty hard to get that much by diet alone?

in any case I rmember reading that <250mg per day of C won't saturate tissues so a lot of people are pushing for an even higher rda of C.

Re: Improving Immune System
 

dont smoke weed.

Re: Improving Immune System
 

hey have you guys heard about like if you drink a coke or something sugary that your immune system is depressed for like 4-6 hours or something?
anybody know if there's any truth to that?

Re: Improving Immune System
 

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hey have you guys heard about like if you drink a coke or something sugary that your immune system is depressed for like 4-6 hours or something?
anybody know if there's any truth to that?

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It does call out insulin, which can depress your system in general.

Re: Improving Immune System
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
You get enough by taking a multivitamin and even a decent diet.

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didn't they revise the rda to where it is pretty hard to get that much by diet alone?

in any case I rmember reading that <250mg per day of C won't saturate tissues so a lot of people are pushing for an even higher rda of C.

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The thing about water-soluble vitamins that makes a "one a day" pill not so great is that, well, water-soluble means you can piss them out real quick. So just because you take a tablet in the morning doesn't mean you'll still have much of it at all in your system come lunchtime, or evening, or helping you rebuild during sleep that evening.

Re: Improving Immune System
 

[ QUOTE ]
The thing about water-soluble vitamins that makes a "one a day" pill not so great is that, well, water-soluble means you can piss them out real quick. So just because you take a tablet in the morning doesn't mean you'll still have much of it at all in your system come lunchtime, or evening, or helping you rebuild during sleep that evening.

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true i would think the science would support something like a 250mg C with every meal.

I think the half life in your system is 4-6 hours I could be wrong though.