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Too many colds! Help

Larissima

Larissima

Well-Known Member
Messages
875
Location
London, UK
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
My FBG has been slightly elevated (around 7) for the last few days as I seem to be battling another cold. This is the fourth one since Christmas! OK, this one is not that bad - just a runny nose/blocked sinuses and a sore throat, compared to being bedridden for 3 days due to high fever and a painful chesty cough, which was the previous one.

I'm eating LCHF and doing intermittent fasting, I'm still shedding excess fat, and I take fish oil and Vit D supplements (recently added a multivit, just to see if it helps). I walk to work and back, totalling 25 km per week, and I do some weight training weekly. What else can I do to strengthen my immune system? Please help!
 
I have to say, I don't think I've had more than a few snuffles since I was diagnosed more than 2 years ago, but then, as a child, I did have every cold known to man, so my immune system got pretty charged up over time.

If I ever feel a but run down, or have a series of gritty throats (my equivalent of getting a cold), I sometimes take a course of Echinachea. I just take a decent brand; I used Boots own, but there many, many others out there, for two weeks, then that's enough.

Of course, the Echinacea could be having a placebo effect on me, but if that stops my throat going gritty, I'm happy enough.
 
I was the same. Before Christmas I had 3 chest infections between September - December! My BGs were through the roof. Although I read that taking supplements doesn't really help as the body just flushes out any excess vitamins it doesn't need, I was fed up and decided it couldn't do any harm. I started taking A-Z of vitamins which included B6, B12 and Zinc (which all boost the immune system) and "touch wood", I haven't had a cold since. Who knows, it might just be luck but I'm going to keep taking them!
 
Try Berocca, it helped my husband when his system was low. I agree about zinc and also found selenium helpful. Can't remember exactly what Berocca has in it. Hope you come right soon.
 
This may be a classic case of over training. I'm still in the gym - injury free after 30 plus years - apart from the torn ligaments in my foot but that was an accident in the gym when I was hoovering. (3 years on crutches - now I only hoover under supervision!)
I have always taken the view that when training hard - I take one week off in every 4-6 weeks depending on how I feel. It takes a brave person to do so - but it is just possible your body needs a rest.
The other thing I would look into is the amount of vit c and zinc you have in your diet. When you kick out fruit and fruit juice you have to look elsewhere - tomatoes and red peppers are good but at the first sign of a runny nose I will typically take up to 20 GRAMS of vit C. It's extreme but it works for me. Apart from that I don't use any other supplements.
It sounds like you train hard - now rest hard - one week and get straight back to it. If you can not avoid the walking to work etc, then limit everything else just for a week
Good luck
 
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