How do you boost your immune system??

[KarenAylwood]

Hey DISers! Help me out!

As some of you know, I started a new job last week- well last week was a regular 40 hr week 8-430. This past Monday started 12 and a half hour night shifts for 3 days, then I get 3 days off, then I work 3 day shifts (730am-8pm), then 3 days off, etc etc.

I haven't gotten sick in a long time but tend to when I'm not getting much sleep. I started to feel a sore throat coming on the second night, and during my last day of sleep (yesterday) felt pretty icky, along with feeling bad last night during work. I slept from 9am-noon just now but want to get myself back on the day schedule for when I work Sun-Tues so I got up . I've got a sore throat, congestion and all in all- a head cold kinda feeling. I survived on Dayquil and cough drops last night!!

I've got to do this for at least the next year. Anyone have any tips for keeping a good immune system?? I already eat pretty healthy (am going to make that REALLY healthy now) and I have vitamins and am going to start taking them. I know Echinacea is good- but it always says on the bottle to only take it for 6-8 weeks at a time (usually around winter sick season). Anything else I can do?? I wash my hands often, and with working in a chemical lab I wear latex gloves all the time so it's not like I'm touching things and not being clean or something. I don't even think I caught something- I just think my immune system is down with the schedule I'm keeping

What do you do to keep healthy??

 

[Apothecary]

Echinacea is good to boost the immune system. If you take it long term, take it for 3 to 4 weeks, skip a week, and repeat this cycle over and over. If you don't take break every so often, it loses some of its effectiveness.

Ginseng and vitamin C are also good boosters.


You say you work in a chemical lab - do you wear a face mask? Perhaps the congestion and sore throat aren't a cold but irritation from the chemicals you work with?


Shift work is the WORST thing for trying to keep your body healthy - the body needs regul;ar rest to work properly. Unfortunately, that isn't a possibility in a lot of cases, so try the echinacea, ginseng and Vit-C. Hopefully they'll get you back on the road to health!!

 

[mickeyboat]

I came to here post sleep as the answer, but it looks like that's not an option.

Wash your hands well and often, to keep the little buggers away.

Denae

 

[Evil Genius]

Try Pau D'arco which is perfect immune booster and add a zinc tablet in there for good measure!

 

[DawnCt1]

A healthy diet. There are really no supplements that can boost the immune system for a normal, healthy individual. www.berkeleywellness.com/html.fw.fwLon16Immunity.html

Sorry, it won't link. Interesting article though.

 

[KarenAylwood]

I came to here post sleep as the answer, but it looks like that's not an option.

Wash your hands well and often, to keep the little buggers away.

Denae

Oh, BELIEVE you me that I'm the biggest proponent of sleep anywhere! DBF thinks I'm crazy because I go bonkers if I don't get at least 8 hours every night- when I was eating healthy and sleeping normal I NEVER got sick

Thanks for the replies guys! I'll be stopping at the store tomorrow to grab some stuff- more echinacea and maybe some ginseng. I'm also going to start drinking Crystal Light Sunrise everyday- make sure I get in my vitamin C. And on top of that, keeping up with my multivitamin.

I was hoping someone would post about a miracle drug guys!! Come on!!

 

[KarenAylwood]

A healthy diet. There are really no supplements that can boost the immune system for a normal, healthy individual. www.berkeleywellness.com/html.fw.fwLon16Immunity.html

Sorry, it won't link. Interesting article though.

Yeah, the link didn't work, but awesome website! Thanks!

 

[parrothead365]

Beer...works great! Not to good on the waistline though.