Illness and LCHF

Liadin123

I just wanted to know what other experiences were when it comes to cold/flu while doing LCHF and/or Keto.
I have been doing this for just over a month, and this week, I came down with a cold (or flu? I'm not sure). It started with a cough.. and usually for me, this is a bad sign... it means I'm in for Bronchitis or something bad (all germs head to my lungs, I swear). But, it stayed with the cough (still here), didn't do anything else until last night, when I got a runny/stuffy nose... the runny nose cleared up in a day, and the cough is now receding, and my energy is back up. This is a minor miracle for me... usually something that lands in my lungs takes a good 2 weeks to clear out... and this time I'm already on the mend on the 3rd day. If Keto is helping with that, I am so grateful!
I haven't had much of an appetite through this... and one thing I'd love is if MFP didn't lecture me everytime I go under 1000 cals.
Has anyone else noticed a faster healing time during illness?

MyriiStorm

Not necessarily faster healing, but my allergies were not nearly as bad this winter. Normally I take OTC antihistamines for three or four months, but this past winter I think I took them two or three days. Yes, days.

When your body doesn't have to fight the onslaught of all the carbs, it can do what it was designed to do, and heal itself.

mmultanen

I just don't get sick as often. I travel a lot for work, and I spend a lot of time on planes, in hotels, shaking hands of weirdo-strangers who probably stuck their hand in their butt just before shaking my hand. Over time I've noticed eating this way that I just don't pick up as many cold/flu/butt germs.

Sunny_Bunny_

My whole family got a bad flu/cold whatever and I only got a little sniffles...

Violet_Flux

I've only been sick once in the 8 months since I went low carb (touch wood). Had a cold in the week between xmas and new years. It was significantly less troublesome than any other cold I can remember having, and was over inside a week instead of the usual 10 - 14 days.

Liadin123

this is where I really wish I had've known YEARS ago about this way of eating... I could have saved myself weeks of lung infection over those years!

in_faith

Since eating better (veggies, vitamins, no processed food, etc.), I rarely get sick now. I used to get bronchitis more often and had pneumonia 5 years ago. Nowadays, if chest congestion symptoms come on (which is rare), I take turmeric (spice at the grocery store) with milk, which wipes the infection out of me fast, like within 24-36 hours. I have not had to go to the doc as a result. That's just what I do. I found out about it online. I'm not a doctor, so I am not advising it. Anyone considering it should discuss it first with their doc.

gcminton

That's been my experience, too. I used to get sick and stay sick for at least a week or more if it was a really bad cold, with the worst symptoms lasting at least a few days, developing into bronchitis at least once a year.

I actually have a cold now. Wednesday night I started feeling rundown with a scratchy throat, Thursday I was exhausted, achy, etc. with a worse throat. Friday and today I have a stuffy nose, I'm slightly tired, and I've coughed a couple of times but that's about it. I haven't even slept poorly. 1 rough day, that wasn't even that bad. It was like that the last stretch I did of LCHF, too.

Liadin123

My cough is sticking around a bit still but otherwise doing much better... from the sounds of it this WOE is way better for the immune system!

nvmomketo

I tend not to get as sick. About 6 months into LCHF I got shingles. Probably the mildest case around. I was slightly under the weather for a few days and got a small rash about the size of my palm. I was on a camping vacation and it did not slow me down at all.

I feel better while LCHF, that includes when sick.