Strengthening your immune system can be quite a task, considering most of us are overloaded with internal and external stressors, exposure to chemical toxins and a slew of other conditions that weaken our ability to fight off disease. Here are 12 more steps you can take that will help you optimize your immune system and help you reach optimal:

1. Have your home and office checked for mold.  Mold is a rapidly growing epidemic in the U.S., due in part to our desire to create energy efficient homes.  While it may help you save on your electric bill, it will cost you more on your health bills.  An inadequate exchange between indoor and outdoor air leads to less competition for the indoor molds, allowing them to grow unchecked.  Lax building and HVAC regulations serves to further exacerbate this problem.  If you’ve had water damage to your home or office, the chances that you’re experiencing mold-related health problems is even greater.  Roughly 25% of the population has a genotype (genetic makeup) that makes it very challenging for their immune system to recognize, bind to and excrete mold toxins.  This can lead to immune dysfunction, hormonal imbalances and systemic inflammation.
   
   
2. Supplement with Proline-rich polypeptides.  Proline-rich polypeptides, or PRP, is derived from colostrum.  It serves as a cytokine modulator: if cytokine levels are high, it lowers them; if they are low, it will increase them.  Think of it as an adaptogen for the immune system.  It helps to decrease thymic involution, or the shrinking of the thymus gland due to aging and/or stress.  This product can be purchased from Neurobiologix using the discount code twj81 for 5% off your purchase.  I suggest starting with 4 sprays 2x/day.
   
   
3. Use a far-infrared sauna.  A far-IR sauna sends invisible waves deeply into the body and helps to raise our core body temperature.  It has also been shown to help with the excretion of environmental toxins.  Raising our body temperature helps all of our enzymes work better, in addition to improving immune function.  It is hard for pathogens to survive in higher temperature environments.  Begin slowly if you have never used a far-IR sauna before.  Starting with 3 weekly sessions of 15-20 minutes each is likely a good idea.  You can increase the duration over time.  Make sure to stay hydrated.
   
   
4. Check your IgG subclasses and correct if deficient.  Our bodies have 5 types of immunoglobulins—IgA, IgE, IgD, IgM and IgG.  While they are all important for various reasons, deficiencies in some of the IgG subclasses are the most common.  There are 4 subclasses.  In my experience, deficiencies in subclasses 1 and 3 are likely in those dealing with chronic infections, Autism, cancer and other immune-related disorders.  Oral supplements, such as Ig3x from Neurobiologix (use the discount code twj81) and IgG2000 from Xymogen, can help to raise the IgG subclass levels in many cases.  More severe situations may require IVIG, a product pooled from the blood of thousands of people.
   
   
5. Optimize your mitochondria.  Mitochondria are the batteries of our cells, producing the energy currency known as ATP.  All of our tissues require the mitochondria to functional optimally in order to complete normal daily functions.  Our mitochondria are very susceptible to damage from inflammation and free radicals.  To completely optimize them, we must control or lower elevated levels of inflammation.  Curcumin/turmeric works well at controlling inflammation.  But ultimately we want to find — and eradicate — any sources of inflammation, including gut infections, viral and bacterial infections, blood sugar imbalances, heavy metals and more.  The other part to optimizing mitochondrial function is ensuring sufficient amounts of carnitine and CoQ10.  These two molecules are created through the methylation reactions, so optimizing methylation is a must.  We can also supplement with L-carnitine and/or Co-enzyme Q10.  Suggested starting doses for carnitine and CoQ10 are 500 mg and 200 mg, respectively.  Carnitine should be taken on an empty stomach.
   
   
6. Eat a high-protein diet.  Every structure in our body requires protein and its component parts, amino acids. Proper Phase I and Phase II detox in the liver require amino acids, as do the production of our brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters.  In addition, an amino acid known as lysine is crucial for proper immune function.  Roughly 1—1 grams of protein per kg of body weight is recommended.
   
   
7. Keep a gratitude journal.  Studies from the HeartMath Institute have shown that having gratitude helps to raise DHEA and secretory IgA.  In addition, it lowers your stress level and helps you to focus on what you do have versus what you do not.  Write down what you are grateful for every night before you go to bed.  Watch your sleep improve, too!
   
   
8. Get rid of any sub-clinical dental infections and cavitations.  These are things your average dentist will NOT detect, let alone know how to treat.  See a biological dentist who can test the bacterial landscape — the biome — of your oral cavity and treat as needed.  If you’ve had your wisdom or any other teeth removed, have X-rays done by a biological dentist who knows how to read them for infections known as cavitations.  This can lead to a myriad of health problems, including immune system issues.  On a daily basis, you can also use a water pik with some essential oils that help to lower the pathogen count in your mouth.  Using a toothpaste called Livionex can also lower oral biofilms that serve to hide the microbes from immune detection.
   
   
9. Optimize melatonin levels.  Melatonin is a hormone made in the body that helps us sleep.  You can have your levels checked via a saliva test.  You also want melatonin to peak at the right times, i.e. at night.  Large amounts of artificial light at night inhibits melatonin production.  Only use what light is absolutely necessary to navigate your home at night.  Turn off lamps, night lights, etc.  Use blue-blocker glasses to help decrease the effects of artificial light.  Install blackout curtains in your bedroom.  Melatonin helps to combat immune senescence, or aging.  You can also supplement with sustained-release melatonin to help with sleep.
   
   
10. Lower your nagalase level.  Cancer cells and viruses — and possibly some bacteria — produce a substance known as nagalase.  Nagalase serves to paralyze our macrophages, a very large type of immune cell that engulfs pathogens and activates the entire immune cascade.  How do you lower your nagalase level?  GcMAF, aka the vitamin D binding protein, injections help to lower nagalase levels.  To date, there have been roughly 160 scientific studies conducted on the use of GcMAF in HIV, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, Lyme disease and other conditions.  Eight injections is considered one round.  Depending on your signs, symptoms, nagalase level and others, you may need any where from 3 to 8 rounds.
    
    
11. Take Micellized Vitamin D3.  Micellized vitamin D is roughly 3x better absorbed than regular vitamin D.  It helps to bypass any fat absorption issues, which negatively impacts fat-soluble vitamin absorption.  Neurobiologix (discount code twj81) sells micellized vitamin D.  Take at least 2,000 I.U.s per day with a meal.  Aim to achieve a vitamin D3 level of 60 or higher.
    
    
12. Take micellized Vitamin A.  Klaire Labs offers a micellized version of vitamin A in the form of retinoic acid.  Take 5,000 I.U.s per day with a meal but away from your vitamin D.  Vitamin A helps to raise your level of natural killer cells, an important type of immune cell.  In addition, it helps support thyroid function and to seal the tight gap junctions of the intestines.
    
    

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1. Save 5% on Neurobiologix products. Dr. Tim recommends many products from Neurobiologix. You can get a 5% discount off your order by using the promo code twj81 at checkout.
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