Tips for staying healthy during cold and flu season

kirdyq
kirdyq Posts: 165 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I am the type of person who is sick a LOT. I usually catch something at least once every other month that hangs on for a couple weeks. And several times in between I also have a general sense of not feeling 100%. I have to say, it really affects my life in a negative way. I was listening to our local AM radio station a month or so ago, and a local pharmacist was discussing things that could be done to stay healthy during cold and flu season. This is what he suggested:

1) Take a good probiotic, such as Florajen 3 (check!)
2) Take a good dose of Vitamin D3 (check!)
3) Take Vitamin C (nope, don't do this)
4) Use a nasal spray containing xylitol twice daily (started using)
5) Use a supplement called beta glucan (started using)

I am curious if any of you do this will positive results? I read up on the xylitol and beta glucan, as I hadn't heard of them. They had positive reviews, so I started using them daily, about a month ago. After doing so, the only thing on the list I don't take is the vitamin C. Well, a week ago today I came down with a parainfluenza virus that has completely knocked me on my butt for my entire Thanksgiving break! I caught it from our kids. I was sooo bummed. I had hoped these new things would help me stave off the little kiddo germs that are constantly being coughed all over me. :(

Replies

  • NRSPAM
    NRSPAM Posts: 961 Member
    Haven't tried those, but personally I like Airborne. It has lots of good stuff in there to help your immune system. If I take it as soon as I feel a cold coming on, it seems to keep me from getting it, and if I take it during a cold, it seems to shorten it, because I usually stay sick FOREVER once I catch a cold. I started feeling sick yesterday, and I've been taking it. Starting to feel a little better already. Also making sure to take my daily vitamins now too. I hate getting sick!!!
  • mapenguinkeeper
    mapenguinkeeper Posts: 191
    washing hands, drinking plenty of water and getting plenty of sleep.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Hospitals use xylitol as a laxative, can't really see a good reason to take it. In smaller doses, it's used as a sweetener for just about every kind of chewing gum out there now. Pretty useless I'd say.

    Washing your hands is actually the one thing that will keep you from getting sick more than anything else.
  • michelleLynette
    michelleLynette Posts: 289 Member
    Yes..washing hands is crucial and I gargle with warm salt water everyday and especially after Im in public places...this will kill any germs lingering around:) Best wishes to a Healthy winter!! Do you get the flu shot?
  • smaihlee
    smaihlee Posts: 171 Member
    Sorry you were sick for Thanksgiving!!

    I second the Airborne. Discovered it about 7 years ago and have always have some on hand. My husband and I take it whenever we've been exposed to sick people or feel the slightest something amiss. If I start to feel any kind of upper respiratory sickness, I also take some form of Zicam. Unfortunately, they discontinued the nasal swabs which were the best thing EVER.

    In my quest to use more natural things, I've recently added a few other things for good measure, such as local honey & cinnamon on toast when I feel "off". Honey, Tabasco, and apple cider vinegar as a gargle for sore throat.

    Thankfully I'm not as prone to illness these days and typically (knock on wood) only have a head cold once a year.

    Unfortunately, as long as you have kids in school you're going to be more susceptible to illness. Having little ones in daycare or exposed to other little ones, and the germs multiply a million-fold.
  • texasgardnr
    texasgardnr Posts: 2,617 Member
    kirdyq, I am sorry that you have been ill. I recommend:

    Proper hand washing technique. A LOT of hand washing!

    And keeping your hands away from your face :smile: .

    Eat healthy.

    Wishing you the best of health, not only now but always!

    texasgardnr :flowerforyou:
  • kirdyq
    kirdyq Posts: 165 Member
    I do blame the sickness on teh kids most of the time!! :)

    And, for the record, I was my hands like a fiend, drink plenty of h20, and sleep is the one thing that I don't skimp on! :)

    I have taken Airborne before, maybe I should try it again.

    I think that the thing with the xylitol was that it help inhibit bacteria/viral growth (not sure if that is the correct way to put it) within your nasal passages/throat. The pharmacist was saying that is where most of the germs that make you sick enter, and this was a way to keep them clean, moist, and prohibit growth of nasty things.

    The beta glucan is supposed to boost macrophage activity, which is supposed to keep your immune system in tip top shape so when intruders make their way in, the white blood cells can attack.

    Well, it didn't work so great in my case! lol. I laugh b/c otherwise I'll cry...
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    You might want to look into that nasal spray a little farther. Prolonged/regular use of OTC nasal spray is generally not suggested.

    I take a bunch of vitamin C (Airborne...which is mostly vitamin C) when I feel like I'm starting to come down with something, and it does seem effective. Airborne is good because it has zinc in it, also, which is the main ingredient in Zicam.
  • kirdyq
    kirdyq Posts: 165 Member
    Oh, and I totally agree with teh Zicam nasal swabs - those actually WORKED for me. And now they don't have them. So, I was hoping this Xlear Xylitol spray would do something similar, since it is also in teh nasal passage.
  • kirdyq
    kirdyq Posts: 165 Member
    I had called the pharmacist about the nasal spray, and it was safe to use for extended periods of time.
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    I had called the pharmacist about the nasal spray, and it was safe to use for extended periods of time.


    You're right, it's saline that isn't good to use regularly, and not xylitol. Doh!
  • ChangingAmanda
    ChangingAmanda Posts: 486 Member
    Another one you can add is Echinacea.
  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    After starting D3 supplements on doctor's orders, I have had less colds (I was deficient). Get rid of the kids. That may help the most. My daughter came home from college for Thanksgiving and spread her cold germs all over the house. I sent her back to college and hope she comes back healthier for Christmas.
  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,440 Member
    bump...
  • Sedna_51
    Sedna_51 Posts: 277 Member
    Wash your hands, get your flu shot, get plenty of rest. Boring, but reasonably effective. I pop Vitamin C chewables if I'm feeling under the weather, but that's more because I like the taste. My mom swears by the zinc swabs for preventing an oncoming cold, but I'm nervous about the (admittedly very rare) side effect in which some users lose their sense of smell permanently.

    If you do start to feel sick, I personally recommend making chicken soup and then loading it up with as much hot sauce as you can handle, then getting in your jammies and going to bed early. Treat yo self.
  • tonikweijola
    tonikweijola Posts: 1 Member
    I've had terrible luck with illness since the start of the school year (I teach in an elementary school), nonetheless, I do my best! I use a lot of natural home remedies to help with staying healthy during the sickness season.

    Elderberry syrup (Nature's Answer is my favorite brand)--once a day during the sick months and 4x/day when sick. Elderberry is a powerful antiviral and immune system booster.

    A good moisturizer for the hands after hand washing. When hands are dried out from washing, the skin tends to break/crack and germy little critters like to make their way into our bodies that way.

    Certified Pure Therapeutic Essential Oils--I use a wide variety to address many different illness and circumstances. Oregano EO is powerful as an immune system booster and as acts as an "antibiotic" to bacterial and viral infections. The brand I use is doTERRA, totally pure, safe and non-toxic. (Almost all of them have a nutritional label and can be ingested, which is not true of many store bought brands of EOs.)

    I just bought a neti pot to clean out the sinuses, in hopes that helps me stay healthy this winter. They say that you should also use a natural oil to swab the inside of the nose after using the neti. I used to use vaseline. Maybe I'll try coconut oil or olive oil as a natural oil.
  • Megislosingit
    Megislosingit Posts: 26
    Hand washing is really your best line of defense. Get a flu shot !!!!!

    When I feel a cold coming on I take Zicam dissolving tablets. A little bit expensive but worth EVERY penny
  • Siansonea
    Siansonea Posts: 917 Member
    Avoid people and their cooties. :smokin:
  • Fit_in_Folsom
    Fit_in_Folsom Posts: 220 Member
    Agreed with original poster. Include hand washing and I would add one supplement: Cordychi . It is a great immune booster.
  • mmm_drop
    mmm_drop Posts: 1,126 Member
    That's what my bubble is for; I'll come out around late March or so.
  • uconnwinsnc
    uconnwinsnc Posts: 1,054 Member
    The only thing that can help prevent the flu is washing your hands. That virus is so nasty no amount of vitamins is going to help.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,947 Member
    2 things:

    Wash your hands consistently
    Don't hang around sick people. If you have to, wear a mask.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
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    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • kirdyq
    kirdyq Posts: 165 Member
    LOL! Can you imagine if when my little kids got sick I was like "sorry, not going to be around you! Fend for yourselves!" :)
  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    LOL! Can you imagine if when my little kids got sick I was like "sorry, not going to be around you! Fend for yourselves!" :)

    Or quarantining them in their rooms and walking in only with a mask and gloves. :laugh:
  • SnowWhiteFanatic
    SnowWhiteFanatic Posts: 129 Member
    I've heard that when you get sick you should cut an onion in half and put it next to or under your bed. It's supposed to suck the yuckies away and make you better quicker. Also wash wash wash your hands!!
  • CTcutie
    CTcutie Posts: 649 Member
    Wash. Your. Hands... Especially after going to stores where you have a basket/cart/buggy :smile:

    (And getting a flu shot early in the season has worked well for me for like 10 years now- I have asthma and can't risk getting pneumonia or bronchitis again.)

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