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Boosting Immune system, good or bad?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/22/2015 11:28 PM (GMT 0)
I've read mixed reports on patients with UC and if its a good idea to help the immune system or to avoid it...

Should people with UC avoid foods and supplements that claim to boost the immune system? After all, isn't our over active immune system the issue in the first place and helping to strengthen it wouldn't it cause symptoms?

Obviously for individuals that are healthy boosting the immune system can only be a good thing, but for us?

Confused.. again... :)
Posted 1/23/2015 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
There was another thread on this recently. The conclusion was mixed as well. Most all treatments for IBD revolve around weakening the immune system. Technically speaking, strengthening or boosting the immune system would be bad for an IBD'r but if a particular supplement or whatever can make your immune system healthier then that's kind of different than "boosting" it. Bottom line, who knows?
Posted 1/23/2015 12:32 AM (GMT 0)
probiotics technically boost the immune system. but generally I would sue supplements with specific anti-inflammatory or mucosal healing or stool bulking goals. I would not just use them to boost without some specific goal.
Posted 1/23/2015 12:33 AM (GMT 0)
I'm currently in remission :) of course there was a change in my treatment plan as well.

But funny that my remission started while I was be battling a awfull flu ?? I was kind of joking, after my flu symptoms were gone, saying that my immune system got busy fighting against something else than my colon.

Wouldn't that be just nice if it were that simple for real ! Want remission get your immune system busy fighting againts a flu virus.
Posted 1/23/2015 3:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Chantrelle (are u a mushroom?) I recently asked the same question and learned there are different immune systems; i.e., innate and active. Please see http://missinglink.ucsf.edu/lm/immunology_module/prologue/objectives/obj02.html for a synopsis. I haven't finished researching this but I think there are areas we can strengthen and others we should downplay. Good Journey!
Posted 1/23/2015 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
Chantrelle, that's really interesting! I'm actually battling a head cold at the moment, but unfortunately my UC symptoms have just gotten worse... I'm not losing hope though! Back to colifoam for a few weeks... sigh

I guess with everything else using supplements is just a trial and error situation, and if it affects the immune system then if that's a good or bad thing it will show with symptoms increasing or decreasing

Trial and error is so tedious! I think I'm just always so worried that I'll make things a lot worse, but I guess there is really only one way to find out

Thanks for the link zengrrl!
Posted 1/24/2015 12:08 AM (GMT 0)

zengrrl said...
Hi Chantrelle (are u a mushroom?) I recently asked the same question and learned there are different immune systems; i.e., innate and active. Please see http://missinglink.ucsf.edu/lm/immunology_module/prologue/objectives/obj02.html for a synopsis. I haven't finished researching this but I think there are areas we can strengthen and others we should downplay. Good Journey!

I am a mushroom.
Posted 1/24/2015 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
I am a 2nd grade teacher. So, being exposed to so many germs, I have taken significant amounts of zinc supplements and echinacea tea during the school year. I also drink green juice with immune-boosting spirulina in it.

I have no scientific data to support this, but it seems that all of this amps up my UC symptoms a bit. My flares always tend to to be during the middle of the school year (at the peak of my immune boosting strategies). This could also be the result of all the stress and lack of sleep that goes with teaching, but who really knows!
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