General Immunity

[Starludo]

Another question I have, is what supplements do you recommened I take, just for general wellness? I was thinking Sodium Ascorbate, Spirulina, & Vit B, but I'm not sure if that is covering the bases I need?

Thanks for your help!

[justine]

Hi,

I started taking sodium ascorbate at the end of last winter. I swear by it. I seemed to pick up every germ my kids came home with and I had the flu last August :(
I have not been ill since then (maybe cos it's summer) but it compleatly cleared my hayfever and got rid of an 8 year old fungal infection in my shins that i had bought countless tubes of antigungal cream for! I am now looking forward to winter and will increase my dose when the weather cools more. Here's hoping and wishing you a bug free winter!

Justine

[magical1]

The first thing I would say that you need to "taylor" an approach to boost your immune system to your specific needs.

What works for me perfectly may not be enough for you or may even be useless to you.

Here are some questions for you to help me point you in the right direction to recommend some supplements.

1. How is your diet? Are you a meat eater? sugar eater? bread eater? junk food eater? soda drinker? etc Would you consider you get enough fruit,veg, nuts on a daily basis?

2. What kind of bugs are you most susceptible to? ie do you get chest infections most or head colds or stomach bugs... where are you most weak?

3. How is your bowel health ie are you nice and regular or do you suffer from constipation?

4. How is your sleep?

5. Do you consider yourself to be highly stressed or chilled?

6. Do you get fungal or yeast infections?

Sorry about my spelling!!

That should be enough to go on. This isn't a one size fits all answer. Hope I can help you with a good simple approach that will work for you.

[Starludo]

Hi Magical and Justine :-)

I only just started making an effort to take Vitamin C and at the moment I am working 14 - 16 hour days, have not had enough sleep forever, am eating not that great for me, and normally would be quite sick by now, but have managed to not feel too bad considering, so I do put that down to the Vit C. But I am struggling to get hold of some Sodium Ascorbate - I am going to do a ring-around this afternoon.

In response to your questions Justine. At the moment I have 4 weeks before we leave the country for a year, and our house is almost in a state where we can rent it out or sell it, hence the long hours. But normally:

Diet: Am gluten and dairy intolerant, so do not eat bread or pastry foods - eat lots of rice, veges, grains and fruit (purchased from farmers market so organic). Eat meat once a day, use stable fats when cooking (including recently coconut oil and love it). But while I am working such long hours, my lunch is unfortunately packet flavoured rice heated in microwave, served with salad and fresh herbs, and homemade dressing. So compared to most people, not bad, but compared to my normal, terrible. Also I have had 2 V Drinks this week (if I could stand the taste of coffee I'd drink that instead), but other than that I only drink water.

Bugs I am succesptible to: Throat infections. As soon as I get tired and have eaten gluten or dairy twice in a row, I start to get a sore throat. Also get cold sores and acne, and lethargy. I also tend to have some sort of allergy to clothes, and the more tired I am, the more sore I get "downstairs", but it has been confirmed that this is not Candida or yeast. More like inflammation.

Bowel Health: Not too bad - sometimes a little hard no matter how much fruit I eat.

Sleep: At the moment about 7.5 hours a night which for me is no where near enough. I'd be fine if I could be in bed by 9pm and awake at 6 or 6.30.

Stress levels: At the moment due to exhaustion, uncertain visa status, and imminent travel nervousness, I'd say quite high. I have made the effort to plan so that once we start our travel, we are not rushing anywhere. We can use our time to do nothing in a park somewhere if we want.

Candida - as I said - I have problems "down there" but the only thing that works (which I HATE) is steriod cream. I have spent the past 8 years looking for an alternative and this is the ONLY thing that works, which is so ironic because I hate steroid creams but if I dont use it I cannot physically have a sex life as it is too painful. Steroid cream = no pain. Also have tried changing washing powder, underwear, having no underwear, avoiding sugar all to no avail.

Sorry this is probably way more information than you need but I tend to ramble a bit.

[magical1]

OK just a few more questions... sorry but best to get it right first time eh.

How do you know that you don't have candida? How was this confirmed?

Do you take antibiotics for your throat infections, or ever? Or do they just come and go without treatment? Do they ever come on in times of stress?

Do you have stomach bloating or crave sugar?

Since you have been using coconut oil have you noticed an improvment in your throat or nether region imflammation?

Do you eat much seafood? or iodine rich foods eg kelp, eggs.

Is your acne cystic? ie do you get hard headless spots that sit under the surface? where do you normally get them? ie on the face or body?

I know that your question was about "general" immunity and I am bombarding you with questions but if we can get it right then your other issues may clear up too.

[Starludo]

Hi there Magical,
in response to your questions (not a problem by the way!!)

-How do I know it was not Candida? I took swabs and had nothing show up in the labs tests. This happened 3 times.

-Do I take antibiotics? I did once, for 10 days after a really painful throat infection and it came straight back after the course finished. Hence I went to a naturopath and discovered I was gluten and dairy intolerant. I have not had to take antibiotics since (3 years ago). Generally they come and go without treatment on a very regular basis as a mild sore throat, and they last a couple of days. This is as a result of poor food choices or not enough sleep.

-Dont tend to get stomach bloating or crave sugar. Just crave a few peices of choc a day for about 5 days when my period is due, as well as the "I feel fat" syndrome.

-Haven't noticed an improvement in nether region, throat has been great though, but I have been taking Vit c powder at the same time. And I only have had a couple of Tablespoons of coconut oil every second day used for cooking for 2 people so I can't imagine it doing much.

-I eat barely any seafood - for some reason I am repulsed by it at the moment - even fresh salmon which I used to buy once a week but at the moment I can't even stand prawns (which I normally love). Have been really mystified by this but I do trust my body so not going to force it at this point. Would like to eat more eggs but do enjoy them occassionally (once every couple of weeks I'll eat 2) - like I said would like to eat much more but never get around to it.

-Acne is usually easy to pop, the only time I had hard ones that you can't squeeze was when I had a vit B12 injection and I reacted to it - those were on my neck and chest, and even chin. But now I just have one or 2 easy ones at all times on my face = still not quite right (had flawless skin before).

Any more questions go ahead :-)

[magical1]

OK I think we all got to know you a bit better!! :giggle:

1.Candida can be missed. Don't know about three times though. Others will be able to comment on this. I have a bit of an over run myself and in the past I had, acne, inflammation down there :o, thrush, throat infections very frequently. So your situation sounds a bit like mine. I think it is pretty common. I manage all these easily now after finding a great product called "ThreeLac". It is the first thing I would recommend anyone to take when putting together an immune boosting arsenal. The theory being that immunity and gut health go hand in hand. As you have had a test and it has come back negative you probably don't use a probiotic? Here is the link to the site I buy it from. I've taken it for ages and have had no symptoms for years. I also don't get sick anymore but that is probably my holistic approach rather than just one thing I do. So number one would be a good probiotic.

http://www.return2health.net/Natural-Health-Products.html#Threelac

2.Stick with the vitamin C! forever. On the onset of a cold take 1000mgs every hour until saturation ie you get loose bowels. Works a treat.Should help with your imflamation condition too.

3. Omega 3 fish oils. (3000mgs 3x daily) this will also address your inflammation.

4. Zinc."If minerals were ancient gods, zinc would be Zeus:Superhero mineral, protector of the immune system, defender of bodily invaders and invloved in virtually every aspect of infection prevention. If you've got a cold, an infection, or a cold sore, zinc may be your best friend"Jonny Bowden.

5. Garlic... if there is anything fungal or parastic going on in your system which I suspect there is then garlic is the bomb for it. Even if you rub it on the soles of your feet! Malcolm Harkers have a product called Verm xpel which is brilliant if you want to do a bit of a spring clean for your system which in turn will boost your immunity.

http://www.healthy.co.nz/formula-825-verm-xpel.html

6.Olive leaf extract. If you are interested in making your own ie you can get olive leaf then say and I will post here how to make your own tincture very easily. Otherwise you can buy it.

7.Vitamin B complex...

Have a look at the PDF I put up on iodine and figure out how you can insure you are getting enough. I think it is VERY important.

When you get your next inflammatory issue with your VJJ, before you reach for the steroid cream try to use coconut oil topically. It has amazing healing properties and I suspect it may work for you.

Oh and stay off the Vs! nuff said. That aint food sister! You sound like you need a pick me up with how busy you are but you'll only get a crash from it in the longrun. You can do all the best things in the world but if you are still putting the poisons in then nothing will work. Sounds like on the whole you are in the right direction with your diet. Meat once a day will cause an inflammatory response so you may think about cutting that down for your long term health.

I have found over the years that it has taken me a long time to find MY "staples" for my excellent immunity. This comes with trial and error and a bit of money spent I must say. Now I know exactly what works and what doesn't, for me.

Oh yeah and don't forget about getting out in the sunshine, without your sunglasses mid day. Exercise and be happy and you should stay well all winter. If anything does come your way you'll fight it off lickity split. :Stone:

[Serephina]

Diet: Am gluten and dairy intolerant, so do not eat bread or pastry foods - eat lots of rice, veges, grains and fruit (purchased from farmers market so organic). Eat meat once a day, use stable fats when cooking (including recently coconut oil and love it). But while I am working such long hours, my lunch is unfortunately packet flavoured rice heated in microwave, served with salad and fresh herbs, and homemade dressing. So compared to most people, not bad, but compared to my normal, terrible. Also I have had 2 V Drinks this week (if I could stand the taste of coffee I'd drink that instead), but other than that I only drink water.

Bugs I am succesptible to: Throat infections. As soon as I get tired and have eaten gluten or dairy twice in a row, I start to get a sore throat. Also get cold sores and acne, and lethargy. I also tend to have some sort of allergy to clothes, and the more tired I am, the more sore I get "downstairs", but it has been confirmed that this is not Candida or yeast. More like inflammation.

Bowel Health: Not too bad - sometimes a little hard no matter how much fruit I eat.

Candida - as I said - I have problems "down there" but the only thing that works (which I HATE) is steriod cream. I have spent the past 8 years looking for an alternative and this is the ONLY thing that works, which is so ironic because I hate steroid creams but if I dont use it I cannot physically have a sex life as it is too painful. Steroid cream = no pain. Also have tried changing washing powder, underwear, having no underwear, avoiding sugar all to no avail.

Hi Starludo,

TBH I think you might be better addressing your gut health before starting with heaps of supplements. The gluten/dairy intolerance, candida, sore throat, acne, and lethargy are all indications of digestive problems. A good probiotic as magical1 suggested would be a great start, but you'll need to look at diet as well.

There are a few threads on the forum about the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) and the gut and psychology syndrome diet (GAPS) that you might find useful.

[Starludo]

Hey guys thanks heaps for your help! Thats given me heaps to think about. Cool it sounds like I am on the right track, and also have a few other options to explore.

Re. the V drinks - I hear ya! Trust me I know I'd be doing just as well to eat a bit of paint, however I must say I have never been as exhausted as I am now - the only time I rest is when I eat!! I swear I will never live like this again!!!

And re. spending money, again I hear ya!! I guess the only salvation is that life gets easier and more clear as time goes on!

Cheers guys ;)

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

Also, while candida doesn't improve with steroid cream, lichen sclerosis does, and it's often mistaken for candida as my sister found.... after having gone years before it was diagnosed properly. If there is a possibility you have that, then any/all lifestyle changes you can make now, will be vital.

I think Seraphina's approach is the best way to start, but make an exercise book; write down magical's suggestions, and weigh it all up.

[justine]

There is an artical In the Western Leader (Waitakere) Entitled 'Good Food - Long Life' 24/3/2009

Basically Olive Govorko 96 and her husband 99 have put their long life down to "three healthy home made meals per day" 'She's always put alot of thought into what goes on the dinner table' 'The Govorko's are having their 70th wedding anniversary' 'only stopped driving at 96' 'both were keen bowlers' 'Nether has ever smoked and alcohol was only drunk socially during their yonger years'

I just wanter to share this artical - It bought a smile to my face. Lets hope they get to their 80th Wedding anniversary.

Good health everyone -
Justine :)