Suggestions for Boosting the Immune System...

My homeopathic doctor swears by the probiotics, daily vitamin D, and elderberry syrup at any sign of a sickness. We try to remember to do all three of these things in the winter, and we certainly do them when we know we've been exposed to something.

Do you use antibacterial soap and hand gel? If so, STOP. You have to be exposed to something in order to built immunity. With the increase in these types of products we have seen a huge increase in illness and allergies. My kids use regular soap, and we avoid the gels completely, and we are almost never sick.

We had just that kind of winter when I went into the health food store and said "HELP!" This was a real health food store where the employees actually know what they are doing, not just a big chain one with teenagers working in it. They suggested to start out with a whole food based vitamin to make sure it was bioavailable (i.e. usuable for your body), and I started using Nutristars by Rainbow Light. They also suggested a probiotic, and we've used Acidophikidz. Both I get on Amazon for the cheapest prices. I've seen a huge difference since then. I read a blurb in Good Housekeeping that daily probiotics reduce the rate of getting colds by 40%, and they will be good for the post anitbiotic time (and the yeast infection).

If you are using yogurt for the probiotic, I've read to make sure it doesn't have a ton of sugar in it - that it could negate the effects you are looking for.

We do cod liver oil for brain and eye development and figure an immune boost is a bonus.

Also, at the first sign of anything respiratory the kids take elderberry syrup. The bottle says you can give a daily dose as a preventative/immune boost, but we just take the intensive dosing suggestions when we get sick (it would get expensive to do everyday).

I've given the Herbs for Kids line echinacea/astralagus to the kids, but I've read echinacea doesn't prevent things - it is best to take at the first sign of things.

The health food store also suggested green smoothies, but I didn't start that then. We eat pretty well too, and I figured we were covered there. I actually did just start doing them for my son who has this lingering respiratory thing bc he hasn't been eating well. I figured it would taste good on his throat and get him some nutrition to help his body fight things off.

I also recommend the elderberry supplement. I started taking that when I came down with a cold and it was the most mild cold I have ever had, didn't have to take any OTC medicine to help with symptoms.

Also, a high quality probiotic will help get your digestive system back on track. You most likely got the yeast infection because those antibiotics you took killed all the friendly bacteria in your system and the bad started wreaking havoc. I use Dr. Mercola (pricey, but if you sign up for auto delivery you can save some money and there are online coupons if you search for them). They have natural flavors and they are great for kids too. I mix them up in my sons orange juice or smoothie and they have been great for his tummy. The majority of your immune system is located in your gut, so it makes sense that probiotics would be beneficial! Good luck to you and your family!

EmergenC. Those little packets of fizzy powder you add to water. They are very high in Vit C and B vitamins. One of my friends (a nurse in a hospital) suggested everyone have one a day if you were recently sick or have a family member sick, and use 2 a day per person (one morning and one evening) right when you feel illness coming on.
She said lots of docs and nurses in the hospitals swear it works.

I understand that BioGuard (only sold at Costco) is the best way to boost immune system. It's a probiotic that was fashioned after some kid in New Zealand who never got sick...his body had all these great probitoics in his system and a pharmacy company recreated it through a chewable tablet. We had the same issue at hour house this past year. I was even getting wiped out too. I've started taking it and haven't gotten sick since.

I'm sorry to hear you've had such a miserable start to your winter. It sounds like you're doing a lot already to help your immunity by eating healthy foods - good for you! Two things you probably also already do, but may be worth mentioning are hand washing and getting enough sleep. I'm a little crazy about washing the kids' hands after they play at communal train tables in stores, drive the car grocery carts in the stores and before they eat their snacks/meals. Better yet, I wash these things down myself, as much as possible. As for sleep, who doesn't need more? ;D We're trying to work on this last one, at our house. Good luck and I hope the New Year is kind to you!

I encourage you to try a good probiotic for yourself along with avoiding simple sugars in your diet. You might want to try Jarrow Yum Yum Dophilus and coconut oil for your 5 yr old too. Rest and staying hydrated also help rebuild a battered immune system. Last winter our family seemed to be sick from January to April so my heart goes out to you.

If you say that your family is normally healthy and this is way out of the norm for you then I would tend to think that one of you caught something that went around and has weakened everyones immune system enough to be likely to cause all the other 'little' things that are coming your way. I suggest that you try something like airborne to help boost everyones immune system long enough to fight off whatever there is still lingering and then from there just try the natural path of lots of sleep and continuing a healthy diet combined with proper hand washing. Adding things like Pure Orange Juice, Onions, Garlic, and Turmeric to your diet can really help to naturally boost your immune system
Good Luck and I hope you all feel better soon

Chiropractic care gets us better faster and keeps it from happening or coming back!

you need fats to help to break down some of those good nutrients you are taking in. Get some whole milk. Get exercise as well.

You've gotten some great responses so far! I also agree that the Vit D3, probiotics (either through supplement or a daily dose of delicious *Plain* Greek Yogurt), Vit C and Zinc will likely help you. Getting sick is awful, isn't it? Don't know what's worse, getting sick yourself or seeing your whole family get sick and having to take care of them all. Hope you all feel better soon.

Immunocal powder (its a whey protien) Immunotec.com can explain more. It is pricey, but it does really help.
On the more reasonable end, believe it or not, juicing your own juice will make a HUGE difference. You can get a nice juicer for about 35 bucks at Walmart. Then try apple carrot juice. 2 organic apples (like Fuji) and 4 medium organic carrots (one serving). You can use the yummy pulp in muffins or carrot cake. Super yummy and since my 2 year old found his nose, he has been brining home a virus every 3 weeks! Then he slimes me and I get it. We eat very healthy too, and no antibiotiics. Juicing makes the whole vitamins easier to get and really cuts down the down time. Juicing every day for your family will help bolster your immune systems.
HTH

Google healing school. I like kcm ministries @ Andrew Wommack. I have been amazingly well in the year that I have been watching.

Updated

Google healing school. I like kcm ministries @ Andrew Wommack. I have been amazingly well in the year that I have been watching.

Vitamin C and St Johns Wort. Yes, some of them are a waste of money, like a lot of the ones at grocery stores b/c the potency level is low. Get the regulated quality brands that professionals use such as Standard Process.

Probiotics, garlic capsules (2, 3x a day), kelp, manganese, vit a/b/c/e all are beneficial and zinc plus copper.

Eat healthy live better. Don't stick to fast food much. Have some nutritious diet.

Wow! I so understand where you are coming from. It is just exhausting and we have been there. Here are some of the things I have found work for us.

Echinacea - this helps if you take it the very first second you think you are coming down with something

Zinc - I am not sure if this does much but I always take for the duration of an illness

Vitamin C - Does help boost immunity

Elderberry Extract - I swear every time my kids get something and I give them this the duration is shorter.

As far as eating healthy, you are totally on the right track. Try going one step further and do all organic, zero canned or frozen veggies or fruit. Avoid boxed foods, eat organic oatmeal once a day, drink purified and flouride-free water (8 glasses per day), juice twice per day (grind and press juicer or puree, centrifugal does not benefit as much) and get enough rest!

Some other thought are to take down your dairy and meat intake and cut out salt and refined sugar.

I actually took out any multi-vitamins and supplements as well but will on occasion do an all-natural, vegan shake.

This is sort of a brief breakdown but it may help, it did with us.

Good luck!

Vit D boosts the immune system. We get tons of it in summer due to the sun, but we get very little in the winter. It is safe to take double or even triple doses when you feel something coming on. The average dose is 5-10 btu's and the sun gives you over 30,000 btu's, so it is hard to overdose.

With all the anitbiotics that you have been taking, you might want to take some probiotics to replace the good bacteria that was killed off too.

Good luck

lots of good responses to your question-the only thing I would add is Del immune V which is a strain of pro biotic that is beneficial in preventing and reducing the time sick-look it up online as you need to order it from their site. It really does work. I give this to my family along with a higher dose of vit c in winter, and vit d, to prevent getting sick.