How to Boost Your Immune System — Part 3

Vitamin C is a well known dietary aid to improved immune system performance. Studies confirm this bit of folk medicine. The real debate is whether supplements really do help, or if natural foods are the only way.

Vitamin C is also vital for the body to make collagen, a key protein in skin and connective tissue which is said to improve appearance with age.

For most elderly people, vitamin C supplements are recommended, especially through the winter when local fruits may not be available.

The ideal supplements also contain substances call bioflavanoids, antioxidants derived from the pith of citrus fruits. These have been shown to increase the effectiveness of supplementary vitamin C.

How to Boost Your Immune System — Part 2

Mushrooms are known to have certain health benefits. Supplements are now available which contain a number of useful types, especially Asian fungi with special properties.

Typical mushrooms for helping the immune system along are, maitake, cordyceps, shiitake, hericeum and reishi.

A mineral, often deficient in older people, is zinc. It can be found naturally in red meat, nuts, wholegrains and fish.

As a supplement it’s often taken with selenium, a combination used to combat infections.

How to Boost Your Immune System — Part 1

Astragalus root is a herb used in traditional Chinese medicine where it has been used for centuries to boost the immune system and treat a variety of ailments. It is derived from a perennial plant that grows in northern China and Mongolia.

Practitioners of Chinese medicine use astragalus to enhance the body’s energy, or Chi. The ancients used astragalus root to enhance strength and regulate metabolism. The herb has only recently gained popularity among herbalists and practitioners of alternative medicine in the West.

Astragalus comes in a number of forms, including capsules, tinctures and topical ointments. Choose the form most suited to your condition. Use for two or three weeks when feeling run down. Repeat as necessary.

Safety Precautions: The American National Center for Complementary and Alternative Therapy considers astragalus root can be used safely with few side effects.

However, as it may increase the effects of some antiviral medicines and interfere with anticoagulants and immune suppressants, anyone taking such medications should consult a doctor before using the herb.

Nowadays, both women and men are advised to moisturize their face twice a day after cleansing. Is this wise for the older person?

Tracey Chappell, a skin expert, says, “Often we allow ourselves to be pigeon-hole into a standard routine and stop listening to what our skin is telling us.

“The idea that we should moisturize twice a day is traditional beauty lore and does apply to a great many of us. But it’s not necessarily the best thing for everyone.

“The belief probably came about because our desire for squeaky clean skin has meant that traditionally cleansers are quite stripping and leave skin feeling tight and dry, making us reach for the moisturizer both morning and night after we wash our faces.

“Only you can know what your skin feels like on a day-to-day basis. Occasionally it is wise to let the skin breathe, particularly as over-using creams that are too rich can make the skin “lazy”, taking over from its natural functions and leaving us dependent on lotions and potions. We get trapped in a vicious cycle.”