4th cold in 4 months

[nswef]

Any ideas of how to build an immune system? When I taught school I would get one or two colds a year, when I first retired in 2001 I had no colds for years. Now I am 67 and since November I have had 4 significant colds. I haven't changed my diet or exercise much. I still am in a school one day a week, but have been doing that my whole retirement. I wash my hands frequently. Any ideas? Thanks.

[herbgeek]

Some things I do: Pro biotics I take these for a while in the fall and I rarely get colds - could be completely incidental but more gut bacteria is always a good thing in my book. Sunshine and/or Vitamin D helps. Reduced stress and a good night sleep. Heating up the body, whether that be through vigorous exercise or a sauna.

Also might be good to talk with your physician to screen out anything obvious.

[JaneV2.0]

"Nutrition is a critical determinant of immune responses and malnutrition the most common cause of immunodeficiency worldwide. Protein-energy malnutrition is associated with a significant impairment of cell-mediated immunity, phagocyte function, complement system, secretory immunoglobulin A antibody concentrations, and cytokine production. Deficiency of single nutrients also results in altered immune responses: this is observed even when the deficiency state is relatively mild. Of the micronutrients, zinc; selenium; iron; copper; vitamins A, C, E, and B-6; and folic acid have important influences on immune responses." From an abstract produced by the NIH

[Mary B.]

I've found since I've started paying more attention to micro-nutrients I've had a lot fewer colds. My focus is on eating a really big variety of fruits and vegetables to up the variety -- so for salad greens, i'll use lettuce + kale + swiss chard + shinjuku + cabbage rather than just lettuce, for example. Not sure it helps the immune system, but it absolutely helps the salad and can't do any harm!

[Tammy]

For what it's worth, this has been a really bad winter for colds and flu. For the first time in my 19 year career, we have had a series of influenza A and B outbreaks in my hospital. Also other respiratory infections going around, and also vomiting/diarrhea illnesses. It might be a factor of this particular season as opposed to a change in your personal immunity.

[Float On]

The only year I had perfect attendance in school was the year I ate a Mandarin orange every day. This year I've eaten 3 cuties every day all winter and no sickies at all.

[Teacher Terry]

I rarely get sick and I have had 3 colds and the flu since Nov. I am just chalking it up to a bad year.

[nswef]

I'm thinking too it's just a bad year and maybe not enough outside. Last winter we were out all the time shoveling, this year it was mainly cold and damp, no need to shovel and therefore no going outside...That's the only real change. Thanks folks for the ideas.

[frugal-one]

Here are a few ideas for you to check out. There are many books on the subject.

https://www.linkcat.info/cgi-bin/koh...onumber=839457

https://www.linkcat.info/cgi-bin/koh...ionumber=69912

[nswef]

Thanks Frugal One, I ordered the Joel Furman from the library- it didn't have the Vanderheaghe .