This may come as a surprise – or you’re just used to it around here – but hand sanitizer may not be all that they said it was. I’m claiming that you should stop using hand sanitizer altogether.
Sure, hand sanitizer does it’s job – of killing germs – but unfortunately, it doesn’t just stop at the bad ones but the good ones as well. Think of it as an antibiotic to your gut bacteria. It doesn’t just get rid of the bad – it gets rid of the good, and that good is serving a purpose.
Inside today’s podcast, I share all the reasons why hand sanitizer could be making you more susceptible to illness and disease and what to do instead.
Of course, to fully understand this podcast, you’ll want to make sure and listen to the full episode on the immune system which lays the basics.
Then tune in below to find out why you should stop using hand sanitizer and what to do instead.
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wash your hands
While there is a reason to get rid of bad germs, I mean we do want to protect our body from foreign invaders, creating a sterile environment is making things worse – at least long term. Some germs are good, some are neutral, and even some bad ones help get the immune system conditioned to working well.
But in the case of keeping yourself well – the best option is to practice good handwashing. The very thing that has been around the longest is plain old soap and water. It gets rid of the bad without wrecking your good microbiome.
Just make sure you wash for the appropriate amount of time. The recommendation is 20-30 seconds of sudsing up before rinsing. That’s like singing happy birthday twice. Just for reference.
Outside of hand washing, there are some additional ways to keep your immune system running well. Here are my go-to recommendations.
1. gargle with salt water
Salt water helps to create a high-salt barrier pulling excess fluid {inflammation} out of your throat all while washing the germs away. They have found that gargling with warm salt water is a great symptomatic reliever when a sore throat strikes, but it’s equally as powerful in prevention.
In a study published by The American Journal of Preventative Medicine, gargling with warm salt water three times a day has been shown to reduce respiratory tract infections by over 40%. I’d say that’s enough for me to add this simple practice into your daily routine.
To make, use one cup of warm water and add 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of sea salt. Take a drink, gargle for a few seconds, spit and repeat until the water is gone. A solid 15-20 seconds a few times a day {even just once a day} can make all the difference.
2. take a detox bath
Detox baths are a great way to get your blood flowing and pull out toxins in your body. In most detox baths, the active ingredient is the Epsom salts. Epsom salts contain magnesium sulfate which naturally relaxes your nervous system and draws toxins out of the body.
You, of course, can add additional support to your bath, but a detox bath a few times a week for preventative care. It also works to flush your body if you do feel like something is coming on.
Click here to get my favorite detox bath recipes.
3. Drink Hot Tea
Hot teas have been used for centuries for medicinal purposes. Most teas, especially herbal varieties, and even mushroom teas contain antioxidants, flavonoids and other powerful nutrients and compounds working to enhance your immune system.
Mixing in a variety of different teas to your routine can be a powerful way to strengthen your body and provide vital nutrients. A few of my favorite healing teas are nettles leaf and ginger. But you can get my favorite healing teas over in this post.
Click here to get my five favorite healing teas.
4. Use Elderberries
Elderberries have been around for centuries. They have been found to be one of the most effective remedies for viral and bacterial infections such as cold and flu viruses. Not to mention they can substantially shorten the duration of the illness if you do get sick.
Elderberries contain powerful proteins and bioflavonoids that have the ability to destroy viruses on contact. Plus, they are a rich source of vitamin C, zinc as well as other critical vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and even nutrients still undiscovered.
You can take elderberries in multiple ways. I prefer elderberry tea and elderberry syrup.
Learn how to make homemade elderberry syrup here.
5. Keep Your Nose Moist
This seems a little out there, but as mentioned above, most viruses and bacteria enter our body through our nose or mouth. One way our immune system works to prevent this is through our nose hairs and the thousands of cilia lining our nasal passages.
These cilia produce mucus that traps pathogens and smothers them.
But when our nose becomes too dry, most often in the dry, cold fall and winter months, our cilia won’t work correctly and they will lay flat, as will our nose hairs creating a free passage into our body.
To keep your nasal passage healthy and working correctly we must keep it moist. There are a few ways you can do this:
- Use a neti pot and a saline solution to rinse your nose and sinuses.
- Rub coconut oil {or another food grade oil} inside your nasal passage a few times a day.
- This nasal spray which is one of the few I recommend and love. It works wonders!
The primary goal is to keep what’s suppose to be moist. Just like a healthy dog has a wet nose, a healthy human should too.
the right mindset
Even more than these simple practices, our immune system works off our mindset. Stress is still the most significant indicator or disease and illness. Keep your mind healthy, get more sleep, practice extra self-care and take it easy when you feel like something is coming on.
Don’t forget to go back and listen to this episode to learn more about the immune system. It is a fascinating subject.
more resources
Here are a few more resources that I love for boosting my immune system.
- The Ultimate Immune Boosting Guide
- 6 Cheap and Easy Immune Boosting Tips
- Why You Need a Seasonal Routine
- Refreshing Citrus Turmeric Drink
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