Boosting the Immune System

[Gittit Shwartz]

I used to never get sick until I had mono. Now it seems every time I play a little too hard I get a sore throat and fever. I'm starting to get worried about what it'll be like in the winter.
What would you guys recommend to prepare/support the immune system?

Here is my list for starters:

• Get plenty of quality sleep
• Get some sunlight every day, plus supplemental vitamin D
• Don't overtrain (broad term, but for me unfortunately that means NO metcon over 5 minutes and no going all out or I can just mark my calendar for being sick the next day).
• Avoid sugar
• Vitamin C - I'm undecided about the amounts

Any opinions on cold water dousing? I heard it helps if you start doing it when the weather's warm and keep on through the winter, but I'm not sure if it would be good for someone whose immune system is already compromised.

[Craig Loizides]

Here's my list:

1A - Eat paleo. Eat a lot. Eat a big variety of foods.

1B - Sleep

3 - Eliminate stress

4 - Probiotics
http://www.theiflife.com/2008/03/19/...o-do-about-it/

[Tony Ferous]

You could try Pau D'Arco tea:

http://curezone.com/foods/lapacho.html

[Jared Buffie]

Good list, the only thing I would add is see a chiropractor (adjustments help immune system function):

http://www.worldchiropracticalliance...references.htm

[Carl Chia]

HCL supplement! Many people have low levels of HCL.. Is your body absorbing the nutrients and minerals from the food you eat?

article by Charles Poliquin:

http://360optimalfitness.com/article...loric_Acid.pdf

[Thomas Bailly]

no sugar
paleo
stress relief(meditation,massage,whatever)
have a social life(quality interactions over quantity)
fresh fruits and veggies everyday.
while taking a hot shower do 3 or 4 cycles of cold for anywhere form 20 secs to 2 minutes, finish on short cold. This helps stimulate lymph flow with big impacts on immune function. Don't overdo it , start gradually,more is not necessarily better...and if you go for the"monk-like-practice-under-freezing-waterfall-for-as-long-as-I-can-take-it" your weak immune system will likely crash.

[George Mounce]

I'm huge on the probiotics, I have organic kefir daily (I make it myself even).

[Craig Brown]

George, where did you get your kefir grains?

Apple cider vinegar in water. The Braggs. Meditate, or at least spend some time just focused on calming yourself and deepening breathing. Fish Oil. Vitamin C in robust quantities.

Craig

[Mike ODonnell]

All good stuff above......would add break a sweat every day....as your skin is your largest detox organ.

That and everything starts in the gut.....so keep it happy! (probiotics, no sugar, remove allergens, reduce stress)

[Garrett Smith]

Craig,
The Braggs do have some good stuff, however, they lost me on two major points (if I recall correctly from my readings of theirs in the past):

They advocate a lifelong vegan diet (which can be somewhat helpful short-term, I simply disagree on the permanent place they advocate).

They advocate distilled water. Bad idea these days, with so many things we eat & drink mineral-depleted already.