Waning Immunity - 5 Easy Tips to Develop The Immune System

5 Easy Tips to “Turn Back the Clock” and Supercharge Your Immunity!

Your immune system is the first “line of defense” against pathogens, infections, and mutant cells. When we are young, whatever comes at us, we seem to be able to fend off pretty effortlessly. As we age, however, our immune function “wanes” and becomes less and less effective.

While you may not be able to stop the clock completely, there are LOTS of things you can do to prevent immune system waning (also called “immunosessence”) and boost your immune system as you age. Here is all you need to know to “turn back the clock” and prevent immune system waning no matter what your age!

Your Immune System and Aging

Your immune system is pretty incredible. Since you were just a “wee one” until today, the billions of immune system cells that make up this system have “stood guard” over your body.

In fact, each day this system does its job of cleaning up old and dying cells, fending off pathogens and viruses, getting rid of mutations, and generally “cleaning house” of anything that could do you harm. (1) What’s more, it has done all this throughout the years despite being exposed to a constant onslaught of toxins vying for its energy and resources. These may include environmental pollutants, pesticides in foods, toxins in sundry products, harmful substances in cleaning products, and internal toxins caused by chronic emotional stress, hormone imbalance, and more.

According to the US EPA, there are about 80,000 different kinds of chemical substances that we may be exposed to on any given day. That is a lot for our immune system (and our connected organs of metabolism and detoxification) to deal with. (2)

In our teens and twenties, many of us may have also exposed our bodies to a constant onslaught of harmful lifestyle behaviors such drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, eating junk food, and lack of sleep. Most of us didn’t think twice about all the bad habits we might have regularly engaged in in our youth. Our immune system simply “bounced back” with each new day.

As we get older, however, things change dramatically. Especially after age 45, those bad habits start to catch up to us. Our immune system begins to wane, and we experience “immunosessence.” According to a 2019 joint study conducted by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, age-related immunosessence is characterized by the slowing down of all organs in the body and a higher propensity for sickness and disease caused by lower immune system function on all levels. (3)

5 Easy Actions to Stop Immune System Waning and Boost Health at Any Age

Ever wonder why you seem to grow more and more tired with each passing year?

Because of age-related immune system waning, or “immunosessence,” it simply takes a lot more energy for all of our hard-working immune system cells and mechanisms to do their jobs of protecting us. The end result is a body that is fatigued and vulnerable to attack.

There ARE ways to turn back the biological clock, however. What’s more, these ways are easy and very effective. All they take is a commitment on your part to “stick to it.”

1. Lower Chronic Stress

There is perhaps no other condition that can negatively affect immune function more than chronic stress. While some amount of short-term stress is actually a good thing for keeping your immune system active and flexible, chemical stress that goes on for days or stress responses that never stops (i.e., chronic stress) can lead to high inflammation levels, low immune system function, and a higher risk for disease.

A thorough, insightful investigation into the relationship between stress and immune system health was conducted in 2014 by researchers at Stanford University. (4)

“…short-term stress is one of nature’s fundamental but under-appreciated survival mechanisms that could be clinically harnessed to enhance immunoprotection,” say the researchers in the study report published in the journal Immunologic Research. “In contrast, long-term stress suppresses or dysregulates innate and adaptive immune responses…”

Some benefits of short-term stress may include the production of immune system cells such as cytokines and macrophages, amongst other things. On the other hand, long term or chronic stress can lead to cytokine imbalance, immune system suppression at the cellular level, and a higher susceptibility to certain diseases, including cancer.

If you feel like you are constantly running on the chemicals of stress (i.e., cortisol and adrenaline), know that there are a lot of things you can do about it.

All of the other immune-boosting tips in this section can help to lower stress too, so keep reading! In addition, you can utilize specific tools and protocols that have been proven to bring stress chemicals down while at the same time boost “happy hormones” which can nourish the immune system.

Some of these stress-busting, immune system-boosting modalities include deep breathing, grounding in nature, using an infrared sauna, and Emotional Freedom Technique (or EFT). (5) Studies suggest that practicing EFT can not only lower stress but can also balance out Heart Rate Variability (HRV). HRV can be an indication of immune function and general health. (6)

2. Eat a Nutrient-Dense, Anti-Inflammatory Diet

You can focus on lowering inflammation and boosting immunity and still get all the nutrients you need through eating a whole foods diet. In fact, a nutrient-dense diet is just as important as lowering stress responses for immune health.

When it comes to diet, the foods that you leave out are just as important as the foods you include. And the most important thing to cut out is extra processed sugar. This is because too much sugar and simple carbs can lead directly to higher inflammatory levels, imbalanced gut flora, metabolic disease, increased obesity, higher risk of disease, and lower immune function. Studies have shown that high points in sugar intake correspond directly to dips in immune function. (7)

Instead of sugar and other immunity busters like saturated fats and excessive red meats, “eat the rainbow” instead. This means getting in plenty of green leafy and cruciferous vegetables, antioxidant-rich fruits like blueberries, lean sources of protein such as chicken, high omega 3 foods like fish and nuts, and plenty of hydrating fresh, filtered water.

The key to an immune-boosting diet is one that nourishes your gut and nervous system, keeps inflammation levels low, and provides your body with all the nutrients your body needs to function properly.

3. Support Your Gut

Of course, a whole food, anti-inflammatory diet is also going to support a diverse and robust gut microbiota. This might not seem like a big deal, but it really is if your goal is to kick start immunity.

Think of it this way. The GI system is one of the main ways that the body interacts with the outside world. It is also the home to 80% of our immune system cells. By taking action to strengthen the gut, you are not only upping your nutrient quotient. You are also helping your immune system do a better job of protecting you.

Researchers at Sloan-Kettering Institute conducted a study on thousands of patients over a 10-year period. They found that the kinds of immune system cells in the blood changed in direct relation to specific strains of bacteria which were present in the gut. (8) Furthermore, a 2017 Chinese study found that a healthy gut microbiota can play a vital role in maintaining “intestinal homeostasis” and preventing gut dysbiosis via the “mucosal immune system.” (9)

Healing your gut does take time and requires replacing bad eating and lifestyle habits with healthy ones every day. If you keep at it, however, you are going to see results.

Besides eating a nutrient dense diet which includes plenty of fiber and probiotic as well as prebiotic foods, other ways to help your gut include staying away from foods you may be intolerant of (such as gluten), consuming probiotic supplements, getting plenty of exercise, keeping stress low, staying hydrated, and thoroughly chewing your food for healthy digestion.

4. Move Your Body Every Day

Believe it or not, getting a little bit of cardiovascular exercise in every day can also be a great boost to your immune system, not to mention your overall health.

There are several reasons why. We already mentioned the connection between exercise and stress reduction as well as exercise and gut health. In addition, physical activity can help flush bacteria out of the airways and lungs and help strengthen and increase white blood cells (WBC). WBCs are the body’s main immune system cells for fighting disease.

“There is a general consensus that regular bouts of short-lasting (i.e., up to 45 minutes) moderate intensity exercise is beneficial for host immune defense, particularly in older adults and people with chronic diseases,” write the authors of a 2020 report published in the journal Exercise Immunology Review. (10)

So, what kind of exercise is best to do? The answer to that question depends on you! Be sure to choose a kind of physical movement that you can do safely. It is okay if it is somewhat challenging, but always stay away from exercise that causes pain or is too strenuous.

And if you really don’t know what to do, just start walking! The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends 150 minutes of brisk walking per week. This usually translates to a 30-minute walk, 5 days a week, for most people. (11)

5. Use Key Natural Substances to Help Your Immune System, Like Beta Glucans!

In addition to all of the great lifestyle tips mentioned above, there are also many kinds of natural whole foods and supplements that can specifically boost immune system health.

One of the substances that have been proved effective the most by scientific research are “beta glucans.” Beta glucans are polysaccharides that naturally occur along the cell walls of many kinds of grains as well as certain types of fungi and yeasts. When they are ingested, they go directly to immune system cells through small openings called Peyer’s Patches. Once beta glucans enter the immune system, they catalyze immune cells to go on “high alert.”

They activate immune system cells, macrophages, and other immune system cells which can then do their job of gobbling up infectious pathogens and other threats at a must faster, more efficient rate. A 2020 joint investigation conducted by Texas Tech University amongst others found that yeast-derived beta glucans can kick start specific immune system functions connected to “cytokine markers for inflammation.” (12)

When it comes to the immune system, beta glucans sourced from Baker’s Yeast (Saccharomyes cerevisae) have been shown to be the best. Studies from the University of Texas found that Baker’s Yeast beta glucans were able to activate the immune system on several fronts. The immune system in response was able to level-up immunoglobin and monocyte counts and increase the production and effectiveness of T cells. (13)

You CAN Prevent Immune System Waning and Experience Youthful Vigor Again!

You don’t have to suffer from constant lack of energy, ongoing infections, or higher risk of disease as you age. By making just a few lifestyle changes, focusing on a gut healing anti-inflammatory diet, and including key substances such as beta glucans in the mix, you can be on your way to great immune health again.

And if beta glucans are something you want to add in your immune system-boosting routine, then be sure to check out Better Way Health’s patented, one-of-a-kind, non-GMO Baker’s Yeast-derived formula.

You CAN repair your immune system, lower inflammation, and put the “vim and vigor” back in your life on all levels.

You don’t have to suffer from constant lack of energy, ongoing infections, or higher risk of disease as you age.

FAQ

For more information about beta glucan, Better Way Health and more, visit our FAQ page. To speak to an Amazing Customer Experience Specialist, give us a call at 800.746.7640or email us at hello@betterwayhealth.com

Our Beta Glucan goes through a rigorous purification process developed by the creator: AJ Lanigan. Once this purification process takes place, only about 10% of a given “batch” meets our 85% minimum purity standard. The “scraps”, so to speak (the other 90% of the batches), are then sold off and marketed by other companies. In addition, the product has been tested time and time again to prove its efficacy. When compared to other heavily marketed immune system products, our product comes out on top every single time. These comparison studies are conducted by a disinterested third party researcher at the University of Louisville: Dr. Vaclav Vetvicka. In these studies, immune response levels are safely tested on both humans and animals. Our product is also Non-GMO and encased in a Vegan, plant-based capsule.

-Better Way Health

Better Way Health Beta Glucan is certainly one of the most renowned brands out there in the marketplace. In our world of immune system support, when you ask “What’s the best immune system supplement out there?”; well, the Better Way Health name is the most recognized.

Anyone who has spent time reviewing side-by-side comparisons of our product with, again, just about any other kind of immune compound; regardless of the source, you’re going to find that Beta Glucan 500 by Better Way Health outperforms all competitors. This has been the case for years; this is not a new phenomenon that conclusive research done by disinterested third parties in major universities and teaching hospitals all over the world agree that the potency of Glucan 500 makes it 100% the leading immune system product available.

-AJ Lanigan

The immunomodulating aspects of Beta Glucan is what makes it safer and more efficacious than the competition. Studies confirm our Beta Glucan is the most effective immune system product on the market, including even other beta glucans. The patented purification process developed by AJ Lanigan is what makes our Beta Glucan more biologically active and beneficial to consumers.

-Better Way Health

This is rather easy to answer. Our Beta Glucan has one really big advantage in that it is the most studied natural immonomodulator of them all. The biological studies number in the tens of thousands. For most other products, you may find 10 to 15 studies. If you have 10,000+ papers from all around the world, that cannot be ignored.

-Dr. Vaclav Vetvicka

We did a couple of studies and we published them comparing some individual glucans to individual immune-modulators like Echinacea. That is one example, most of the clinical studies on that plant failed because one company is using leaves, one is using roots and each has a different quality inside so you never know what you get.

With the "mixture" type products, it is even worse because some manufacturers are just trying to either increase the price by putting five things together, so it’s not 30 bucks it’s now $50. None of these manufacturers are actually doing any research on the combinations of their ingredients.

-Dr. Vaclav Vetvicka

This topic is like comparing Super Bowl Champions (Better Way Health Beta Glucan) to Recreational Sports Teams (the competition). There is practically no comparison; when you look at the average Immune System Product on the market, even an abundance of it may only be able to raise your Immune Response 2 to 3 percent. That increase, however, may be costing you thousands of dollars; thus, I would not consider that to be much of a comparison. For about 1$ a day, with our Glucan 500 product, you can get your immune response up to about 60% (double the innate human immunity): no one can compete with that efficacy.

-AJ Lanigan

Beta Glucan has been studied for over 50 years at major universities and teaching hospitals, all of which are disinterested third party researchers. There are more than 150,000 glucan studies on PubMed.gov and nearly 50,000 studies involving glucans and humans. Our Beta Glucan specifically has been featured in over 20 medical journals, including the prestigious American Journal of Immunology and the Journal of Medicinal Food.

-Better Way Health

There are more than 150,000 studies on Glucan that you can find on Medline and PubMed. Roughly, you can also find 50,000 studies on Glucans and their interaction with Humans. Throughout these studies, there has never been an adverse side effect found with our Beta Glucan.

-AJ Lanigan

Other than the thousands of studies out there, there is an excellent book by Dr. Vaclav Vetvicka from the University of Louisville entitled, Beta Glucan: Nature’s Secret. It’s about 157 pages and provides a quick, educational read for those interested in everything Beta Glucan: the history, safety, benefits, and mechanism of action of Beta Glucan. The bibliography included in the book provides dozens of other peer-reviewed articles and journals for curious consumers.

-AJ Lanigan

If somebody goes to PubMed.Gov or some kind of scientific database, there is about 150,000 hits now and about 50 new papers appear every week. The research is really booming.

-Dr. Vaclav Vetvicka

Anyone / anything with an immune system can benefit from taking Beta Glucan, including both humans and pets. Our immune system is our first line of defense and it can always use additional “soldiers.” Keep in mind that our Beta Glucan makes a person’s immune system smarter and stronger, but never causes overstimulation or harm. There are no known side effects.

-Better Way Health

“Anyone who is living can benefit from a healthier Immune System” – A.J. Lanigan

People who want proper support for their Immune System should use this product. People who simply want to maintain or regain their good health can benefit from this product as well.

Many conditions, whether environmental or physical, put significant stress on the Immune System.

Infectious Disease, Cardiovascular Disease, Chemotherapy Treatment, Radiation, Allergies, Asthma, and Stress are all severely taxing on the body. This type of suppression and depression of the immune system is what puts everyone’s health person at risk. Be proactive; take a product that benefits your overall health by enhancing your body’s own natural ability to stay well and recuperate.

That’s right, anyone and everyone can benefit from the immune modulating effects of Beta-1, 3D Glucan.

-AJ Lanigan

For people who are under heavy stress or are just working in some kind of extreme conditions, they need all the help they can get. Proactive supplementation is also recommended for Flu and Cold seasons

-Dr. Vaclav Vetvicka

For maximum immune response, take one 500mg capsule per 50 lbs. of body weight. For example, if you weigh around 150 lbs. you would need to take 3 capsules per day. All capsules should be taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. After taking your capsules, wait 30 minutes before eating or consuming other products. If you forget to take your capsules in the morning it is safe to go ahead and take your Beta Glucan during the day, although the benefits will not be as significant. Remember, these dosage instructions are for maximum immune response, any dose (i.e., 1 capsule per day) is still extremely beneficial.

-Better Way Health

Maximum dose is based on body weight: Remember, your weight in kg’s is your weight in pounds divided by 2.2. For example, a 220lb person is 100kg. The guideline for maintaining good health is 2mg/kg of body weight per day. For the 220 pound person mentioned above, who is 100kg, they should take 200mg per day and that would be extraordinarily effective Immune Support.

For people who want or need additional immune support, there is a 500mg capsule. The recommendation for this group is 20 mg/kg/day or a 500mg capsule for every 50 pounds of body weight. Thus, a 100kg person (220lb) would take 4 capsules of the 500mg per day; for a 110 pound person, two capsules of the 500mg Beta Glucan would suffice. If your weight does not calculate out to an exact dose, round up or down depending on your needs; or you can average it out by taking 1 capsule one day and 2 the next.

The point is, the product is safe and you can be flexible with dosage if you reflect the guidelines above. Even taking just 1 - 500mg capsule each day is an extremely beneficial dose.

Neutrophils and monocytes in our blood live only for a couple of days. That is why you have a need for constant, daily, glucan consumption because they die and the new cells are appearing and then you need the glucan again to boost these immune cells.

-Dr. Vaclav Vetvicka

No, there are no known side effects pertaining to our Beta Glucan. There have been numerous safe human and animal studies showing the safety of Beta Glucan. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given our Beta Glucan GRAS rating, which means Generally Recognized as Safe under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. This certification is extremely hard to achieve especially when it comes to a dietary supplement.

-Better Way Health

You can absolutely take this product without worry! There have been multiple studies done on fully-healthy people looking at every health parameter you can imagine: organs, tissues, chemicals, brain function, etcetera.

No harmful effects were caused at any dosage level. Even people who were taking doses that were exponentially higher than any level we recommend, (some of the more exotic animal studies have doses that exceed 800X the recommended dosage) displayed 0 side effects whatsoever. As I am famous for saying, “unless you hit somebody in the eye with the bottle, there is no harm that can be caused by this product”

-AJ Lanigan

Beta Glucan enhances a person’s immune response in a safe way. The average person has about a 30% active immune response. When someone takes our Beta Glucan it raises that person’s immune response to 60%, and in some cases even more, if they are taking the maximum immune response dosage. This allows for your immune system to recognize cells that are both self and non-self more effectively. I’m sure you can imagine the benefits of walking around with a doubled immune response/immune system!

-Better Way Health

Beta Glucan enhances the immune system by improving the immune response when the immune system is confronted by something that does not belong. This could be a foreign body that it sees as “non-self,” something like a virus, a bacteria, a fungus form, or a parasite.

Our Beta-1, 3D Glucan is an intensely purified, highly active form of Beta Glucan; that, when taken orally with a glass of water, attaches to specific sites on the immune cells: the CR3 receptors. By attaching or binding to these specific sites, it activates these cells. It’s like putting the cells on “high alert” to the foreign bodies that they see as non-self. This process is referred to as immune modulation, not stimulation.

Immune stimulation presumably occurs with substances like Echinacea and Colostrum. Beta Glucan modulates or activates but doesn’t over stimulate, which is key to the safety of the compound. Research shows that our Beta-1, 3D Glucan is a highly effective immune modulator. It’s easily absorbed through, what we call, the Peyer’s Patches in the Small Intestine. Once these beta glucan “micro-particles” are taken up through this area in the small intestine, they will then be absorbed through phagocytosis or “gobbled up” by the immune cells in the gut.

They’ll travel around the body and it is the immune cells themselves that will digest and secrete the perfect molecule that binds to the CR 3 receptor and activates the immune system.

-AJ Lanigan

Beta Glucan is not temperature sensitive. If it is exposed to extreme hot or cold temperatures, the efficacy of the product will not be impacted. However, we do recommend keeping a close eye on your tracking information, which is sent to you via email with all orders. This way you know when your order will arrive and when you will be able to retrieve it from your mailbox or front door.

Our Beta Glucan is made in Wisconsin, USA and bottled / encapsulated in Oregon, USA.

Our highly purified Beta Glucan powder is encased in PLANTCAPS™, which is a Plant-based capsule made from pullulan – naturally fermented from tapioca.

After 50 years of research, our Beta Glucan has no known side effects, or interactions with a GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) rating by the FDA. It is one of the safest, most effective dietary supplements on the market.

Many women take our Beta Glucan while breastfeeding, to help support their immune system. Babies can also benefit from mom's immune system giving the best response possible.

However, if you have any concerns whatsoever, we recommend consulting with your health care professional before use, as a precautionary measure.

Still have questions?

Our ACES Team is always there to help.

support@betterwayhealth.com Live Chat 800.746.7640

References

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About the author

Taylor Morris

As COO of Better Way Health, Taylor creates and Implements business operations and policies that reinforce our company culture. He ensures we stick to our core values and provides resources to elevate our team members in their respective roles. He is the day-to-day backbone of our world-class customer service and a seasoned authority on Beta Glucan.