Everytime I feel I'm getting sick I load up on Vitamin C, Echinacea, advil, and water....works about 50% of the time...

What else is out there, over the counter, that has worked for you? This time it isn't working...

12/19/2009 10:37:52 AM

I've got to ask, why Advil?

[Edited on December 19, 2009 at 10:43 AM. Reason : s]

[Edited on December 19, 2009 at 10:43 AM. Reason : x]

12/19/2009 10:43:07 AM

just makes you feel better...don't cough as much, lowers the temperature if its a little higher.

12/19/2009 10:50:53 AM

I've always had luck with Airborne. I mean, I'm sure it's just a placebo effect, but whatever works.

12/19/2009 11:33:31 AM

eh I'd be more worried about prevention than reactionary measures. Eat healthy, exercise, make sure you're getting all your vitamins and minerals *normally*, and practice good hygiene especially in the winter (wash your hands several times a day, always before you eat etc.). These are all very important regardless and will help prevent you from getting sick and reduce the severity of symptoms whenever you do get sick. Too many people simply react in regards to their health instead of prevent.

If you talk to any doctor or read legit sources, they will tell you that excess Vitamin C actually does very little for you and in fact in very large doses can have an adverse affect on your body over time. Keeping your Vitamin C intake healthy year round will help you boost your immune system some but not a huge amount by itself.

And "loading up on advil" just because you feel a little sick is certainly not the best either.

Stay hydrated, get a standard dose of Vitamin C (~85 mg a day) if you want, and get plenty of rest. Much better and cheaper than "quick fixes" out there.

[Edited on December 19, 2009 at 11:43 AM. Reason : ]

12/19/2009 11:35:28 AM

^can you provide legit resources on this excessive vitamin C theory?

12/19/2009 11:42:52 AM

well that was old advice from my Mom who is a nurse and nutritionist specialist. but i just searched WebMD for you quick:

Quote :

"Is Vitamin C Safe to Take? In general, vitamin C is safe to take when ingested through food sources such as fruits and vegetables. For most people, taking vitamin C supplements in the recommended amounts is also safe. The RDA or recommended daily allowance is 90 mg for men and 75 mg for women. High doses of vitamin C (greater than 2000 milligrams per day for adults) may cause kidney stones, nausea, and diarrhea."

Now 2000mg might sound like a lot...but consider this: I am pretty sure that Emergen-C has over 1000mg in one serving and I know some people who are sick start taking that stuff multiple times a day along with vitamins and stuff and they are just overloading their body with unusable and unhealthy amounts of it for no reason at all.

also

Quote :

"Can Vitamin C Prevent or Treat Cold Symptoms? Vitamin C has been studied for many years as a possible treatment for colds, or as a way to prevent colds. But findings have been somewhat inconsistent. Overall, experts have found little to no benefit for vitamin C preventing or treating the common cold."

I'm certainly not an expert, but I do what I can to stay healthy. I am also not someone who is all against medicine or anything, but I try and only take it when I REALLY need it. I have only gotten 1 flu shot since HS and haven't gotten the flu and I have only had 1 real cold in the past 4-5 years that I can remember. Darn allergies still never leave me alone though every fall/spring Who knows, I'm sure part of it is luck, but I like to think its just attempting to live healthily that has kept me well..healthy /shrug

The problem is that most people just don't take care of their bodies and then cram them full of random supplements and medicine that might not even apply to the exact situation the second they have a runny nose or a headache

[Edited on December 19, 2009 at 11:58 AM. Reason : ]

12/19/2009 11:46:47 AM

If you want a scientifically verified method for not getting sick, try sleep.

12/19/2009 11:57:18 AM

try exercise, one of the best prevention methods....

i recognize that exercise is, sadly, a lifestyle nowadays rather than something you just do....

12/19/2009 1:53:48 PM

i take 1000mg of vitamin C every night... not only when i feel like i'm getting sick. seems to work pretty well. i fight off stuff a lot faster than i used to.

12/19/2009 3:06:21 PM

^pointless to take that much. your body can't even absorb and process that much, especially on a daily basis. just get 80-100mg a day via food and drink and a vitamin

12/19/2009 4:32:12 PM

i take the RDA with a huge grain of salt


google what linus pauling thought about the RDA

12/19/2009 4:33:00 PM

youre right. it is not the bible, but there is no point to taking 1000mg daily

12/19/2009 4:36:07 PM

If I let my colds run their course naturally, my immune system takes a full week to get rid of the sickness. When I boost it with Vitamin C, though, I usually get over a cold in just seven days!

12/19/2009 5:18:29 PM

vitamin C is water soluble and yes in high enough doses it will eventually cause diarrhea. Symptoms of toxicity are rare. the ascorbic acid form of it can activate peptic ulcer disease in some people.

Some folks depending on the condition they are trying to treat have taken up to 6 grams a day.(based on info from the health recovery center in minnesota). I would see NO reason to take THAT much Vitamin C unless you were a patient at HRC.

[Edited on December 19, 2009 at 5:25 PM. Reason : .]

12/19/2009 5:22:55 PM

good diet (a lot/variety of veggies/fruits), plenty of sleep, exercise

[Edited on December 19, 2009 at 7:46 PM. Reason : j]

12/19/2009 7:46:02 PM

concerning "boosting immune systems":
Vitamin C is an old wives tale
Echinacea is new age bullshit
Airborne is flat-out fraudulent and shouldn't be allowed on the shelves anymore
Advil is..... uhhh.... good for pain?
Water is always healthy
Sleep is always good
Healthy food is, by definition, healthy


And besides not helping with colds, vitamin supplementation does not really help with anything else anyway, unless you have a known, diagnosed deficiency in something particular
Updated guidelines from the ADA based on a recently completed survey of several major peer-reviewed studies

Quote :

"It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that the best nutrition-based strategy for promoting optimal health and reducing the risk of chronic disease is to wisely choose a wide variety of foods. Additional nutrients from supplements can help some people meet their nutrition needs as specified by science-based nutrition standards such as the Dietary Reference Intakes. ... The authors write: "Although many Americans use dietary supplements, a 2009 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office stated that 'according to experts, consumers are not well-informed about the safety and efficacy of dietary supplements and have difficulty interpreting labels on these products.' The Government Accountability Office expressed concern that the uninformed use of dietary supplements may expose consumers to health risks. The expertise of dietetics practitioners is needed to help educate consumers on safe and appropriate selection and use of dietary supplements, including nutrient supplements." ADA's position paper reaffirms the importance of obtaining nutrients from the consumption of a variety of nutrient-rich foods while acknowledging that nutrient supplements may be needed to help fill dietary gaps for some. The paper discusses the effectiveness of nutrient supplements in helping to fill dietary gaps as well as the potential for nutrient excesses. It also highlights issues to consider when assessing the need for supplementation and provides updates on federal regulations. "

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/173437.php

[Edited on December 19, 2009 at 8:14 PM. Reason : .]

12/19/2009 8:11:48 PM

oil of oregano
apple cider vinegar

12/20/2009 12:20:05 AM

Fancy mushrooms:

Shitaake
Maitake
Lentake
etc

12/20/2009 2:47:35 PM

zinc is supposed to help fight colds

12/20/2009 2:57:58 PM

#1 Immune System Booster is Sleep/Rest.

Your most susceptible to getting a cold when you are tired or haven't had much sleep. Give you body a rest to boost your immune system.

12/20/2009 6:54:54 PM

Quote :

"Everytime I feel I'm getting sick I load up on Vitamin C, Echinacea, advil, and water....works about 50% of the time..."

I think the problem is you're supposed to load up on it before you start getting sick. Like take some of it before you travel or take some before the holidays. Then you have a smaller chance of getting sick...

12/20/2009 8:09:39 PM

no, don't "load up" on shit, except for sleep, exercise and healthy food. Or more appropriately, reasonable amounts of each.

Of course, people who take vitamins and supplements aren't swayed by science or evidence..... anecdotes and feel-good stories are good enough for them.


Wait, here - do this if you really want to take something. Go to the nature store and get as much homeopathic remedies as possible, and load up on them. Like, several 8oz glasses a day of homeopathic solutions will do wonders for you.

12/20/2009 9:30:37 PM

Immunoglobulin infusions!

12/28/2009 6:19:32 PM

lots of placebos bouncing around in this thread

12/28/2009 6:43:49 PM