Contact with microorganisms during the day is inevitable. Whether through the air, physical contact with other people or surfaces, or in the food or water we consume, a healthy immune system needs to up to the task.
Of course, there is no cure-all to prevent negative responses to bacteria and other foreign organisms that can disrupt your life. But there may be more you can do for your immune system and the home. For example, you can support your healthy immune system with supplements from Nature’s Way, and use natural cleaning products on the dirtiest areas of the home.
Below, we’ll briefly cover how both examples may support the body and home, as well as some tips for staying healthy around other people while at work and the gym.
The Dirtiest Places at Home, Work, and the Gym
Microorganisms of all types, especially bacteria, multiply quickly and thrive in indoor spaces that are common around the home, the workplace, and the gym. Below is a look at each of these environments and some tips for staying healthy.
Home
Both the kitchen and bathroom are the two big trouble spots for potentially harmful germs in the home. This is especially true if you look at the toilet and cutting board.
Also be mindful of your makeup. Brushes and other applicators are designed for reuse, which is very economical, but also a great place for germs to live.
Other places to watch for include anywhere that your dog lies (try to train your dog to only stay in certain areas to make cleaning easier), household appliances like the washing machine or coffee maker, and sinks. You will also want to keep an eye on handles, especially those around the sink and bathroom since you often touch these surfaces before cleaning your hands and risk transferring germs back onto your clean hands later.
In general, if your time is limited, focusing most of your cleaning efforts on a few high traffic surfaces in the home will mean you can get by with much less frequent cleaning of other areas.
Work
Water fountains, computer equipment, and the bathrooms are all areas of your workplace that you should approach with caution. Computer keyboards, for example, have been suggested to have 200 times more bacteria than a toilet seat; water fountains can have more than 2 million bacteria per square inch; and not every coworker washes their hands on the way out of the bathroom.
Also, politely avoid coworkers with children who are being kept home from school after getting sick. Some diseases are contagious before symptoms appear and for many days after. For example, a cold is contagious about a day before the symptoms begin and up to seven days after; the flu can be contagious for up to two weeks.
Make sure to keep sanitary wipes around your desk and occasionally give your work area a good scrub until you don’t see any dirt, grime, or oils on the keyboard or mouse. When you use the bathroom, use a napkin to open doors, stalls, and even when turning on the faucet. Finally, consider bringing water from home in a reusable bottle.
Gym
Your local gym is no different than everything mentioned about the home and workplace, but the addition of sweat on a warm body means a greater likelihood that bacteria and other organisms will flourish.
Hopefully your local gym has sanitation stations throughout the gym and policies that enforce wiping down equipment after use. If not, it is a good idea to bring a small towel to place on equipment or even gloves that cover the entire hand. Also, always bring a yoga mats, wear flip flops in the shower, cover any cuts, and don’t mix clean and dirty clothing.
Finally, always shower after working out and place your wet clothing in a place where it can dry if you don’t plan on doing a load of laundry right away.
Why Exposure to Microbes is Good
Not all bacteria is bad, but in the pursuit of staying clean, you may be harming the good bacteria found on your skin and inside the body. Antibiotics, for example, may help to kill certain bad bacteria, but can also harm the flora found in a healthy gastrointestinal tract. Researchers also suggest that infants and children that are not exposed to germs may have an increased risk of developing adulthood sensitivity to allergic and autoimmune diseases such as hay fever, asthma and inflammatory bowel disease.
This is not to say that everyone’s immune system functions the same. In fact, many people require additional precautions during the day. However, if you fall into the category of average immune system, it is important that you find a healthy balance that doesn’t see you obsess about getting sick, while also understanding that the occasional sniffles or other general discomfort will pass with rest, water, good nutrition, and maybe a visit with your doctor.
Nature’s Way and Natural Cleaning Products
As mentioned in the opening of this article, two great ways to deal with bacteria and support the body is by cleaning problem areas and supporting the immune system.
If you’re curious about feeling clean in your home each day, check these articles:
- Natural Cleaning Products For Every Room
- Cleaning With Essential Oils
- 10 Quick & Easy Spring Cleaning Tips
For individuals who want to know more about what you can do to support the immune system, look to brands that offer supplements with vitamins, minerals, and herbal formulations that work with the body’s natural defenses. Overloading the body with good stuff to feel well may have the opposite effect, especially if the source of that good stuff is a manufacturer you can’t trust.
Nature’s Way meets strict guidelines for quality and potency of ingredients, and consumers trust them, which is obvious by the many positive reviews found for the brand on the NHC storefront. If you want to help balance your healthy immune system, Nature’s Way offers a variety of Sambucus elderberry Gummies and Syrup that are especially popular among adults and children that are dealing with an exposure to bacteria or other organisms.
While illness is a fact of life, you can still work to provide support that the body and home need each day. If you ever have questions about your health, make sure to speak with your primary care physician. At the same time, using supplements and being more cautious in highly trafficked areas may provide the additional support you need to help maintain feelings of health and wellness each day.
