Immune System

When you catch a bad cold or flu some people rush to the doctor for antibiotics and are not happy unless they are prescribed something to take.
Colds and flus are caused by viruses and antibiotics are useless against them.
Antibiotics taken needlessly can affect the immune system and may lower your ability to fight the viral infection.
Instead why don't you boost your immune system and fight back.

Importance of keeping a healthy Immune System

Various bugs and viruses can attack you when your immune system is weak, the trick is to keep it as strong as possible.
The only cure for many illnesses is a healthy immune system so concentrate on keeping yours fighting fit.

Importance of Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamin C has long been recommended for colds, but you don't just need Vit C to keep you healthy.
The body needs a variety of vitamins and minerals to enable it to fight off illnesses and stay healthy.
These vitamins and minerals are found in various foods especially fresh fruit and fresh vegetables.
You should eat these foods raw as much as possible - so the vitamins are still intact.

The trouble is nowadays our food is forced to grow, and grown with the help of various chemicals like pesticides and fertilisers.
This reduces the amounts of these essential vitamins and minerals in our food - as well as leaving chemical residues in the food.
So the answer may be to either take supplements or eat organically grown foods.

Granny may say "we did'nt have to take vitamin supplements in my day" - and this was probably true, because the food then was grown much more naturally. Nowadays much of the food we eat may be sadly lacking in vitamins and minerals (as well as taste!) Organically grown foods may be more expensive than other foods but they are a natural source of the essential vitamins and minerals you need to keep you healthy.
Buying vitamin supplements from the health store may work out even more expensive than organic food.

Be careful when cooking foods - try not to destroy all the vitamins by cooking at too high a temperature for too long a time.
Cook vegetables in as little water as possible, for as short a time as possible, at as low a temperature as possible.
Eat them when they are still crunchy so the important vitamins are still intact.
Better still eat them raw!

Warning:

Always wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly before eating them raw.
They may be covered in manure or pesticides!

Other remedies which can help boost the immune system.

Oil of Evening Primrose capsules can be taken regularly.
This oil gives the body the essential building blocks for a healthy immune system.
It is reputed to also help with pre-menstrual syndromes.

Garlic, either raw cloves or garlic capsules taken regularly, is believed to help in keeping the blood flowing freely and to help reduce the risk of coronary disease and hardening of the arteries.
It can also help the body to fight off infections because Garlic has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties.

Brewers Yeast tablets can also be taken regularly. They provide the body with many of the B vitamins that it needs to stay healthy. Brewers yeast is a relatively cheap source of these B vitamins.

Echinacea

Has a great reputation for boosting the immune system.
It can be taken occasionally, especially during the winter, in order to ward off the dreaded colds and flu's that are rife at that time of year.
It is a general immune system booster.

Warning:

Be careful when you are taking vitamin and mineral supplements regularly. Do not overdose as this can be dangerous.
Check with your doctor and agree a proper dosage to take.

Click here to return to A-Z Diseases