How can I improve my immune system?

[Azxster]

I remember seeing a commercial for DanActive by Danone, but I cannot find it at my local supermarkets (NoFrills, Loblaws, Sobeys). I would like to improve my immune system such that I can avoid common illness like the cold/flu.

Would frequent washing of hand with soap be a bad idea? All the health posters around the washrooms says to wash your hands often.

[AmberMoon]

Nutrition Tips for a Strong Immune System

Fuel your workouts appropriately
Eat regularly timed meals with emphasis on antioxidant rich foods.
Eat a low fat diet, but make sure your get in your omega 3 fatty acids
Don’t skimp on the protein
Get on board with a one-a-day multivitamin and mineral preparation
Ironman training increases oxidative stress on the body producing free radicals
Include some of these immune boosting foods during your day: Blueberries, Beans/Legumes (Soy), Almond Butter, Canola Oil, Flaxseed, Lean Beef, Low fat Dairy, Salmon, Walnuts, Whole grains.
Consuming sufficient levels of nutrients and preventing deficiencies in vitamins and minerals

Source Here (http://www.ironmanlive.com/training/nutrition/jennifer-hutchison-has-some-diet-tips-to-help-you-avoid-getting-sick-this-season)


RISK FACTORS & WELLNESS TIPS: IMMUNE SYSTEM

Get enough sleep
Wash your hands
Eat nutritious foods
Avoid "unhealthy" foods
Stay as stress-free as possible
Get enough exercise
Avoid alcohol and cigarettes
Avoid excessive sun exposure
Avoid exposure to pollutants and toxic chemicals
Take Immune Fx


Source Here (http://www.recoverymedicine.com/immune_dysfunction_wellness_tips.htm)

[ephemera]

#1, stay far away from people that are always sick.

I have been sick one day in the last 2 years. I rarely get sick. Maybe the sniffles or whatever in the winter time.

My diet sucks and I don't work out. But I think being sick often as a child my body built up a strong defense against many many bugs.

[dougi3000]

mind over matter. (as posted above, you know you dont get sick, therefore you dont get sick.)
I don't feel sick because I don't let it bother me.
Even if I do get some sort of sickness, it goes away fast because my mind helps defeat the infection. With all the infections you accumulate, you will build up immunities fast. :)


If you keep thinking you are sick, you will get sicker than you really need to be.

[gordholio]

mind over matter. (as posted above, you know you dont get sick, therefore you dont get sick.)
I don't feel sick because I don't let it bother me.
Even if I do get some sort of sickness, it goes away fast because my mind helps defeat the infection. With all the infections you accumulate, you will build up immunities fast. :)


If you keep thinking you are sick, you will get sicker than you really need to be.

Nice in theory, but it won't always work. I take Selenium.
Eat a balanced diet (not low fat).

[gh05t]

There is no full proof way of preventing getting sick plus getting sick helps you to build up immunity towards the causative agent.

Proper and regular hand washing and being out of reach of germs spread into the air by or preventing contact with an infected person does go a long way though.

Building the immune system can include making sure you had all the childhood diseases, immunization and booster shots later in life and healthy diets and exercise and positive mindset.

Antibiotics and interferon can be used in cases of weakened immune systems or against strong infectious agents.

[CYP3A4]

...don't forget adequate water intake and rest.

[Mulder and Scully]

As others have said, there's no one cure-all answer but just at its most basic:

- Know how to handle stress. This is easier said than done but stress in any case will destroy you emotionally, mentally and physically.
- Be active and exercise. Other than keeping your body in good shape, working out also greatly helps in dealing with stress.
- Get adequate sleep and rest. This is when your body is healing.
- Stop masturbating. This will give you hairy palms.
- Eat a well-balanced diet. You don't need to give up all your favourite junk foods, only cut back on them and ensure you're getting the proper nutrients and vitamins a healthy body needs.
- Recognize that there are some things you might not be able to avoid like the cold or flu, but how your body handles them will make a difference.

[just_For_ipod]

To build up your immune system, try and get sick as much as possible, and introduce as many bacteria into your body (Not at once or you'll probably kill yourself)

Its kinda like when you take vacinations, except vacinations are in a form where it doesn't hurt you but your body still develops immunity to it.

Thats why sometimes if you ever go into a third world country(from a developed contry) and accidentally eat something that is contaminated, you get sick while the people there don't because they have already developed immunity to it.

Just don't get a virus, because you can't be immune to that.

[yyz2hkg]

"COLD-fX is a scientifically formulated product that naturally strengthens your immune system, so cold and flu viruses don't take hold."

Each capsule contains 200 mg of dried extract, CVT-E002, which has been shown in laboratory and clinical studies to strengthen our immune system and has demonstrated efficacy and safety in the prevention and relief of cold and flu infections.

SOURCE (http://cae.cold-fx.com/?q=102)

[DaVibe]

Orange Juice.

[aimfox]

I usually eat a vitamin C and wash my hands daily. My immune system is strong :razz:

[sockhead]

Interferon.

[purple_rabbit]

To build up your immune system, try and get sick as much as possible, and introduce as many bacteria into your body (Not at once or you'll probably kill yourself)

Its kinda like when you take vacinations, except vacinations are in a form where it doesn't hurt you but your body still develops immunity to it.

Thats why sometimes if you ever go into a third world country(from a developed contry) and accidentally eat something that is contaminated, you get sick while the people there don't because they have already developed immunity to it.

Just don't get a virus, because you can't be immune to that.

+1 You pretty much nailed it

[Oni-kun]

Garlic.

[Keelie]

lots of water and fruit juices.

[We'reGonnaWin]

Your immune system isn't some magical stat you can just cast "+334 strength" on to.

[Octavius]

Fill your body with crap and expose yourself to plenty of things that are not good for it - just to be safe, avoid washing your hands after going to the bathroom ;)

Honestly, I don't take vitamins and I eat stuff that is hardly nutritious for me in any way (although I do wash my hands after going to the washroom). I believe that you need to give your immune system work to do, otherwise it'll be out of practice and when something really bad comes along it won't know what to do (or it'll take longer to fix it).

I've been *really* sick maybe once in the past 4 years. I've gotta be doing something right. I'm usually around sick people pretty often so it's not like I'm going out of my way to be careful.

[Lava]

It all depends what you're trying to make your immune system fight. If you're worried about the flu, get a flu shot. If you're worried about other little colds or whatever, i think everyone has pretty much nailed it.

[mtharvey]

First, drinking lots of water is myth. There is no science that says you should drink lots of water. Only if you are in the desert.

Second, you build up immunity by being sick so dont wash your hands. We dont know what the next plague will be so keep your immunity system mean and lean.

[Spare-Flair]

Go back in time and find yourself as a child. Expose yourself to a wide variety of diseases or even feed yourself dirty water. Perhaps inject some parasistes as well. If you manage to thrive into adulthood, congradulations, you now have a stronger immune system than most people in today's sanitary and ultra-hygenically concerned society...the way nature intended it.

Unless you expose yourself to a wide variety of diseases, you can't really strenghten your immune system. You can only increase the ability of your body to avoid them by avoiding situations that weaken your physiology and then attacking those diseases and to recover from sickness by being in good physical shape.

Honestly, NOT washing your hands is probably better for you if you want to actually improve your immune system...The more you are exposed to and survive without any chronic effects, the more you will be immune/resistant to in the future. If you keep yourself clean all the time and in a sanitary bubble, your body will encounter foreign diseases and not be able to cope since it does not have those immunities.

So you either try to avoid diseases by living clean and getting regular shots, etc. (like most rational people in our society do)...or you allow yourself to get into new situations and get sick without dying. That's dangerous and stupid of course. There are millions of baterial strains and flus and parasites that will kill you in mere days or less...and you can't even build immunity against viruses anyway (like the common cold).

[mself084]

I usually eat a vitamin C and wash my hands daily.

You wash your hands once a day? :confused:

Wash your hands before you eat anything, take a one a day vitamin, vitamin C (pill form, or oranges/orange juice for me) and you should be ok. you're going to get sick regardless

[goJays]

take salmon oil? cod liver oil?

[Azxster]

I see a conflict..

proper hand washing with soap vs eating "bacteria"

I prefer to wash my hands, several times a day.