Tips for immunity?

[Sparkyifhungry]

Hi you crazy runners. Just wondered if you had any thoughts about how to keep coughs and colds at bay. I've had a right run of things since September and despite running when well I'm struggling to keep my fitness up. Has anybody any immunity boosting tips please and thank you!! Xx

[ViaM Graduate]

Wash your hands a lot...

Avoid touching your face...

Keep away from people... (especially the small/young variety)

Echinacea perhaps helps...

Increase your intake of turmeric; this is a nice smoothie: greenkitchenstories.com/imm...

Hope the above will help a bit!

[Sparkyifhungry Graduate in reply to ViaM]

Thank you, the hand washing goes without staying, the staying away from people rather tricky😜 I've heard of echinacea but I never thought about turmeric. I'll go and google that!! X

[ViaM Graduate in reply to Sparkyifhungry]

Forgot to mention garlic!!!! And that helps you stay away from people ;-P

[Sparkyifhungry Graduate in reply to ViaM]

I do love a bit of garlic, and yes might stop my patients getting too close....I like your style!! X

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Avoid any areas where there are pesky bugs ...and if you can do that.. let me know how?

I managed to fight off all the nasty bugs whizzing around North Staffs for a while..but finally succumbed this week.. now have Bronchitis! But.. am making sure I get really well before I run again...the snow has helped!!!!

I am doing some gentle strength and flex exercises to keep from getting too stiff!!! ( Old age y'know)

Seriously though...and you probably do this.. loads of fresh fruit and veggies... this weather too.. lots of soups with cough/cold and flu/zapping ingredients.... Tomato, leeks, lentils, garlic..if you like it, is great..loads of recipes out there... Also loads and loads of water... drink plenty.

I love this recipe..

healwithfood.org/recipes/ch...

If you are suffering then rest up and cosset yourself, and pick up again when you have gathered some strength.

[Sparkyifhungry Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

My sister has just been telling me about her soup making, and now I'm feeling inspired. I also possibly don't drink enough so I need to look at that. I'm not going to be sick again this winter, if it kills me😂

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Water is the thing...my Nan and my Mum drank lots of water every day...Nan was 99 when she died and Mum 95!!! Must be something in it.. My Nan used to call it...Adam's Ale!

[ViaM Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

This made me reach for the bottle... of Adam's Ale. Shame it tastes so boring!

[Sparkyifhungry Graduate in reply to ViaM]

I like a glass of cold water with a slice of fresh ginger in it....is that weird??

[ViaM Graduate in reply to Sparkyifhungry]

Not at all! Flavoured waters are very in fashion, aren't they? I might try this one, I don't like the one with cucumber!

[misswobble Graduate]

Eating healthily, not getting too stuffy indoors, eg keep a window slightly open where poss. I think some folks are destined to catch colds where they work with lots of people, eg teachers, nurses etc, so have your flu jab in that case. Keep running! I think the fitter we are in general then the better we are at fending off bugs

I'm no doctor though! As yer know

[beatricerose Graduate]

Hm it's funny, every winter I usually have continuous colds, I can't remember the last time I didn't have more than 2 at least! However, since starting running in August, I haven't had any winter colds? So maybe keeping running is the answer?

As for medical advice though, I think all the advice above is valid although sometimes colds are just individual- some people come down with lots, some people never get them! Good luck with avoiding them haha! If you can the flu jab free like me then make sure you have it?

[Sparkyifhungry Graduate in reply to beatricerose]

Right enough when I was running last winter I never was ill and I thought I was invincible!! I did have a theory the regular cold air was good for me.

[beatricerose Graduate in reply to Sparkyifhungry]

I think it's more likely the physical activity boosts your immune system

[ajwyld Graduate]

This shouldn't help, but since I started wearing a scarf pretty much all the time in winter I get fewer colds. I also wear a buff when I run.

[Sparkyifhungry Graduate in reply to ajwyld]

Great idea, I'm going to wear a hat when I'm out from now on!

[dagshar Graduate]

I usually have a glass of hot water with lemon juice first thing in the morning. Have been very lucky this past year, but now have signs of a cold coming on.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

I have a natural tincture I make and keep it in the fridge.

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoon s water

Juice 2 lemons

1\4 teaspoon each of ginger, Cayenne

Pinch of ground cloves

Shake it all and have a desert spoon full every day.

It seems to help me. Everyone in my family have had flu and I'm still clear. Fingers crossed I stay that way.

[Sparkyifhungry Graduate in reply to Realfoodieclub]

Oh I love that, might make that up and have a go- who doesn't love a homemade remedy!

[jaynekate]

Fresh air and eucalyptus essential oil. Sniff it, put it on a hanky/tissue and keep inhaling.

[boptillyoudrop49 Graduate]

My mum's remedy when she noticed any of us coming down with something was to knock it on the head with a lot of vitamin C. Often worked. I use the juice of half a lemon or a whole lime with a tablespoon of runny honey, pour boiling water over and sip. My daughter usually gets a sore throat first so I have her gargle, drink hot lemon or lime and herbal tea with a slice of root ginger in it. Can usually prevent it getting worse like that.

[Sparkyifhungry Graduate in reply to boptillyoudrop49]

I'll be adding lemon & lime to the tesco order this week!