rayralph
12-11-2002, 03:09 AM
Hi.
I'm looking for supplements that boost ones immune system and fight off viral infections. So far I am using freeze dried Thymus cells. Any other suggestions?
I'm looking for supplements that boost ones immune system and fight off viral infections. So far I am using freeze dried Thymus cells. Any other suggestions?
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Super Sarah
12-11-2002, 06:41 AM
I would suggest that you take high dose Vitamin C, say 500-1000mgs per day. This boosts your immune system and your body will get rid of what it does not want.
Also, consider taking Echinacea tincture in the short term to boost your immunity. Take it for about a month and you should notice a difference.
Also, consider taking Echinacea tincture in the short term to boost your immunity. Take it for about a month and you should notice a difference.
Tangle
12-11-2002, 09:20 PM
If you don't have proper body levels of vitamin A & mineral Zinc, good luck boosting immunity. Thymus---yes; vit.C---yes; eschinacia---yes. A note on vitamin C; I do not know when or where 500-1000mg is considerd a high dose for typical adult. I am under the assumption that those figures are "low dose" and 3+ grams daily would be consider high. I typically require 5+ grams daily.
rhody
12-11-2002, 09:32 PM
Try raw garlic, using no more than 2 cloves per day. I mix it with food. I suggest that you read more about it. Some sources state that taking too much garlic over a long period of time could be a little irritating. It's fascinating how it can counteract the flu or a cold. I've used it quite a few times with great results.
To diminish the odor, I found that dried or fresh fruits helped. Raisins or dried apricots seem to help best over fresh fruits. I don't really know why. I found that technique out accidentally, after some experimentation.
Years ago, I used to take a chamomile and ginger tea also. When I went to work sick, I would sip it slowly in the morning. It would help get me through the day, without taking expensive drugs. Now that I use garlic, I normally don't make this tea for colds anymore.
Generally speaking, changing to a healthy diet helps also along with exercise. Exercise is known to stimulate the immune system. I can't remember why, as it's been some time that I've read it. It would make some good reading material....
To diminish the odor, I found that dried or fresh fruits helped. Raisins or dried apricots seem to help best over fresh fruits. I don't really know why. I found that technique out accidentally, after some experimentation.
Years ago, I used to take a chamomile and ginger tea also. When I went to work sick, I would sip it slowly in the morning. It would help get me through the day, without taking expensive drugs. Now that I use garlic, I normally don't make this tea for colds anymore.
Generally speaking, changing to a healthy diet helps also along with exercise. Exercise is known to stimulate the immune system. I can't remember why, as it's been some time that I've read it. It would make some good reading material....
Super Sarah
12-12-2002, 10:41 AM
Exercise produces encephalins and endorphins, which are the feel good factor chemicals and other chemicals which keep the immune system at optimum function.
Be careful though, as too much exercise can suppress the immune system.
Be careful though, as too much exercise can suppress the immune system.
rayralph
12-12-2002, 04:20 PM
All great advice. Thank you.
Tangle: I agree with you on the Vit C issue. I take 4 to 6g daily. How much zinc would you suggest? Is the DRV enough?
I cant do garlic. I may be the only Italian on the planet that hates the stuff.
And yes, I completely agree that excercise is very important. It's kinda difficult to get into a routine when you feel like sh*t most of the time. I guess you just have to force your way through it, which is what I should start doing.
Thanks
Tangle: I agree with you on the Vit C issue. I take 4 to 6g daily. How much zinc would you suggest? Is the DRV enough?
I cant do garlic. I may be the only Italian on the planet that hates the stuff.
And yes, I completely agree that excercise is very important. It's kinda difficult to get into a routine when you feel like sh*t most of the time. I guess you just have to force your way through it, which is what I should start doing.
Thanks
Tangle
12-13-2002, 02:54 AM
Rhody
>"To diminish the odor, I found that dried or fresh fruits helped. Raisins or dried apricots seem to help best over fresh fruits."< If i am not mistaken those dried fruits diminish the oder of garlic because they contains high levels of yeast, thus consuming and/or wasting your garlic.
Rayralph
Zinc is a mineral that is not that abundant in the typical western diet (unless you eat pumpkin seeds regularly). 25-50mg daily would probobly be ideal for most active adults. If you use alcohol regularly you probobly definately need Zinc supplementation. Remember that Vitamin A works together with Zinc for many immune functions. Also take some Copper maybe twice weekly to keep the Zinc/Copper balance right while simultaniously boosting your Zinc/Copper superoxide dismutase levels.
>"To diminish the odor, I found that dried or fresh fruits helped. Raisins or dried apricots seem to help best over fresh fruits."< If i am not mistaken those dried fruits diminish the oder of garlic because they contains high levels of yeast, thus consuming and/or wasting your garlic.
Rayralph
Zinc is a mineral that is not that abundant in the typical western diet (unless you eat pumpkin seeds regularly). 25-50mg daily would probobly be ideal for most active adults. If you use alcohol regularly you probobly definately need Zinc supplementation. Remember that Vitamin A works together with Zinc for many immune functions. Also take some Copper maybe twice weekly to keep the Zinc/Copper balance right while simultaniously boosting your Zinc/Copper superoxide dismutase levels.
rhody
12-15-2002, 01:58 PM
Tangle,
As an alternative to pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds are also a good source of zinc. I eat mine raw without salt. To enhance the flavor, I eat the sunflower seeds all the time with raisins by the spoonful. Other sources of zinc can be found in eggs and other whole grains, nuts, and seeds.
Thanks for the information about what may be diminishing the odor of the garlic. I'll have to look into it a little more. What do you mean that the fruit yeast "wastes" the garlic? Does it change the medicinal value of the garlic?
rayralph,
Raw garlic can be consumed in foods like mashed potatoes and butter, without really being able to taste it (in a bad way). From my experience, the odor from the garlic seems to be the strongest after consumption, not during the time when eating with other foods.
If you are really sick enough, the glove or two of raw garlic can be a real God-send. I mean I've had viruses in the back of the throat that just were killing me with pain for more than a week - couldn't swallow or eat without it really hurting bad. The garlic just cured me in a few days (sometimes sooner). It was such a relief.
I have many stories about my personal successes with garlic in preventing and curing myself from colds and flus etc. Much experimentation with raw garlic as a medicine has convinced me - what you can also read about on the internet.
As an alternative to pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds are also a good source of zinc. I eat mine raw without salt. To enhance the flavor, I eat the sunflower seeds all the time with raisins by the spoonful. Other sources of zinc can be found in eggs and other whole grains, nuts, and seeds.
Thanks for the information about what may be diminishing the odor of the garlic. I'll have to look into it a little more. What do you mean that the fruit yeast "wastes" the garlic? Does it change the medicinal value of the garlic?
rayralph,
Raw garlic can be consumed in foods like mashed potatoes and butter, without really being able to taste it (in a bad way). From my experience, the odor from the garlic seems to be the strongest after consumption, not during the time when eating with other foods.
If you are really sick enough, the glove or two of raw garlic can be a real God-send. I mean I've had viruses in the back of the throat that just were killing me with pain for more than a week - couldn't swallow or eat without it really hurting bad. The garlic just cured me in a few days (sometimes sooner). It was such a relief.
I have many stories about my personal successes with garlic in preventing and curing myself from colds and flus etc. Much experimentation with raw garlic as a medicine has convinced me - what you can also read about on the internet.
rhody
12-15-2002, 02:24 PM
Super Sarah,
Thanks for reminding me that too much exercise can reduce the strength of the immune system. I had heard that too, but hadn't looked into it very much. I'm not sure of the exact level that that would apply to, but I think it would be for people who run marathons regularily or about 70 miles a week or more, or the equivalent exercise. For most of us, that would rarely apply.
Reliable sources keep saying that exercising about 3 hours a week seems to be best. I don't know if that's true, but it seems to be close to what I do each week.
It's interesting thing that you mention about too much exercise.... Years ago, I also heard that if you exercise too much, like running 200 miles a week, that you actually hurt the body by putting too much stress on it. So, you can't live longer by running more. Can you imagine the calories that you would consume? The calories that you would have to eat must be enormous just to stay even - putting a burden on the entire digestive tract too.
Recent studies seem to indicate that exercising while you have a cold, won't make the cold worse. But I have to disagree because excessive exercise can make you worse. It's a little subjective here of what is excessive and what is not. I think some judgement for all of us as individuals would have to apply. When I'm sick, I usually skip my run or just use the indoor stepper for a short time (instead of running).
Thanks for reminding me that too much exercise can reduce the strength of the immune system. I had heard that too, but hadn't looked into it very much. I'm not sure of the exact level that that would apply to, but I think it would be for people who run marathons regularily or about 70 miles a week or more, or the equivalent exercise. For most of us, that would rarely apply.
Reliable sources keep saying that exercising about 3 hours a week seems to be best. I don't know if that's true, but it seems to be close to what I do each week.
It's interesting thing that you mention about too much exercise.... Years ago, I also heard that if you exercise too much, like running 200 miles a week, that you actually hurt the body by putting too much stress on it. So, you can't live longer by running more. Can you imagine the calories that you would consume? The calories that you would have to eat must be enormous just to stay even - putting a burden on the entire digestive tract too.
Recent studies seem to indicate that exercising while you have a cold, won't make the cold worse. But I have to disagree because excessive exercise can make you worse. It's a little subjective here of what is excessive and what is not. I think some judgement for all of us as individuals would have to apply. When I'm sick, I usually skip my run or just use the indoor stepper for a short time (instead of running).
Tangle
12-16-2002, 05:35 AM
Rohdy
Logic would conclude that the yeast-killing ingredient (allicin ?)in Garlic will be used according to the amount of yeast in question. Personaly i use about 3 5000mg Garlic Oil Extract softgels daily.
Rayralph
One of the best ways to incorperate Zinc for immune function is Zinc lozenge. I take one 23mg Zinc lozenge daily. Those molecules of zinc are absorbed by the thymus gland. The thymus gland uses the zinc to produce thymic hormones and immune cells. The local lozenge method would theoreticaly be superior to the oral method.
Logic would conclude that the yeast-killing ingredient (allicin ?)in Garlic will be used according to the amount of yeast in question. Personaly i use about 3 5000mg Garlic Oil Extract softgels daily.
Rayralph
One of the best ways to incorperate Zinc for immune function is Zinc lozenge. I take one 23mg Zinc lozenge daily. Those molecules of zinc are absorbed by the thymus gland. The thymus gland uses the zinc to produce thymic hormones and immune cells. The local lozenge method would theoreticaly be superior to the oral method.
Super Sarah
12-16-2002, 06:46 AM
Hi Rhody,
What you seem to be doing sounds about right and yes, it is mostly professional athletes who overtrain. The ones who put in 100 miles a week and run marathons. Zeb Coe back in the early 80's went through a stage of overtraining and got glandular fever (mono) from this and that is a classic example of overtraining and lowering the immune system.
You are unlikely to do that and I also agree about not running when sick with a cold. A few years ago I went out running with a cold and the next day I ended up with flu and bronchitis and had to stay in bed for a week at least. It took me forever to recover, so I just don't do it now, but of course, this was before I knew about alternative medicine. I have recovered in about 2 to 3 days from a cold when using alternatives.
What you seem to be doing sounds about right and yes, it is mostly professional athletes who overtrain. The ones who put in 100 miles a week and run marathons. Zeb Coe back in the early 80's went through a stage of overtraining and got glandular fever (mono) from this and that is a classic example of overtraining and lowering the immune system.
You are unlikely to do that and I also agree about not running when sick with a cold. A few years ago I went out running with a cold and the next day I ended up with flu and bronchitis and had to stay in bed for a week at least. It took me forever to recover, so I just don't do it now, but of course, this was before I knew about alternative medicine. I have recovered in about 2 to 3 days from a cold when using alternatives.