<p>my daughter who is a swimmer uses the neti pot, she is probably a lot more coordinated than I am- I would probably drown, but she doesn’t get colds.</p>
<p>I take zinc lozenges when I have a sore throat, I haven’t ever used the swabs- I have an annoyingly good sense of smell, I smell things other people don’t.</p>
<p>I agree with washing hands & don’t carry home any random children with green snot.</p>
<p>exercise also helps your immune system- even a little</p>
<p>Regardless of the Airborne lawsuit, I swear by Airborne. I have tried so many things throughout the years but Airborne really works for me and my family.</p>
<p>I am a fan of Zicam…have never used it long term, because I find using it when I feel a cold may be coming on seems to keep the cold from ever gaining ground. I haven’t had a cold in years.
I also like taking vitamin B when I am feeling run down. I am susceptable to getting really bad cold sores. Nothing works to get rid of them except vitamin B and Lysine. ( and I have taken prescriptions that do nothing )</p>
<p>The Physician’s Health study found definite protective effect for aspirin in reducing first heart attacks. Take vitamin D but no more than 1500 mg total from all sources since amounts higher than that have been shown to have adverse effects. Selenium shows some promise. As also blueberries, turmeric and folic acid in reducing Alzheimer’s risk.</p>
<p>More important than all these, don’t smoke, lose wieght, exercise vigorously, follow PSA readings, occasional colonoscopies, rest is beyond our control, pill popping is illusory. No evidence for vit E, or vit C. Try beta carotene but not to exceed 20,000 IU although phase 1 of Physician’s Health Study found no effects either way. In smokers, slightly higher risk for vit E and beta carotene, maybe some artefact of the stats but I would be cautious.</p>
<p>Of all over the counter pills, aspirin is the only one to show effects and these effects seem to affect polyp formation, arthritis, etc etc.</p>
<p>Purely anecdotal here: may or may not conform to current research findings.</p>
<p>I use to pop Vitamin C pills in large quantities, in the hopes of cold prevention. It seemed to have only a minor effect on propensities to colds. (Did that for many years.) After my daughters were born, I began serving them and me grapefruit every morning during winter citrus season. They and I never got colds when we did that, never. (And when sometimes now we don’t do that, we catch colds more often.) I believe the research does support that in general the natural form of the nutrient is better assimilated.</p>
<p>Interesting recent studies, too, on fresh vs. cooked. For some vegetables, it is preferable actually to cook them al dente to maximize those protective effects (broccoli, I think carrots, & several other veggies).</p>
<p>After a friend fell and broke the bones in her ankle (yes, she is osteopenic, age 60), she wanted me to drive her for a B12 shot. I’ve always thought of B12 shots as just another kind of snake oil, so I did a little research. The National Institute of Health now recommends that people over 50 (as I am) take additional B vitamins because absorption becomes less efficient with age. They recommend the sprays as being absorbed well. [Vitamin</a> and Mineral Supplement Fact Sheets](<a href=“http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/Health_Information/Vitamin_and_Mineral_Supplement_Fact_Sheets.aspx]Vitamin”>http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/Health_Information/Vitamin_and_Mineral_Supplement_Fact_Sheets.aspx)</p>
<p>They also increase the recommended amount of vitamin D as you age. [Dietary</a> Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D](<a href=“http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp]Dietary”>http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp)</p>
<p>Cooking may change the bioavailability of the vitamins and nutrients within food. [BBC</a> NEWS | Health | Getting the best out of your food](<a href=“http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4777607.stm]BBC”>BBC NEWS | Health | Getting the best out of your food)</p>
<p>epiphany, I have spent many years examining the vit C data, Pauling, Cameron, Mayo Clinic studies, etc, also took mega doses for years, I am not convinced. Of course, one must eat fresh veggies and fruits, all these nutrients are better taken in naturally occurring forms and also when other unknown phytochemicals are present to enhance their effects.</p>
<p>It seems tomatoes are better cooked. Very little alzheimer’s in southern India where cooked tomatoes are a staple of “rasam” and turmeric is used extensively.</p>
<p>Ramaswami: there’s a lot of research being done on turmeric: [The</a> Seattle Times: Health: Turmeric shows promise in fighting, preventing cancer and other ailments](<a href=“http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2002619095_healthturmeric13.html]The”>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2002619095_healthturmeric13.html)</p>
<p>dmd, thanks, I referred to this in post 24. But of all possible factors, calorie reduction is probably the most effective. We all need to fast or skip meals.</p>
<p>Fascinating. I am particularly interested in studies of diseases (& the lack thereof) by country & ethnic cuisine. Yes, cooking tomatoes releases their nutrients. Additionally true for bell peppers (when cooked, providing apparently more Vit C than oranges!).</p>
<p>Also interesting about spices.</p>
<p>Not that there’s anything we can do about it, but the 1918 flu pandemic killed those with the strongest immune systems, young healthy adults (but most flus don’t work that way).</p>
<p>[Scientists</a> reveal how world’s worst flu killed victims | Science | The Guardian](<a href=“http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/jan/18/birdflu.medicineandhealth]Scientists”>Scientists reveal how world's worst flu killed victims | Science | The Guardian)</p>
<p>That story is very interesting. What is it about children 6 to 19 and adults 41 to 69 that made them relatively unaffected?
[CNN</a> - ‘Flu: The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918’ - November 19, 1999](<a href=“http://www.cnn.com/books/beginnings/9911/flu/index.html]CNN”>http://www.cnn.com/books/beginnings/9911/flu/index.html)</p>
<p>And that story is interesting too; they didn’t know in 1999 that the immune system was the culprit. When this flu strikes, perhaps I will be glad I’m no longer in the 20-to-40 group with the strongest immune system.</p>