Constant colds, sore throat, and coughing—is my immune system weak?

Lozimka, I’d say you misunderstood me, but honestly, I think you didn't even read the thread. I’m not here to play schoolteacher; I’ve been laying out the exact same advice you’re now attributing to "someone else" since the very beginning.

I didn't start the garlic saga. I was merely quoting two people who recommended it, and only because they happened to mention using gum or milk to mask the scent. My point was simple: if garlic works for you, take it—but don't kid yourself thinking the smell disappears. I’ve made that perfectly clear multiple times, which is the only reason it even came up. My first post contains two quotes that back this up. If you want to actually read what I wrote instead of just skimming, go ahead. If not, there's nothing more I can do.

It isn't even off-topic. A few years back, I used garlic capsules, and after digging through some reviews for Allicin supplements, it seems there's a trade-off: reducing the odor often means reducing the immune boost. Basically, they fail to isolate the actual beneficial components.

It feels like you’re just skimming through this because you clearly missed all the thumbs-up I gave your posts. I couldn't even remember if your comment was actually about probiotics or not; I just assumed it was, but honestly, I couldn't be bothered to double-check. My bad.

Garlic works. Besides, when you're actually sick, you aren't exactly out hitting the town anyway.🤷

Betty Hayes10 said:I also wanted to chime in for bluegardener4—look, if you're already spending the cash on probiotics, just grab some vitamins too. Like someone else was saying, all those antibiotics have totally wrecked your gut flora, and you need that stuff to actually absorb nutrients. Without vitamins, you can basically say goodbye to your immune system and your overall health. Maybe that's even the main reason you're catching every cold that goes around.

I've been taking Culturelle (the 14-strain one) plus Centrum for about two months now. Cheers

Don't you realize it’s critical that you don't take antibiotics at the exact same time as this stuff?

I didn't realize, but honestly, I'm feeling fine, so I'm probably just gonna skip all those extra treatments and meds altogether. Thanks

bluegardener4 said:I’ve been taking Culturelle (the 14-strain version) along with Centrum for about two months now. Cheers.

You could have done better than that.

Centrum is honestly useless.
From the dosage to the actual ingredients—it’s all off. They use calcium hydrogen phosphate at 160mg, which is a joke; you can get more elemental calcium from a leaf of Swiss chard.
And using ascorbic acid for vitamin C? Total waste.
I won't even get into the weeds with the rest of the details... but hey, at least you'll feel better just knowing you actually started doing something for your health.

Betty Hayes10 said:You realize you shouldn't be taking antibiotics at the exact same time as this stuff, right?

Where are you getting that from?

The standard advice is to take probiotics during and after a round of antibiotics. Personally, I always take them while I'm on antibiotics; otherwise, my stomach and gut get wrecked and it takes me about three weeks to recover. If I take probiotics alongside the antibiotics, I either have zero issues or they only last a couple of days.

Betty Hayes10 said:Garlic works. When someone is actually sick, they aren't exactly out hitting the town anyway. 🤷

So you're basically agreeing with me on this point too 😁

because I've repeatedly pointed out—and written about—people who stay healthy by taking garlic preventatively all through the fall and winter seasons, every single day. We're talking anything from two cloves a day to "the sky is the limit." If your job isn't being a lighthouse keeper on a deserted island, that combination creates a pretty intense sillage. 😉

But let me repeat myself one more time, since it clearly hasn't sunk in: I don't care if people take it. What bothers me is when they claim you can't smell it.

As for probiotics alongside antibiotics, you've already been given an answer.

melloworca6 said:Where on earth did you get that idea?

Sure, everything you said is technically true if you're only popping antibiotics once or twice a year. But this guy has been overusing them for years, and if they’re actually supposed to be helping him, he really shouldn't be rushing back to his doctor for another round. Isn't it just basic logic that his recovery is going to drag on as long as he keeps taking them? Probiotics are good bacteria, sure, but an antibiotic doesn't distinguish between the good guys and the bad ones. If he had a healthy system, maybe things would be different, but honestly, I highly doubt anything useful could even survive in his gut after that kind of bactericide. If it can, then we're looking at a literal miracle. 🤷

steelwalker26 said:so you actually agree with me on that too, then😁

Obviously.

I love garlic, but only when I don't have anywhere to be. You should see my take on tikka masala: http://www.coolinarika.com/preview/r...-tikka-masala/

That white stuff isn't cheese. 😬

A little more on garlic 😁
This recipe is definitely "fragrant," to say the least. But if the instructions are right, it clears up a sore throat in two days—even if that scent sticks around much longer.

http://www.coolinarika.com/recept/kr...rotiv-angine-/

I’m just trying to wrap my head around how this would even work. Is it supposed to be like putting a cold compress on your forehead when you've got a massive headache?

Betty Hayes10 said:I’m trying to wrap my head around how that would even work. I guess it's like putting a cold compress on your head when you have a toothache.

Sure, heat helps. But honestly, you probably missed those science segments on TV regarding the antiviral and antibacterial properties of essential oils (they demonstrated it with lavender and tea tree). In a lab setting, when they just bring a swab soaked in essential oil near cultured bacteria—without even touching them—those little monsters drop dead right before your eyes. You can probably find it on YouTube if you're interested.

It's obvious the same thing happens with the pungent component in garlic; it works through the skin and via inhalation too. That’s likely why those capsules where they strip out the smelly stuff to make them more palatable aren't nearly as effective.

By the way, here in the States, when someone gets a sore throat, the standard protocol is hot tea with lemon and honey, gargling salt water, using a propolis spray in the throat, and heading to bed early in a room with a humidifier running a few drops of those aforementioned essential oils. Ninety percent of the time, you're fine by the next day. On those rare occasions it doesn't work, you just ride out the fever for two days and you're back on your feet in three. No one in my family has touched antibiotics in years. My kid only took them once as an infant for an ear infection—obviously, you don't just let a child suffer through pain if there's a way to help.

I had no idea essential oils actually worked like that. Honestly, instead of those ridiculous rituals—what was it, wrapping things in bacon or boiling them in milk? —it just seems more logical to chop up some garlic and breathe in the scent a few times a day.

Sure, lemon tea with honey helps clear out the throat when you're dealing with tonsillitis. And hey, if you don't have honey, plain sugar works just fine too.
4
When it comes to kids, you definitely don't want to risk complications since their immune systems aren't nearly as robust as ours, so you really ought to follow a doctor's advice regarding bacteria (unless they're following someone like bluegardener4, which sounds like a total nightmare).

Betty Hayes10 said:... it seems more practical to skip this ridiculous ritual (wrapping it in bacon? boiling it in milk?) and just finely mince some garlic to sniff deeply several times a day.

I haven't gone down the rabbit hole on this one—and frankly, I wouldn't attempt a stunt like that in my own kitchen—but theoretically, certain medicinal compounds in garlic can dissolve in fats, potentially aiding absorption through the skin or the digestive tract. It’s why you traditionally see people sautéing it with bacon.😬

melloworca6 said:Where did you hear that?

The general advice is to take probiotics both during and after a course of antibiotics. Personally, I always take them while I’m on the meds; otherwise, my stomach and gut get totally wrecked, and it takes me about three weeks to feel normal again. If I stick with the probiotics alongside the antibiotics, I either have zero issues or they just pass in a couple of days.

Maybe Austin Hill6 was just being a little vague with how she put it.

http://www.healthline.com/nutrition/probiotics-and-antibiotics

You can definitely take them at the same time (on the same days), just try to space out the antibiotic and the probiotic by a few hours.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sore-throat/symptoms-causes/syc-20351027

Jacob Stewart2 said:You could've done better than that.

Centravit is pretty much useless.
Everything from the dosages to the actual forms used is off. They use calcium hydrogen phosphate at 160mg—you’d get more elemental calcium just by eating a handful of Swiss chard.
And using ascorbic acid for vitamin C? Total waste.
I won't go too deep into the weeds here... but hey, at least it might give you some placebo effect, making you feel like you're actually doing something about your health.

You get what you pay for.

Centravit and Centrum have basically the same dosages.

Centravit INGREDIENTS

One tablet contains 162 mg calcium, 125 mg phosphorus, 100 mg magnesium, 60 mg vitamin C, 40 mg potassium, 36.3 mg chloride, 18 mg vitamin B3, 10 mg vitamin E, 6 mg vitamin B5, 5 mg zinc, 4 mg iron, 2 mg vitamin B6, 1.6 mg vitamin B2, 1.4 mg vitamin B1, 1 mg copper, 1 mg manganese, 800 µg vitamin A (with 20% beta carotene), 200 µg folic acid, 150 µg biotin, 100 µg iodine, 30 µg vitamin K1, 25 µg chromium, 25 µg molybdenum, 25 µg selenium, 5 µg vitamin D3, and 1 µg vitamin B12.

The focus is heavily on vitamins, while the minerals are kept at minimal levels.
By law, they can't exceed certain limits for a combined dietary supplement.

Centrum
INGREDIENTS

VITAMINS

vitamin A (retinol acetate) 25% as beta carotene
(provitamin A) 800 µg
200 µg 100%
*
vitamin B1 (thiamine mononitrate) 1.4 mg 100%
vitamin B2 (riboflavin) 1.6 mg 100%
vitamin B6 (pyridoxine HCl) 2 mg 100%
vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) 1 µg 100%
vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 60 mg 100%
vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) 5 µg/200 IU 100%
vitamin E (DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate) 10 mg/15 IU 100%
vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) 30 µg *
vitamin H (biotin) 150 µg 100%
folic acid 200 µg 100%
niacin 18 mg 100%
pantothenic acid 6 mg 100%

MINERALS (and trace elements)

calcium 162 mg 20%
chloride 36.3 mg *
magnesium 100 mg 33%
phosphorus 125 mg 16%
iron 4 mg 40%
potassium 40 mg *
chromium 25 µg *
iodine 100 µg 66%
copper 1 mg *
manganese 1 mg *
molybdenum 25 µg *
selenium 25 µg *
zinc 5 mg 66%

Solgar VM 75 has high vitamin doses, but once again, the minerals are minimal.

http://www.solgar.com/vm-75

So, in his case, combining Culturelle + Centravit isn't going to do much of anything.

The truth is, you don't need to run to the doctor for every little cold.
Try the methods described in the article I linked.
Or try some Strefen throat lozenges for the pain.

Unless, of course, you've got a high fever, severe throat pain, or can't swallow.

bluegardener4 said:I’m not even exaggerating here... probably 5 to 7 times for sure. On average, I catch something every month and a half. And yeah, this has been going on for years. Just to be clear, we’re talking colds, sore throats, coughing, even fevers sometimes... like, if a breeze catches me or I have too many cold sodas, my throat starts acting up immediately. Things "normal" people don't even blink at just make me totally sick.

Zachary Diaz48 said:it sounds pretty obvious that your immune system is struggling. I know because it's exactly what happened with my cousin—she wouldn't touch anything green ☕ until her doctor gave her a serious reality check. She started eating salads, cucumbers, cabbage, tomatoes, you name it, and things improved massively. Now she only gets sick once or twice a year. So, basically, eat your veggies. And hey, just a heads up—you don't get sick from the wind or the cold, it's the viruses that get ya :P good luck! 😉

velvetmoose9 said:Have you checked your CBC/Differential or CRP levels?

Did anyone actually suggest that?
If not, go ahead and ask for those tests—at least start there.

coastaltiger7 said:I’m dealing with the exact same thing—every month or so I'm down for the count. Every single virus my nieces and nephews bring home from daycare hits me like a freight train. I don't drink, I don't smoke, and I try to eat pretty healthy, but it feels like my immune system just isn't doing its job.
I deal with year-round allergic rhinitis too, so I use nasal sprays every now and then. I wonder if that could be messing with my immunity? My blood work always comes back normal. Unlike the original poster, though, I don't really take antibiotics. I pick up some vitamins here and there, but honestly, I haven't noticed much difference.

Man, I'm in the same boat as the OP, catching every little cold that goes around. The biggest headache is that I can't afford to miss that much work—it starts looking suspicious to the boss.

Unlike the OP, I don't rely on antibiotics much, and I try to eat a super diverse diet. Because of all these issues, I've become almost obsessed with getting enough fruits and veggies—I prefer getting my nutrients naturally rather than through supplements. I'm constantly sipping different teas, taking propolis occasionally, and so on and so forth.
My blood work came back absolutely perfect—I didn't even bother following up with my doctor for any extra testing since everything looked so good.

I’m just... I don't know, I'm just totally wiped out by everything right now.

I’m honestly not even sure which subforum this belongs in, but I feel compelled to vent because the last two years have been a relentless cycle of sickness for me. This past winter was particularly brutal—absolutely unbearable—because I seemed to be coming down with something every single fortnight. It always follows the exact same pattern: a scratchy throat, then the fever kicks in, and suddenly I’m wiped out. It has been infuriating because I’ve had to scrap so many plans just to rot in bed at home. Now, even though I thought I finally cleared a nasty bout of the flu, the symptoms are creeping back. There is this persistent, foul taste in my mouth, almost like a bacterial film, and despite being meticulous about brushing my teeth, nothing helps. I have no idea what happened to my immune system to make it this fragile, and I'm starting to wonder if it's actually worth seeing a doctor at this point. Honestly, I am reaching my breaking point with this constant state of unwellness.

Edit: To make matters even worse, I’m frequently dealing with stomach pains that feel like some sort of chronic digestive issue.

Hope you get back on your feet soon
You really ought to start getting some exercise in—it does wonders for building up your immune system... keeps things steady.

And you’ve gotta ditch those bad habits—drinking, smoking, constant overeating, all that sugar junk. You don't have to give up sweets entirely, obviously, but maybe just pick better ingredients once in a while.

Also, try eating plenty of fruit every day. When I was a kid, I was constantly dealing with allergies and catching every cold that went around... my dad used to buy me tons of fruit—clementines, bananas, apples, stuff like that. We’d make fruit salads to use instead of candy and things. Honestly, it made a massive difference; I felt way more resilient.

Look, your immune system has taken a hit. You can sit there complaining and just lean on meds and whatever else, or you can actually tackle this the healthy way like I mentioned before... 😉

Sent from my iPhone 13 mini using Reddit

Thanks for the response; you’ve certainly given me the push I needed 🙂

I used to train boxing, though I eventually stepped away from it—which likely plays a role here—but I’d still say my physical condition is decent enough. Naturally, there is significant room for improvement, and I fully intend to pick up a sport again soon. I could also definitely benefit from incorporating more 👍
into my diet. I think I'll start by implementing these specific changes first.