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

Alexa very good advice, alas not very practical in our busy world.

I don't really have any idea how to improve your immune system but in my 70s now I must say that 98% of the time I feel really fit and have lots of energy as I have had for all my life.
Considering I have a low white cell blood count and I have had this for over 10 years I must be doing something right.
I do take supplements, after the menopause my GP suggested Omega 3 and Glucosamine which I've taken for over 20 years in addition to this I now take Vit D and B12 because I don't eat meat.
Home cooked meals no meat or cheese, eat out once a week and very occasional take always.
I have just got over a cold this Christmas I've never had flu.
Google it

Grannyknot, I am on long term antibiotics so bought some kefir grains. I make my own kefir from whole milk. pm me if you wish or google it.

The vit D that I take as prescribed by GP is 400iu. It is for osteoporosis, also contains 600 mg of calcium.

I won't put my name down for an allotment then MamanCaz!

At the first sign of a cold I start using First Defence spray (other brands are available) and take Vit C and zinc. In the last 15 months I've only had one cold that has failed to respond to this; on 4 or 5 other occasions the cold has either vanished after a few hours of ominous symptoms, or turned out to be a mini-cold lasting only a day or two.

A friend who has COPD and reacts very badly to respiratory infections said that her specialist nurse had recommended her to use FD pre-emptively, e.g. when using public transport or going to crowded places.

Thanks Biker, Yes everything is on auto pilot and things I used to care about don't matter. I 'keep busy' by knitting anything and everything as doing something with my hands seems to help and I feel as if I am doing something rather than nothing. If I didn't have so much wonderful support I would have given up long before now.

I can't really put it down to the outdoors or the exercise, Jalima, as twenty of the twenty-two years leading up to getting the allotment were spent living and working on the canals,so frequent travelling around, as well as walking the dog and the children, meant lots of time outside and exercise working locks

Nonnie you won't have the heart for anything right now...I think it's classed as "autopilot" it's something that sort of takes over us at times of distress...otherwise I doubt we would be able to function left to our own devices, hence! the autopilot kicks in.
As for the driving,maybe little short journey, no need to far and only when you feel like it,

Thanks Biker, always good to see when someone has read all the threads. I'm sure you are right, far more interaction between mood and health than we realise. Think I will pop off to the pharmacy tomorrow and see what I can get to help. Need to get myself out and about and start driving again before I become a complete cabbage. Just haven't had the heart so far.

I take cod liver tablet daily. Seems to do the trick.

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.

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.

Or the fresh air and exercise MamaCaz as well?

Exercise is supposed to boost your immune system too.

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?

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.

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,

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.

sounds good and easy jean

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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!