Print This Post
Email This Post
Dear Pharmacist,
Do you think it’s a good idea to take antioxidants during the cough/cold season? I am trying hard not to get sick this year.
V.C., Atlanta, Georgia
Do you think it’s a good idea to take antioxidants during the cough/cold season? I am trying hard not to get sick this year.
V.C., Atlanta, Georgia
Answer: Yes. Anything you put into your body to improve your immune system is important, including good foods. Antioxidant’s are just the tip of the iceberg. There are many safe and natural substances that improve immunity including medicinal mushroom extracts, larch arabinogalactan, glutathione, quercetin, echinacea and astragalus. There are many others, which I have elaborated on in other newspaper columns.
The key to preventing illness is by saving up, like you do at the bank. If you don’t put deposits into your account, then when you need money for a bill, it isn’t there. The body is essentially the same. You can’t start taking vitamins and expect your body to suddenly ward off a bunch of infectious bugs. It takes a little time and compliance. But definitely start today and just know that you will reap the rewards for years to come.
Good Grief! re: immune system. What do you do if you have an auto-immune disease like pemphigus and you have to take prednisone to control the itching. Does anyone do research on auto immune diseases? I would like to keep my body strong emough to resist flu, whatever type. Any suggestions?
Interested in altenative answers to common health problems – you seem so
balanced and honest about this topic!
I, too, have an autoimmune disease (polymyalgia rheumatica/giant cell arteritis)and have been taking prednisone for it for the past 10 years.
At the first sign of a viral infection (scratchy throat, sneezing, or runny nose) I immediately take extra Vitamin C (maybe one tablet every hour), and I continue taking it frequently and regularly, sometimes for several weeks. The symptoms ALWAYS go away within the first couple of hours, but if I then STOP taking the Vitamin C too soon, the symptoms will return. I also take other immunity-enhancing supplements when fighting a virus, such as Vitamin A,medicinal mushrooms, arabinogalactan, garlic, elderberry, astragalus, oil of oregano, and olive leaf extract. I’m a little hesitant to take not only these, but some others, too, such as echinacea and cat’s claw, because I fear that they may increase the autoimmune problem by boosting immunity. However, with this procedure, I have been successful in preventing a full-blown cold for several years now, even though I’ve been on this immune-depressing corticosteroid drug, prednisone.
Do you think that I am on the right track with my anti-viral regimen, or am I hurting my chances of ever getting off prednisone? [If I gradually lower my prednisone dose too far (yes, under doctor's supervision), my inflammatory markers rise and my polymyalgia symptoms begin to return.]