Brace yourself. Today we’re going to talk about mucus. Or maybe we should call it the Great Wall of Snot instead.
Because the truth is, in many ways, this icky barrier IS a wall. It’s your body’s first line of defense against harmful invaders.
Snot is what’s standing tall between you and all kinds of bugs that want nothing more than to use you as their host. Plus, it works overtime to filter out other harmful particles.
But there’s a good chance this “wall” is being pulled apart, brick by brick. And you won’t even realize it.
New research zeroes in on how mucus – aka SNOT – can come under assault by hidden villains in your air and water. And that includes dangerous new manufacturing byproducts that NO ONE is talking about (yet).
That could leave you open and exposed to viral invaders. But there’s a way to shore up those snot bricks.
And don’t worry. You don’t have to do anything gross or weird to accomplish it.
Mucus helps us stay healthy
Mucus gets a bad rap. We tend to think of snot as being gross. But when it comes right down to it, snot is… well, ok, I’ll admit it… it IS pretty gross.
And that isn’t only because it’s sticky goo produced in your nose or hanging out at the back of your throat. It’s what’s trapped INSIDE the snot that makes it truly nasty.
But it turns out that’s ALSO why it’s so important.
You see, one of your mucus’s most critical roles is to filter everything you inhale. That means the snot is trapping germs, dirt, pollutants, and anything else that doesn’t belong in your body.
When you’re sick, your body pumps out even more mucus to trap and kill even more of those invading germs. In fact, that’s one reason snot can change color when you’re coming down with something.
But the new study finds that some of the stuff we’re all inhaling these days can seriously mess with that critical process.
How to protect your snot when it matters most
Common pollutants, including particles in the air and the harmful new “microplastic” particles turning up in the water, can trigger FOUR dangerous changes:
- They can punch holes in what’s known as the “mucosal barrier,” essentially dismantling parts of your Great Wall of Snot and allowing dangerous invaders to slip inside and make you ill.
- Toxins and other pathogens can hide inside pollution particles, which can carry them past the mucosal barrier and inside your body.
- They can alter your body’s mucus response, so it pumps out too much snot when you don’t need it… and too little when you do.
- Even the texture of the mucus itself can be affected, making it less effective at trapping, killing, and chasing out potential pathogens.
There are TWO ways to fight back.
The first is the long-term battle. It’s to target the uncaring monolithic industries responsible for the problem. And forcing them to stop cranking out dangerous chemicals into our air and water.
The Environmental Working Group is an excellent source for learning about exactly what we’re being exposed to, as well as a resource for learning ways we can help combat the problem. I suggest you make their website a regular stop.
But, of course, that won’t help keep you and your loved ones safe right NOW.
One of the best ways to do that is by purchasing a high-quality air purifier with a HEPA filter for your home. Plus, filtering your water with something proven to remove many unwanted pollutants such as reverse osmosis.
Both will require an investment. But if you can afford to make them, the return… your good health… is priceless. They can reduce your exposure to all those snot-destroying toxins to help keep your immune system functioning at peak levels. Even the gross parts.
To learn more about what might be lurking in your drinking water, click here
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