If the last five years have taught us anything, they’ve taught us the importance of a strong immune system. The benefits of high immunity are many, including:
- Ability to fight off illnesses resulting from viruses, bacteria and other pathogens
- Faster recovery from illnesses that do occur
- Faster wound healing
- Better energy
- Clearer, healthier skin, hair and nails
- Better sleep
- Lower anxiety
If you can maintain a high immunity in your own family, you may be able to bypass illnesses that affect others in your community. When your home is supplied by your own private well, the quality of water from that well has plenty to do with your family’s immunity.
Contaminants Involved in Lowering Immunity
There are several water contaminants that contribute to lowered immunity.
- Arsenic: A toxic, metal-like mineral that occurs naturally in many parts of the country. When consumed in drinking water, it creates inflammation and changes how our genes work. It also upsets the balance of our body’s chemistry which makes it harder to fight infections.
- Cadmium: Another toxic metal found in small quantities in water, soil and air. Its presence changes how immune cells work, throwing off the balance the body needs to fight infections. It can also reduce the number or activity of certain infection-fighting cells and lower the body’s ability to make antibodies. It also causes inflammation.
- Chromium: Human bodies need a small amount of chromium but too much damages immunity. Chromium can damage or kill some types of immune cells and increase some antibodies, possibly causing allergic responses. It causes inflammation and can unbalance the production of immune system-related chemicals. One type of chromium, chromium-6, increases the risk of lung cancer and can cause ulcers in the stomach and small intestine.
- Lead: Lead is a soft, very heavy metal. There is no safe level of lead in drinking water, food or home environments. Once it’s in the body, it stays for a long time, increasing the risk of allergies and autoimmune disorders. It can alter or kill cells essential to immunity. It weakens the ability to fight off infections.
- Copper: Like chromium, small amounts of copper are needed for health. If copper levels get too high, it can create oxidative damage to immune cells. It can also interfere with immune-creating cells such as T cells and B cells. It can create inflammation and harm the liver.
- PFAS: This acronym is short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of man-made chemicals used in hundreds of industrial and consumer products. They are called “forever chemicals” because they can last in the environment up to thousands of years. People who are exposed to PFAS have a weakened ability to make antibodies with which to fight disease. They may not be able to build up immunity in response to vaccines. They may have more allergies and asthma.
- Phthalates: This group of chemicals is used in making plastics flexible and durable. They increase allergy and asthma risk and disrupt hormones that are involved in maintaining immunity. They damage the cells that provide our first line of defense and those that develop specific responses to threats.
- BPA: A chemical used in manufacturing certain plastics and resins. It is a hormone disruptor that can interfere with the immune system. It can increase inflammation and change how immune cells develop.
For the Highest Immunity, Know What’s In Your Water!
Pure healthy water has little or none of these contaminants. But because some are naturally occurring, they may be present in your drinking water even if your well is in the perfect location. The good news is that these contaminants can be filtered out but first, you must know what substances need to be removed. For that, you need an accurate, professional test of your well water. Check out the most popular water tests offered by ETR Laboratories! Once you have your results, you can plan the perfect filtration or treatment system to target those substances. Order your water test today!
