We’ve all been there. First, it’s just a mild itching in your throat. Then you notice a deep, rattling cough that leaves you breathless and exhausted. Sometimes it’s just a mild cold, but other times it develops into a full-blown upper respiratory tract infection. Either way, it’s obvious that respiratory health is pivotal to your overall well-being. So, could something like beta-glucan improve your overall respiratory health?

Yes! Beta-glucan has been shown to reduce the severity of upper respiratory tract infections and boost immune function overall. You can find beta-glucan in foods like mushrooms and brewer’s yeast. However, supplements using beta-glucan from baker’s yeast, like in our Glucan85Plus, use the optimal molecular chain for maximum relief. Read on and discover how beta-glucan supplements may improve your respiratory and immune health today.

What Do We Mean By Respiratory Health?

Until you’ve experienced lung or airway issues, it’s easy to overlook respiratory health. However, all it takes is one bad flu season and you’ll never take it for granted again. 

When you really stop and think about it, your lungs are amazing. Every time you inhale and exhale, your lungs remove carbon dioxide and provide oxygen so the rest of your body can function. So, when your lungs aren’t healthy it can quickly have a negative impact on your quality of life and even shorten your lifespan. 

So, when we talk about respiratory health, we’re talking about everything between your lungs and your mouth and nose. Everything included between those places (larynx, trachea, etc.) is part of your respiratory system.

What Influences Respiratory Health?

A lot of things. Genetics can play a role when it comes to things like childhood asthma or even increased risks of respiratory infections like bronchitis or pneumonia. These sorts of genetic predispositions combined with environmental factors like allergens, secondhand smoke, and even pollution can exacerbate respiratory health issues. 

Lifestyle choices like smoking, lack of exercise, and even poor hygiene can also have a big impact on respiratory health. In fact, the majority of respiratory health issues, are a result of lifestyle and environmental factors. The American Lung Association even says more than four out of every ten Americans are breathing unhealthy air. What’s even more alarming is how that statistic is even bleaker for marginalized people living in heavily polluted areas.

When your respiratory health is poor, sometimes it’s just a minor cold. Other times, however, it can develop into serious issues that require medical intervention. Here are just a few respiratory health issues you might already be familiar with:

• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Emphysema
• Pneumonia
• Lung Cancer

This is not a comprehensive list, but it’s clear some of these items are much more serious than others. That doesn’t mean, however, that you shouldn’t always take your respiratory health seriously. 

What Can You Do To Improve Your Respiratory Health?

To a certain extent, there’s only so much you can do about genetics or environmental factors like pollution. Yes, completely relocating to a pollution-free area would be great. Yes, completely rewriting your DNA to avoid genetic predispositions sounds phenomenal. Sadly, the former option isn’t always feasible and the second option exists only in science fiction.

Luckily, there are several things you can do today to improve your overall respiratory health. Some involve lifestyle changes while others help improve the air quality of your home. If your lungs are currently healthy, then slowly adopting some of these changes over time will make a big difference in the long run. If your respiratory health isn’t phenomenal, however, you may consider adopting several of these changes to see results faster:

Improve The Air Quality of Your Home

• Dust and vacuum regularly to avoid the buildup of allergens like dust, pet dander, etc.
• Regularly change the air filters for forced-air heating and cooling systems.
• Consider placing a dehumidifier in damp areas (like basements) to reduce mold.
• Consider investing in an air-purifying system. If indoor allergens are the problem and the previous steps aren’t enough, placing an air purifier in commonly used areas will help capture some of these irritants. 
• Test your home for carbon monoxide and radon. Both are incredibly hazardous to your health

Improve Respiratory Health Via Lifestyle Changes

• Quit smoking cigarettes. Not only will this immediately have a positive impact on your lungs, but you’ll also cut down on secondhand smoke that negatively impacts those you live with.
• Stay physically active. Regardless of age, weight, or health status, doing some type of physical activity (whether intense or mild) will help keep your lungs healthy and strong.
• Check the air quality before exercising outdoors with tools like AirNow and AirCompare.
• Maintain regular hygiene practices (handwashing, avoid crowds during cold/flu season, regularly brush teeth, etc.) to stay healthy and avoid potential infections. 
• Stay hydrated.
• Eat a nutritious diet.
• Take a nutrition supplement to fill any gaps that may not be covered by your diet.

What is Beta-Glucan?

Speaking of supplements, beta-glucan has recently gained popularity for its immunity and respiratory health properties. This soluble fiber is found in certain plants, bacteria, yeasts, and fungi. When you eat foods with lots of beta-glucan, it forms a gel in the digestive tract and slows digestion. In the process, it also slows the release of sugar into the bloodstream, absorbs cholesterol particles, and stimulates the immune cells in your gut.

Basically, through various physiological mechanisms, beta-glucan gives your immune system a much-needed boost. The problem, however, is that not all beta-glucan is created equal. While you can find beta-glucan in foods like oats, barley, seaweed, and even mushrooms, they don’t contain beta-glucan in the optimal molecular chain. 

Fortunately, the beta-glucan from baker’s yeast is a different story. Beta-1, 3/1, 6-D (the type found in baker’s yeast) is able to stimulate the immune system more effectively than beta-glucan from other sources. That’s why we only use that particular molecular chain in our Glucan85Plus supplement.

Compared to other beta-glucan supplements that often only guarantee 70% purity, we ensure a minimum of 85% pure beta-glucan. We wanted an all-natural, well-sourced supplement designed to promote optimal health. Plus, we threw in a few other goodies like organic Echinacea and Elderberry, Zinc, and even Vitamin C and D. What can we say, we’re passionate about health!

But how exactly does a beta-glucan supplement promote respiratory health?

How Does Beta-Glucan Promote Respiratory Health?

When taken as directed in combination with a healthy lifestyle, a beta-glucan supplement can promote respiratory health in a few key ways:

• Reduces the duration of cold symptoms.
• Reduces the severity of respiratory tract infections.
• Reduces severity and long-term impact of upper respiratory tract infections associated with exercise stress.

That may not sound all that impressive, but let’s break down what exactly we mean by “upper respiratory tract infections.” The upper respiratory tract includes your sinuses, nasal passageways, throat (pharynx), and vocal cords (larynx). So, any infections that take place in those areas are considered upper respiratory tract infections. That means rhinitis, sinus infections, the common cold, the flu, pharyngitis, laryngitis, and more. 

Considering how these are some of the most common illnesses associated with missing work or school, we’d say they’re a pretty big deal. We don’t know about you, but anything that may reduce risks associated with upper respiratory flu infections sounds pretty worthwhile. Plus, if any of these issues become chronic, they can eventually lead to more serious respiratory health issues like pneumonia. Given the option, we’ll definitely pass on that. 

Breathe Easier and Promote Respiratory Health with Beta-Glucan

Life comes at you fast, so don’t let something like a cold hold you back. Become a warrior for your health and give your respiratory system a much-needed boost with our all-natural beta glucan supplement, Glucan85Plus.

We’re genuinely passionate about health. So, feel free to contact us to discuss how our supplements may be the missing piece in your wellness journey.