I agree with my sister on the colds/immune system thing but here are my suggestions:
Take vitamin D. Odds are, you're not getting enough of it and tanning is bad for you anyway so the best bet is to wear physical sunscreen and take vitamin D supplements.
Exercise:
I'm not so sure about zumba, as it is fairly high impact. It's good cardio though. My other concern with zumba is that it's generally presented as a fast paced workout so it's unlikely that the instructor will teach you how to do each move with good technique and form. Posture!
If you have joint issues the safest exercise is belly dance. You can get dvd's and follow that but of course in person classes are best because thet's when the instructor will be able to correct your form. Belly dance is super safe for your joints and it's surprisingly good exercise. I've talked to a lot of women whose back issues completely went away after taking belly dance classes. Something about the shimmies making you relax your back and stand up straight.
Also, undulations are probably good for your back. It's kind of like a continuous version of cat/cow in yoga. There's nothing in belly dance that hurts your knees, unless you feel like doing turkish drops, so don't do turkish drops. For anyone curious, a turkish drop is when you spin in place and then fall into a back bend, landing on the top of your head and your knees.
Take vitamin D. Odds are, you're not getting enough of it and tanning is bad for you anyway so the best bet is to wear physical sunscreen and take vitamin D supplements.
Exercise:
I'm not so sure about zumba, as it is fairly high impact. It's good cardio though. My other concern with zumba is that it's generally presented as a fast paced workout so it's unlikely that the instructor will teach you how to do each move with good technique and form. Posture!
If you have joint issues the safest exercise is belly dance. You can get dvd's and follow that but of course in person classes are best because thet's when the instructor will be able to correct your form. Belly dance is super safe for your joints and it's surprisingly good exercise. I've talked to a lot of women whose back issues completely went away after taking belly dance classes. Something about the shimmies making you relax your back and stand up straight.
Also, undulations are probably good for your back. It's kind of like a continuous version of cat/cow in yoga. There's nothing in belly dance that hurts your knees, unless you feel like doing turkish drops, so don't do turkish drops. For anyone curious, a turkish drop is when you spin in place and then fall into a back bend, landing on the top of your head and your knees.
I have a useless immune system. I get sick a lot. Mostly sore throats/tonsillitis and colds, but I also succumb rather frequently to stomach bugs.
I know that being active is one way of building up the immune system, but I'm somewhat handicapped in that respect by the swollen knee issue that's been plaguing me since October last year. I am starting zumba classes soon because my osteopath wants to see what it will do to me (and because they look fun), and I'm supposed to be walking a lot more, but I can't do that because I keep getting sick. It compounds.
So. Echinacea tablets are a short-term aid because you aren't supposed to take them for more than a week at a time.
Any other tips that I can try? I am so tired of being ill, missing work, and feeling crap about that.
I know that being active is one way of building up the immune system, but I'm somewhat handicapped in that respect by the swollen knee issue that's been plaguing me since October last year. I am starting zumba classes soon because my osteopath wants to see what it will do to me (and because they look fun), and I'm supposed to be walking a lot more, but I can't do that because I keep getting sick. It compounds.
So. Echinacea tablets are a short-term aid because you aren't supposed to take them for more than a week at a time.
Any other tips that I can try? I am so tired of being ill, missing work, and feeling crap about that.
Immune system - suggestions for how to improve it?
- 31/03/2011 11:45:52 AM
1199 Views
Get enough sleep, avoid stress, eat a healthy and varied diet, find other ways to exercise.
- 31/03/2011 01:21:14 PM
908 Views
There are a lot of things that claim to help but not much that is proven to work
- 31/03/2011 02:17:54 PM
807 Views
Make sure you're getting a lot of water.
- 31/03/2011 03:30:28 PM
842 Views
Hahaha, I don't just kill my veggies, I torture them!
- 31/03/2011 07:43:13 PM
771 Views
That's not torture!
- 31/03/2011 08:26:08 PM
829 Views
Oh good!
- 31/03/2011 08:43:37 PM
806 Views
Have it removed. Otherwise, sorry, no. *NM*
- 31/03/2011 03:37:24 PM
300 Views
That probably would help. *NM*
- 31/03/2011 05:36:00 PM
367 Views
That probably would help. *NM*
- 31/03/2011 05:36:00 PM
367 Views
Gosh. I'm just happy my suggestion was more useful than Snoop's. *NM*
- 01/04/2011 05:44:14 PM
346 Views
*takes on her white coat, clears her throat and starts lecturing*
- 31/03/2011 04:10:32 PM
1067 Views
Re: *takes on her white coat, clears her throat and starts lecturing*
- 31/03/2011 05:48:19 PM
917 Views
Come out for a drink at the pub *NM*
- 31/03/2011 04:29:16 PM
348 Views
*NM*
- 31/03/2011 04:29:16 PM
348 Views
Alcohol is a disinfectant, after all 
*NM*
- 01/04/2011 08:26:21 AM
354 Views
*NM*
- 01/04/2011 08:26:21 AM
354 Views
What my sister said.
- 31/03/2011 07:29:41 PM
788 Views
Eat healthy to make sure your immune system has the vitamins it needs
- 31/03/2011 10:48:50 PM
839 Views
*NM*