{"id":8487,"date":"2019-04-05T19:42:52","date_gmt":"2019-04-06T00:42:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/?p=8487"},"modified":"2021-04-21T01:18:58","modified_gmt":"2021-04-21T06:18:58","slug":"4-surprising-ways-to-upgrade-your-immune-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/4-surprising-ways-to-upgrade-your-immune-system\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Surprising Ways to Upgrade Your Immune System"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\r\n<style>\r\ntime, .blog-media {display: none;}\r\n.content ul, p {font: normal normal normal 18px \"Lovivenir\", \"Open Sans\", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;\r\n    line-height: 30px;\r\n }\r\n.single-post article p {\r\nfont: 19px  Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;\r\n    margin-bottom: 25px;\r\n}\r\n<\/style>\r\n<p style=\"margin-top: -25px;\"><b>Our immune system defends us against disease.<\/b> \r\n\r\n<\/p><p>It\u2019s like our body armor\u2014giving us a personal, protective bubble\u2014keeping away germs, nasty bugs, and pathogens that could make us sick. \r\n\r\n<\/p><p>It makes sense, doesn't it, that you would want to keep your \u201cimmunity armor\u201d in the best possible condition? \r\n\r\n<\/p><p>So here are 4 surprising ways you can upgrade your immune system and keep it strong...fighting off those germy foes!\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top:10px;\"><b>GUT BACTERIA<\/b><\/p><p>\r\n<br \/>\nDid you know that you have trillions of bacteria in your body? So much, in fact, that we humans contain 10 times more bacteria than cells!<\/p>\n<p>This means that bacteria must play a really important role in bodily processes.<\/p>\n<p>Time for a science lesson.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/gut_bacteria_title.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-8541 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/gut_bacteria_title.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"604\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Simply put by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vocabulary.com\/dictionary\/bacteria\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Vocabulary.com<\/a>, \u201cbacteria are microscopic living organisms, usually one-celled, that can be found everywhere. They can be dangerous, such as when they cause infection, or beneficial, as in the process of fermentation (such as in wine) and that of decomposition.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>You actually need microbial elements like bacteria in your gastrointestinal (GI) system to help with digestion (decomposition)\u2026 and something else that may be a new thought: your immune system<strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>True, there is \u201cbad\u201d bacteria (the stuff we need to wash off of our hands), but there is also \u201cgood\u201d bac which actually help to prevent the bad bac that cause disease from latching on for a ride, making us sick!<\/p>\n<p>This good bac can even become teachers, in a sense, that train our immune systems to know the difference between something that causes disease and something that won\u2019t do us harm. Amazing!<\/p>\n<p>In order to have a good balance of good and bad bac in the gut, there are several steps you can follow.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/4-things-your-gut-is-trying-to-tell-you\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Check out our article on Gut Health<\/a> so you can start helping your immune system do its job to keep you healthy: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/4-things-your-gut-is-trying-to-tell-you\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/4-things-your-gut-is-trying-to-tell-you\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top:50px;\"><b>SUNLIGHT<\/b><\/p><p>\r\n<br \/>\nThe sun helps us produce vitamin D\u2026 but exposing your skin to sunlight (the UV rays especially) can put a damper on your immune system being able to fight off infection, like a virus.<\/p>\n<p>So our advice if you\u2019re feeling under the weather is to stay indoors, because it takes a very small amount of UV to suppress the immune response.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/sunlight.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-8540 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/sunlight.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"604\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, there\u2019s that vitamin D thing\u2026 the lymphocytes that are on the front lines of the immune army\u2014T-cells\u2014need plenty of vitamin D to march into battle!<\/p>\n<p>If your vitamin D is too low, the T-cells aren\u2019t going anywhere.<\/p>\n<p>Also, there are studies that have found vitamin D to be highly useful when our bodies produce anti-microbial peptides in the skin, which help to conquer new infections.<\/p>\n<p>Which brings us to the place where you can get help with boosting your vitamin D in other ways&#8230;by taking supplements!<\/p>\n<p>Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/nutrients\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/nutrients\/<\/a> for help getting the highest quality vitamin D that is beneficial not only for keeping your immune system on its toes, but for so many other processes that help our bodies to function at their best!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/nutrients\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-8539 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/nutrient_support_banner.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"100%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/nutrient_support_banner.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/nutrient_support_banner-630x295.jpg 630w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top:50px;\"><b>BAR SOAP<\/b><\/p><p>\r\n\n<p>Back in the olden days, before liquid soap and hand sanitizer were invented, people used stuff called \u201cbar soap\u201d to wash their hands.<\/p>\n<p>Except they simply called it \u201csoap.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And if you sassed your mom, she would wash your mouth out with it.<\/p>\n<p>The best moms rubbed it on your teeth so you would learn your lesson and remember the taste of it later.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/bar_soap_title.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-8538 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/bar_soap_title.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"604\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Well, this old-fashioned stuff is back en vogue<strong>.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>And come to find out, is the best at washing things like viruses and other pathogens off our hands!<\/p>\n<p>(Pathogen: \u201ca bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease.\u201d Get. off. of. me!)<\/p>\n<p>And washing your hands is one of the best ways to save your immune system the trouble of having to fight off the pathogens in the first place.<\/p>\n<p>A note about hand sanitizer: There\u2019s such thing as \u201ctoo much.\u201d If you use hand sanitizer all the time, it kills the good bac along with the bad. Remember, there\u2019s good bac on your hands too, which helps keep the bad bugs from getting into your body!<\/p>\n<p>Our favorite food scientist, Mr. Alton Brown, has created a very informative video on the proper way to wash our hands, and explains why bar soap is the best sudsing agent to use!<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"AB&#039;s Hand Washing Demo: No Cleaver!\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tIwdf3WKe3Y?feature=oembed&amp;wmode=opaque\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top:50px;\"><b>A GREAT WAY TO WASH YOUR HANDS<\/b><\/p><p>\r\n\n<p>Washing your hands in the correct manner is at the front line of helping stop the spread of germs that cause diseases.<\/p>\n<p>The important thing is to scrub it, scrub it good, and scrub all nooks and crannies, including under your fingernails, where germs like to crawl in and hide.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/a_great_way.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-8537 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/a_great_way.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"604\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We found a great handwashing method, as demonstrated by a nurse in the video below.<\/p>\n<p>She uses purple paint to show you how the soap &amp; scrubbing can get every surface on your hands clean.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Washing your hands: The purple paint demonstration\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nEzJ_QKjT14?feature=oembed&amp;wmode=opaque\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Please use the advice in this article as a starting point to upgrade your immune system.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, before you begin any new supplement plan, <u>please consult<\/u> with a medical professional to make sure it\u2019s the right thing for you.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/4_surprising_ways_infography.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-8547 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/4_surprising_ways_infography.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"100%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/4_surprising_ways_infography.jpg 1553w, https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/4_surprising_ways_infography-313x405.jpg 313w, https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/4_surprising_ways_infography-790x1024.jpg 790w, https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/4_surprising_ways_infography-768x995.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/4_surprising_ways_infography-1186x1536.jpg 1186w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1553px) 100vw, 1553px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Did you know that you have trillions of bacteria in your body? So much, in fact, that we humans contain 10 times more bacteria than cells! This means that bacteria must play a really important role in bodily processes. Time for a science lesson. Simply put by Vocabulary.com, \u201cbacteria are microscopic living organisms, usually one-celled,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":9039,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8487"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8487"}],"version-history":[{"count":60,"href":"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8487\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8981,"href":"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8487\/revisions\/8981"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9039"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8487"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8487"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newwavefitness.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8487"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}