question on changing your regimen

[Helen]

I've read in a few different places about changing your
vitamins from time to time, I would appreciate any advice, like, How often? every few months, twice a year, etc.
and what do you switch around? Right now Im taking 240mg. of Milk Thistle 3 times a day, 200 mg. of C, 400iu
of E, 3,000mcg, B12 5 days a week and I was taking 200mg. of ALA. but have read it should be 200mg. 3 times a day or 300 mg twice a day, what I would like to know is what WOULDNT I take to mix it up a little, or what should I add?should I stop the milke Thistle for awhile ot the ala, or the vit C or what? Im really kind of confused and would appreciate any advice.
Thank you and God Bless, Helen

[alley-oops]

I think you are doing the right thing, and shaking it up might not be necessary with those particular suppliments.  I think if you play with immune builders, ie: mushrooms, natcell, echinecea, colestrum..... those are more what you should only take for periods of time.  

You really don't want to stop vit C,E, B12,or ALA or milk thistle but you could play with amounts. (although as I always seem to be the rebel, I don't take milk thistle often   naturopaths orders, lol)
As you said about the ALA there are different amount combos you can try.  You might add a B complex for a month and see if you feel any different. (don't take this at night as it can wake you up a bit)
Otherwise you are doing great!!
alley

[Helen]

Thanks Alley, I appreciate it.  
Another B complex? Do I need more than B12? I need to do more reading on the subject I guess.
Why dosent your naturopath want you to take Milk Thistle, if you dont mind my asking.  
Thanks again for your reply, Helen

[Dude]

Hi Helen. I didn't post on this earlier because I wasn't sure what to say on the subject. But I just wanted to add that I always took vitamin E and selenium, and a few others. Then for some unknown reason, after treatments ended in December I stopped being so regimented in what I took. I also stopped Milk Thistle a couple of times, and now I just take it now and then. But I'm a believer in vitamin E. It's a good antioxidant and it seems to make me feel healthier, although that could be in my mind. I think diet is probably the biggest thing to assist in a healthy immune system. Vitamins and herbs, to me anyway, are more supplemental in nature. They're still a good idea, just not as critical as compared to diet. Oh, I would think if you're taking a B complex, you'd want to drop the B12, because a good B complex has B12 in it.

Good luck.

[retired]

Helen:    You need to start off with a good diet that includes those items which are good for you and excludes any items which are harmful.  You should take a good multi vitamin each day.  The things you are taking should be taken every day.  We have a chronic infection that never takes a day off.  Many of the supplements only stay in your body for a few hours.  It would be better to take small doses several times a day.  This doesn't work for me as I get busy and forget to take them.  It is difficult to determine exactly what the correct dosage is for each of these supplements.  Cost can be a factor when you are taking several supplements, as I am.  Some of the herbs are tricky and should not be taken for a long period of time.  I frequently change brands.   Some of the supplement companies  are fly by night outfits and you can't be sure you are getting everything you are paying for.  You might benefit from buying a good nutritional book.  I bought "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vitamins and Minerals."  I found it very helpful.

[Helen]

Thank you all, and I will go out and look for that book, or at least some kind of guide to help me,I try to include SOME kind of fresh fruit everyday, I've been cutting up strawberries, pineapple or cantalope to go with dinner almost everyday,I drink lemon water alot and I am a big milk drinker anyway, and havent been doing to much beef, but I need to get more salads and greens going I guess, been eating fish more often too, havent cut out all the snacks, but I dont eat as much of that kind of stuff as I used to, Im a Big salt eater and have to say I almost never add it to anything anymore, which is a big hurdle for me,and  thats probably the hardest thing for me.   Slowly but surely, Im getting there, Im a big mushroom lover, and I was just reading that it dosent matter how you cook them, even if you burn them, theyre still great for you, So im going to start making those more often too, Im getting there.  
Thank you all for your help and advice. Helen

[retired]

Helen:   Don't mean to nag, but.  You need to learn about eating a liver friendly diet.  Dairy products are bad for you.  They are rich in fats, which are bad for your liver.  You should only consume non fat milk and yogurt.  Salt is bad for your liver and blood pressure.  I had a blood pressure problem and corrected it by reducing salt and exercising more.  Most prepared foods have lots of salt added to them.  You need to check labels carefully.  Apples and broccoli are very good foods that help the immune system.  The old saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" is very true.  You should substitute apples for the snacks you are eating.  Sorry to preach, but I feel strongly that an alternative treatment program can only work if it combines a good lifestyle, a strict diet, and a good supplement selection.  I am a 63 y/o male and not a good candidate for treatment.  I hope to slow down or stop the progression of this disease with a good program.  So far it seems to be working, although it is really too early to tell.

[alley-oops]

Cheese once a week is as far as I go with the dairy,but I quit milk 11 years ago to help my then 4 year old deal with his food allergies.  I didn't want him to feel singled out as the only non-milk drinker so we both switched to soy milk.  Now he can and does drink milk,but I still hate it.

I take a B complex + a folic acid with B12 most days.  The folic acid/b12 dissolves under the tongue for absorption.
 
Helen, my naturopath has tested me on milk thistle umpteen times and the test always shows it as not good for me.  I honestly don't remember why though.  It seems made for livers.
Anyhow he hasn't steered me wrong and I'm in the best health I've ever been in since I got this virus, sooooo there you have it.
alley

[Helen]

I do understand what you both are saying, but I do only drink low fat milk, and stay away from cheese,only eat it once in a while and I cant tolerate the taste of soymilk, I have tried it and it makes me gag, so I cant go there, as I said my salt intake has really dropped, and this is a big step for me, I do try to watch and dont eat half of the prepared food I used to, I do have snacks but its not a daily thing and since I have never really been a big chocolate eater that isnt a problem, my snacks were mostly chips and of the salty variety, my biggest thing I think is I need to add more greens and Im working on that, Im learning as I go along and I appreciate the advice, dont feel like your preaching, this is what Im looking for, ideas and advice.  
So thanks again, Helen

[willy]

I have heard what Alley is saying about echinecea.  I don't remember ever Lloyd saying to mix up the Natcell.  I have stopped taking it. (ran out) but will soon order some more.  Can I tell a difference?  Not dramatically, but, I think I slowly felt that I was getting built up in taking it, and now I wonder if I slowly am feeling a reversal.  It may be that women are more sensitive and therefore better barometers.  I have been taking Transfer Factor too, but am about to run out of that too.  I will probably reorder that too.  Same deal there, they want you to take it several times per day everyday.

         I believe that nutrition is of at least equal importance to the supplements.  We have to do that well everyday.  I do the supplements the same everyday too.  One of the biggest changes that I made that I could tell an immediate change was stopping chocolate and taking B complex.  My lower tract was happier.  I try to bite my B complex in half and take half in the morning and the other half with either meal. I have recently started doing the ALA (one per day so far).  I do selenium 2/day. 3 milk thistle per day, vit C between meals because it increases iron intake with food, 1 or 2 vit E per day.
         I am trying to back away from the dairy products.  Not only do they have some fats and harder to digest protein but also have antibiotics, growth hormones, and other questionable drugs that they give the cows to stimulate milk production.  It would not surprise me if I knew about feeding practices I would also be chagrinned.  So when I buy milk I buy organic.  I do eat yogurt, but it is low in fat, has zero iron, but a bit of sugar (carbohydrate) and the aforementioned hormones and antibiotics.  I mostly drink tea with RO filtered water, some soymilk, a lower cost V-8 substitute.  I imagine that a meal taken with tomato juice digests easier than with milk due to tomatoes being acidic and milk being more basic.  I often take lemon juice (Realemon) with meals with meat.  Watch out for sugar consumption via fruit and juices.  I will find the "dirty dozen" list of fruits with the most pesticides and add to this.

Well, off to work.
Willy

[Helen]

Sounds good Willy, I'd like to see that "Dirty Dozen" List,
and I appreciate everyones input, I might head over to the bookstore this weekend and see if I can find that book that retired mentioned, Im always ready to learn more about what I can do and am always interested in what other people are doing and what they think is working.
Thanks, Helen

[phonenix]

  Hi Helen, why don't you try rice milk. BUT, the only brand worth  trying is Rice Dream Enriched. It comes close to what 1% milk looks like, and it tastes pretty good. I mainly use soy milk, but I like it for a change of pace. Stay as organic as possible. LIMIT your dairy, and sugar intake, and well you've probably read from some of the old threads about a liver friendly diet.

 Hope this helps,   Phonenix

[countrygirl]

Hey Helen and all!

Good question about a regime change. (sounds like this should be on the Political forum  ) I also had heard that from different sources. Part of the reasoning being that the virus was continually evolving or mutating and consequently, so should one's "plan of attack" so to speak. Makes sense to a certain point, I guess, but the more I thought about jostling so many things around in my body, the less it appealed to me. To be realistic, we can attack all we want with alts, but it will never just go away. (Never will rule out a miracle, tho) I feel the best I can do is build up my immune system as best I can...to bide time and to feel better in the meantime.

I, like you and many others, take Milk Thistle, ALA, Selenium, MV w/o iron, additional Vit C and E, Garlic caps and feel it's a good supplement to my diet. I also agree with retired that we should try to take as many as we can in divided doses, not just one larger, daily dose, to keep the amounts in our blood stable. BUT our diet must be the cornerstone of our health. Hubby and I grow all our own veggies, herbs and many fruits, plus raise our own chickens and pork now, so eat pretty well. I never was much into sweets, either, salty things are my weakness, too...popcorn, peanuts, the like. Hardest thing for me to cut back on, too. I'm also looking into the benefits of mushrooms. If you find any interesting info on them, hope you will share it.

The only thing I'd like to add, because the importance of it was absolutely driven home this weekend, and we cannot leave it out of the picture... is that STRESS KILLS!!! I have been sticking to my regime for the better part of 5 months and had pretty much eliminated many of my prior symptoms, fatigue, aches, itching, insomnia. But after a MAJOR falling out with my daughter, they all came back in full force, and a couple new ones to boot...IN ONE DAY!!! Scared the shiitake right out of me. I knew all the things to do to relieve stress. I've prayed, meditated, practice yoga, walked, exercised but for those bleak moments, it just didn't matter anymore. I can't say I was suicidal, but I just felt that  I had no fight left in me and didn't give a darn. What scared me the most is that my faith has been so strong all along, but, man, I was struggling. You know what got me back on the God track? Being my husband can't read and since we don't have a computer at home, I often copy and bring home threads from here to share with him. Well, I came across a pile of them and started reading and reading and RE-reading...and I can't put into words how they re-directed my thoughts onto the right(eous) path once again. Once again the power of this place became oh so real to me. Each and every one of you has a permanent place in my heart. God's Peace, Pam

[alley-oops]

Popcorn with a sprinkle of omega 3 oil (sometimes with chili ) and a good sprinkle or shake of Engaavita yeast is the best nibblily treat in the whole world!!
Tons of natural B vitamins in the yeast and of course the omega 3 oil is very healthy!!
alley

[Helen]

Alley, Whats omega 3 oil? And do you mean like a chili spice?   And I dont know what engaavita yeast is, is popcorn this way a spicy treat? Its my biggest downfall.
spicy, salty, hot.    have cut way back, but cant resist indulging on occassion.