Is it really possible to "build up your immune system"

I think a lot of people get ill when they stop. As a teacher for 40 years I fought the holiday illness syndrome by carrying on - e.g. cleaning the house from top to bottom, having a massive shopping expedition or taking the kids out. Worked for me although being coughed on by other peoples kids all day must have helped with building up immunity

Some have said Vit D and one Vit C, I think you need Vit D to make the C work but can't remember where I read that.

I rarely get coughs or colds but have had a cough for 6 months which faded to not very bad but last week I caught another, different one and have started a cold as well. The difference IMO is that I am grieving for my son and have not got out and about as much as normal. DH does the cooking and for the same reason we have been having some meals which he hasn't cooked from scratch which means they are probably not as healthy. I really think that eating healthily is key as is moderate exercise.

I swear by echinacea each time I think cold symptoms are starting and haven’t had a full-blown cold for years. I take two to begin and then one for a few days afterwards.

I take Cod Liver Oil capsules every day, and rarely get a cold - I think it was just a coincidence that Bikergran spent the next day on the loo after taking them. If you try both Garlic Pearls and Cod liver oil you should be fighting fit!!

Are you thinking about the fact that you need to have Vit C to help absorb iron perhaps Nonnie? Or Vit D to help absorb calcium.

Not the expert OldMeg just a distant memory.

Most of my best memories are distant ones - I think.

Am in my 80s and for the last 12 years have not had a cold. I believe it's because every day I have a Zinc 15mg tablet to build up my immune system. I also have a 5 fruit smoothie every day.

Interesting thread and I think the majority do seem to think that the immune can be built over a period of time.

nonnie I'm sure your grieving may be part of why your picking things up and not shrugging them off, our bodies and minds are in a different mode I know mine is even 3 n half yrs later. I feel for all those grieving.

Iam64 have heard that zinc can help and Im sure I have taken it before at some time so will look at that again.

Jean thankyou
Grannyknot I think you may have a point about the yogurt/drinks etc the good bacteria etc.My dd matron has an actimel drink every day! and swears by them.

I have in the past take some capsules from H n B that contain 20 million good bacteria.
I'm certainly going to have a look at taking some of what has been mentioned.

Vit D ? Do we buy to from normal shops? supermarket etc presume it needs to be a certain strength,?'

Must admit I normally get one big stinking cold per year. but since starting back to work I seem to get one then another a few weeks later. I put it down to having looked after my husband at home for many yrs I didnt mix with the so called public as much but now working in the supermarket, handling money (that people have had in their mouths) and wet their fingers to count it out! then the coughs/sneezes right in my face!! yuk! blaaaaaaaa....its no wonder Im picking stuff up...I had to come home from work Yesterday as was still feeling nauseated and all I saw was a sea of food coming towards me...(green emoticon)!!

Thanks for replies will certainly act on them

I swear by Echinacea. I take a high dose pill for at least a week whenever I get first sign of a cold. So far I've been cold-free for 2 years. (bet I go and get one now!!) ?

Supplements don't always work. I take vit B6, 9 (folic acid) and 12, vit c, vit d every day and still had horrendous virus has not completely gone after over 2 weeks.

Also, be careful of oil supplements if you are taking blood thinners. Things like fish oil thing the blood further.

I take Boots A-z Complete 50+ as it has Vit.D for me bones!

That should have been "thin" the blood....

Should have added that I break the Boots tablet in half as it contains 200% of vit.D and you can't use 200%.

What I hate about colds is the constant dread of coughing and/or sneezing, you know why!

biker I take Boots Hair skin & nails supplement. Not way out expensive & it’s 3 for 2 making it even cheaper.
Each dose (1 capsule) contains
100% recommended dose Vit D
75% Vitamin C
150% Zinc
More than 100% of the various B vitamins & Biotin
and various other minerals.
So in short, most of the things that people have recommended on here in one capsule.

When I went to work in Lapland where temperatures can and did drop to -40 degrees, I decided to take multi vitamins 2 weeks before and throughout the job. I was the only one out of 40 people on the team not to get a cold. Could be a coincidence but we were were working with the general public who were often full of coughs and sneezes.

There are a quite number of conditions that are a result of an overactive immune system eg allergies, such as hay fever, type 1 diabetes, Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, anaphylactic shock, to name a few.

sounds good and easy jean

I think our central heating systems have a lot to answer for. I cannot bear hot, stuffy bedrooms and always turn the heating off early evening so upstairs has cooled down by bed time. If it's not too parky outside I tend to open a window too and sleep with fresh air coming into the room.

I take a vitamin and mineral supplement too every day and get through lots of packs of those little easy-peel oranges in winter too. I have avoided the dreaded lurgy this year.

I suddenly stopped catching every cold going around the age of 40 when I took on an allotment. Can't help thinking that the vast increase in the amount of veg I started consuming all year round had something to do with it, though obviously hard to prove,

Should have added that I break the Boots tablet in half as it contains 200% of vit.D and you can't use 200%.

CamelotClub that would be 200% of the RDA (recommended daily amount) and some people (nutritionists included) would say that is way below what we do need to take during the winter months as so many people are low on Vitamin D.

What is the RDA on your tablets? Some people may not need any, others would need that amount and some even more.
You should not take more than 100% of the RDA of certain vitamins and minerals btw.

The new advice from PHE is that adults and children over the age of one should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10mcg of vitamin D, particularly during autumn and winter.
www.nhs.uk/news/food-and-diet/the-new-guidelines-on-vitamin-d-what-you-need-to-know/

So are your tablets 20mcg in strength?

Or the fresh air and exercise MamaCaz as well?

Exercise is supposed to boost your immune system too.

I work outside and get lots of exercise,eat what I would consider a very healthy diet.Lots of veg,fruit and no processed food but I have never had a winter as bad for colds and viruses.It's really got me down ,and I'm wondering where I'm going wrong.I do have previous history of severe iron deficiency anaemia whilst still menstruating, but those days are long gone.So I'm taking an iron tonic,some multivitamins and a triple probiotic, prebiotic and digestive enzyme tablet daily as suggested by our very helpful independent health food store.To improve gut health, as everything Ive read lately points to the importance of that.Plus I took a course of echinacea for the three weeks of the latest,and worst bug,over Xmas.
There could also be a link with our first DGD starting nursery and giving me lots of snotty cuddles !sincerely hoping my immune system is improving,and that's the end of picking things up.I'm trying not to get paranoid about the dreaded Aussie flu,as living in a hotspot,and have become extra vigilant with hand-washing.I'm resisting going the full Michael Jackson and wearing a face mask! But being self employed I literally can't afford to catch anything else.

My consultant neurologist prescribed high doses of Vitamin D taken fortnightly to combat the low immune system I have due to having Multiple Sclerosis. It's a mega strength prescription capsule. Up until six years ago it was administered by injection, in my bottom , by my GP! Thankfully a better option came available. So from the horses/consultants mouth it's vitamin D that's considered useful.