How to improve my immune system?

Question

I am 15 this year and i am on the plump side.. i have a really poor immune system(if not poor, not that strong).. i get colds easily.. whereas my friends don even feel a bit.. so i am just wondering.. are there specific ways to improve your immune system?

Answer 1

Regular cardiovascular exercise. A whole lot of it. Lots. Also work on strength/posture training with yoga/pilates/t'ai chi type approaches. Using teachers is best.

More important than the posture/strength, you must correct your diet. (If you eat very poorly, then this is more important than the cardio, too) People vary somewhat in what is the best diet for them, but the consensus health food diet should be roughly fine. Low in refined sugars (crucial), low in bad fats and salt, high in good fats, fiber, protein, and fresh whole vegetables and the superfood fruits. (small berries and the like) Almonds, other tree nuts, salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, olive oil, flax and such for the good fats. Green veggies for all kinds of reasons. Don't consider starch vegetables as vegetables; potatoes don't count. (small unfried portions are fine though) Don't fry anything. Don't eat artificial anything. Pretty much drink only water.

In the short term, diet is much more important than exercise. Exercise will take a while to kick in.

If and only if you are doing well with your consistent cardiovascular exercise, you can consume extra carbs, or go on (after your metabolism is well conditioned) the occasional junk food bender.

I'm not a huge advocate of the vitamin C/echinacea. They are harmless and fairly inexpensive if you want to try. Zinc is a better bet for dealing with a cold. Research it first. Don't overuse it. Don't stop in the middle of a cold, either. I have had good luck with Airborne tablets. They get the zinc to your throat where it will help. Garlic is good for immune and will stop a portion of illnesses. I like Kyolic brand; it's actually pretty odorless. Fish oil and flax oil capsules will help you get good fats into your diet. This corrects a common dietary deficiency.

Okay I'm tired of typing. If you get a cold and want tips on how to cope, you can email me. I have some tricks. They aren't a lot of fun though.

Your immune system will strengthen over time. My approach is good for you for many reasons, though, so please consider it.

Also consider whether allergies are causing you problems.

My email is available.

one more quick tip - stretch a sore throat

Answer 2

Well, first you need to really take care of yourself. Eat your veggies and fruit, have some meat or protein, and eat whole grains. And be sure you re-hydrate yourself with lots of water.

I also have a poor immune system. If I can stay away from sugar, I find that helps. (-: But as soon as I start catching a cold, I want the sweet stuff.

I also found nasal cleansing to be a big benefit -- just suck up a little water in your nose, then blow it out. Repeat until the water is clean. Don't drown yourself! Just do it gently.

Also, getting some exercise in every day is really important -- your body needs the blood and lymph to be pumping around. You should get up and stretch every hour.

Ginger, garlic, and hot lemonade are also three things that seem to help me keep in balance.

And of course, get enough sleep.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Unfortunately the easiest way I improved my immune system was by getting sick constantly. Your body makes all sorts of wonderful antibodies and after they are made the anibodies get stored in your body for years. Problem is, if you are never exposed to a disease your body will not know how to fight it at first. So being only 15 you have not had a lot of time to be exposed to everything....immunity comes with age.

The two things that helped me build my immunity were working at a doctors office and living in a college dorm. In the office I saw every disease come through a-z, and even though I was not working hands on with the patients there was still plenty of ways to get sick. Also living in the college dorms I was sick all the time, the building ran on one ventilation system so if one person got a cough a week later we all had a cough. I would be sick for months at a time (but it paid off in the end because I hardley ever get sick now).

So this may sound crazy (and it kind of is) but the absolute best way to build your immune system is to challenge it. Its like when you were really young and your mom made you play with the kid who had chicken pox so you would get it to. (I swear, moms do this). Go roll out in the mud, touch some questionable things, and hang out with some sick people. You will be sick a lot now but it will pay off later when you are already immune to everything being thrown at you.

Answer 4

Certainly there is. Take pro-biotics. These can be found in live yoghurt cultures which you can buy off the shelf in supermarkets or you could purchase pro-biotics from the pharmacy. Take multi-vitamins every day. Eat lots of fruit. Cut out as much sugar from your system as you can and take baby steps to exercise, increasing your metabolism every day (because you will not want to exercise at first). The more you exercise, the more you will want to and the more weight you will drop. Good luck to you!!

Answer 5

take lots of vitamin C! Whether in natural form (oranges, apples, etc.) or supplements, it is the best way to improve your immune system. I also take a supplement called echinacea which is also for immune support.

Answer 6

Echinaccea drops or Lanes vitamins with Echinaccea..really really good for the immune

Answer 7

Eat good an healthy food! Eat Veggies and Meat and keep your food intake up. Exercise more (i.e. go to the gym, it may not sound like fun, but it turns out i thought the same thing not so long ago but now i started i love it)
!

Answer 8

no need to help of any medicine, js try to remain outdoors,play n hav fun,ur body needs 2 adapt to the environment, travel different places, feel the nature.u will rockk

Answer 9

Don't smoke.
Don't drink.
Don't take drugs.
Exercise Regularly.
Get enough sleep.
Take care of your physical components.

Bet you had that coming, eh? (^_^)

Answer 10

Echinaccea tea, & green tea work well for me