Immune System Boosters
So I am sitting here with another nasty cold, I thought I would pen my thoughts about what I have been taking to try and shake this cold and what I have tried in the past.
A quick disclaimer, I am not a health professional or have any qualifications on the subject I am just voicing my own personal opnion from my own experiences.
Vitamin C - MISS
Before getting this cold I was taking about 2g a day, since getting sick I have gone up to 7g (7000mg) per day, split into 4 doses. Generally I take it with food. Can’t say it helped prevent or help reduce symptons or length of illness. The only thing it has done is given me the shits (doses above 5g per day). Waste of time. I still have a stack load of it, so will probably finish that after this illness and not bother anymore.
Multi Vitamin - MISS
I take 1 a day as a preventer with most of the RDA’s required. Since getting sick I have increased this to 2 tablets a day. Again I think it has been a waste of time.
Sambucol (elderberry extract) - MISS
This stuff is meant to boost your immune system and is even touted as effective against swine flu. It costs top dollar too, a bottle costs £7 and if you take as advised it will be dry in 3 days. I have a downed a bottle of this over the last 3 days and it has done zip. Again a waste of time for me, definately will not purchase this in the future.
Zinc (with magnesium) - MISS
Started to take 30mg of Zinc, split into 2 doses per day since getting sick. It is meant to cut the duration of a cold. Opinion – hasn’t worked another waste of time.
Lemsip – cold relief with decongestant - MISS
Took some to try and unblock my nose and make me feel better. Didn’t even make a dent on my congestion or help relieve any symptons.
Cayenne pepper - HIT
Mixed with food or hot water and honey. This really helped with unblocking my nose. Don’t be shy with it, I use a heaped teaspoon with a cup of hot water and honey. If you aren’t used to spicy food, it could blow your head off and give you nasty ring burn. I will definately be using this in the future – Cayenne Rocks!
Echinacea - MISS
I have used this extensively in the past, either in powder, tablet or liquid form. I always gave it the benefit of the doubt but finally admitted it was useless and didn’t help in preventing illnesses. It doesn’t help in reducing duration of illness either.
Glutamine - MISS
Some people reckon it boosts your immune system, I reckon they are talling sh*t. Made no difference to me, in fact as a bodybuilding supplement it is pretty useless too.
Raw Garlic - DOUBLE HIT
This has always worked great for me in the past, unfortunately I didn’t hit it hard enough to begin with as my missus was moaning about me stinking and then ran out of it and couldn’t get out due to the snow. For me it is really effective if you chew it and hold it at the back of your throat for as long as possible (it burns) before swallowing. Start taking it as soon as you feel sick and take it as often as you and or your family (makes you stink) can handle it, within no time you will be feeling better.
Beta-Glucan (1-3, 1-6) - Shit – Miss
Ordered some of this and it is meant to be a potent immune system, unfortunately it hasn’t come yet. Will update this once I sampled it.
UPDATE – sampled it and surprise, surprise it’s shit too.
