How to Be a Terrible Host and Stay Germ-Free

Have you ever noticed that some people seem to catch every little germ there is, while others seem to stay germ-free, even when it comes to the most widespread viruses?

Why is that?

Some of it is simply written in your genetic code. To a certain degree, your immune system is determined by your genetics. 

Operative words here being “to a certain degree.” While you may be predisposed to have a less than perfect immune system, it doesn’t mean you are out of options.

Luckily for all of us, lifestyle plays a huge factor in determining how well your body repels germs. 

Germs go where they are welcome. So, all you have to do is make your body the worst host possible for the germs.

Turn your body in a germ-hostile environment and they will not stick around. Let them know they’re not welcome. They’ll move on, looking for other hosts and leave you germ-free.

How do you do that?

The recipe is simple – eat well, sleep well, and light well.

Light well? Yes. 

This might be a new concept, so let’s start there:

Light Well: Exposure to Red Light for Improved Resilience to Germs

The key to such a significant effect of red light on your immune system is that this type of therapy is based on a holistic approach to your health.

Your immune system is more than just one or two organs. It is a complex system that involves your blood, lymphatic system, nervous system, endocrine system, fascia, and even your appendix.

So, if you want to boost your system, what do you actually focus on? 

It’s hard to tell, isn’t it?

Red light therapy (RLT) is a great solution for boosting your immune system. Here are just some of the ways RLT improves your immunity:

• Energizes your body’s immune system. By exposing your body to RLT, you raise the level of ATP necessary for powering up your natural defense system, starting from the cellular level.
• Improves antioxidant production. Antioxidants protect your tissue and cells at a structural level. They diminish the damage made by free radicals and they also reduce inflammation.
• Increases Nitric Oxide (NO) production. NO is necessary for intercellular communication. For your immune system to be optimal, cells have to communicate flawlessly.

These are just some of the ways photobiomodulation helps you turn your body into a host that germs absolutely hate, so you can stay germ-free.

Eat Well: Healthy and Balanced Diet 

A healthy and balanced diet is necessary for all your cells to function at a high level and this includes the cells of your immune system. When immune cells are activated, they are in a “state of emergency” which means that they spend a lot of energy trying to keep you germ-free.

Therefore, the best diet for you is the diet that can maintain the energy levels in your cells. That is the only way they can prevent infections and respond rapidly when in contact with pathogens.

However, let’s not get tangled into the explanations of how you should eat or what makes a healthy diet. 

Let’s focus on how red light can help boost your efforts to get the most out of your diet. 

Besides the energy red light provides for your immune system, it also helps your body make the most of the food you ingest. This happens in many ways, but one of the most interesting ones is the effect RLT has on your microbiome: 

The functions of the bacteria in the intestine include breaking down carbohydrates (fermentation) that the body cannot otherwise digest. This process creates short-chain fatty acids which are used for energy in the organism. For example, butyrate is utilized by the surface cells of the intestine, propionate by the liver and acetate by muscle cells.

Therefore, the condition of the intestine also has a significant influence also on energy production. The intestinal bacterial strain also contributes to the absorption of K vitamins, B vitamins and some minerals (magnesium, calcium and iron), the production of bile acids as well as the immune system. Furthermore, it acts as a protective wall against various pathogens.

Biohacker’s Handbook

Red light therapy makes all these processes happen easily and more efficiently, keeping your microbiome healthy. 

Research shows that photobiomodulation affects microbiome diversity in a positive way, making it more efficient and resilient while fighting inflammation and even metabolic diseases. 

Sleep Well: Disrupted Sleeping Patterns Compromise Your Immunity

No sleep – no resilience. It’s as simple as that. Without sleep, your body doesn’t produce the proteins that are a crucial part of the immune response, needed to fight infections. 

If you have trouble establishing a good sleeping routine, red light therapy might be the answer. It helps your body regulate melatonin production, essential for good night sleep. 

If you start your day with a red light therapy session, you will expose yourself to the light that resembles the one that you can see (and feel) at the crack of dawn.

Your body’s natural cycle of rest and active time “recognizes” this type of light and starts the necessary biochemical processes to prepare you for the day and the night that follows. 

By the time you are ready to go to bed, your body has produced enough melatonin to get you to sleep easily. Your circadian rhythm is established and you’ll enjoy deep restorative sleep.

The well-rested, properly fed, and red-light-therapy-treated body is not a place that germs find inviting. On the contrary. The immune system of such a body is up and running and is able to keep the body germ-free. 

Therefore, do your best to repel the germs even before they start causing you issues. Be the worst host ever and avoid having those unwelcome guests.

Discover all the different ways red light therapy helps your body stay healthy.