Hi to all ,
i just wonder if the immune system in the body gets effected more if you got pd ,i know that vitamins supplements is a no go! but is it harder to fight things of the same? im still struggle to gain full health with a chest infection,taking many drugs for different illnesses is difficult.any reply would be greatly received

Why are vitamins a no-go?

Hi, sorry your not feeling well. Its strange as I was reading some of the research info before I came on forum and it mentions the immune system and maybe link to Parkinsons. I have had years of viruses and feeling unwell and yet now I have Parkinsons Ive been much better.
I take vitamins since my PD, my daughter bought them in a mad panic to make me well again, bless her. I do think maybe to make sure you eat healthy food if you cannot take vits and very carefully inhaling steam is good for your chest.

I hope you feel better soon.
hazyjane

Hello Janine,
My GP told me that "my whole body is affected" by my having PD. So, presumably, this includes the immune system too! My understanding is that good quality nutrients are vitally important to the immune system and the best come from wholesome foods in the diet. Swallowing vitamin and mineral supplements will not take the place of natural food as the word 'supplement' suggests. In recent months there have been some really helpful posts on the forum addressing diet. In particular, look for those from 'English Country Dancer (ECD)' who I have found is well worthwhile reading.
Adrian

Hello adrian,
thank-you for your suggestion and i will read the posts what english country dancer.has written .
best wishes

Hi Janine,and all....

I recently read that a study has been done, and they found that orange juice, with high fiber content really does help the immune system. I believe it does, as I have had orange juice almost everyday for the past 2 yrs., and have not had any colds, or flu....my only illness has been the PD symptoms I have, in all that time. I also eat many fruits & veggies daily, so I'm sure that helps too.

(so maybe it should be" an orange a day, keeps the doctor away...")

i have read that yes parkinsons is a link t youur immune system in the way of like-did you ever have a illness when you were a child? cos if you did it affects the immune system forever and yes parkinsons is diagnosed. its bacteria-affects the gut-weakens immune system-i had pneumonia when i was a baby so my mum tells me and was very poorly.so i think i have a link with this but i have read about being a twin(which i am) and studies are showing a connection but all these a from faulty genes passed on through mum and dad and their genes mixed.

Hi everyone,
i just done some research on the immune system,and it also could be gene related,my late mother had ms and pneumonia and passed away at 49 years.it ironic that i have pd in my early 40,s and that effects the immune system .the research they are doing to find out the gene that effects pd is or could be family linked will make sense to me ,has i traced my biological family down to see if there was pd in the family,now eating healthly and keeping fit are so important to look after ones self.may be i was run down and was not looking after myself properly and so important everything is.


janine

I arrived back from a super holiday in Greece last night so have not been following the Forum.(Should really have started the washing by now!!) Thank you for your kind words, Adrian. I hope people can accept the following in the spirit in which it is said as I have spent years studying nutrition, purely as an amateur. This has included an O.U course.
There is no substitude for a healthy diet, but what is a healthy diet? We all think we know what a balanced diet is but when it comes to fine details do we? After many years of studying diet in its widest sense I have come to the following conclusion.Eat lots and lots of green leafy vegetables.(Some more research came out only last week on this in relation to diabetes)Have a diet rich in vegetables with some fruit.Eat healthy fats in the form of nuts seeds and fish.Never heat vegetable oils heated to a high temperature as nasty things happen to them. Avoid products high in sugar, best avoid sugar all together if you can. Try to eat meat or fish from animals that have led an active life outside:eg wild salmon,not farm reared fish,free range chicken ..................AND to sum it up as one writer says,"Never eat anything your grandmother would not recognise as food" The jury I feel is out on supplements and now I do not take them,preferring to spend my money on the highest quality food I can afford.That is not steaks and exotic fruit but cheap cuts of meat,cooked slowly from healthy well kept animals, plus onions, carrots, cabbage, broccoli etc. I do not now take supplements because of an experiment that took place, which found that although eating a diet rich in vegetables lowered the incidence of lung cancer in smokers, the vitamin supplement ,beta carotene,that was though to be responsible for this, had the reverse effect.
People would not put suspect fuel in their car and expect it to perform well so why do people put junk food in their bodies. Of course some of us are unlucky enough to have inherited a susceptablity to certain chronic conditions but this means we should be even more careful how we treat ourselves.Oooo ....sunshine is important for Vitasmin D.Do not allow yourself to burn under any circumstances, but try to expose your skin without sun cream to short bursts of early or late in the day sun as often as possible.
Now to tackle the washing ................

I am a great believer in tinned sardines...............now that is not expensive.