Since the invention of bacterial cleaning supplies, we have become bacteria- killing-mean-machines. We attack bacteria on our hands, in the bathrooms and kitchens, and now there are so many “handy wipes,” we can take our weapons of choice on vacations with us for the bathrooms and various other “people-touching” places. Some grocery stores have even started catering to our phobia by stocking wipes close to the grocery carts so we don’t pick up any nasty little critters while shopping at their establishments.
But, with all the hype over the spread of vicious diseases through germs, who can blame us? Who wants to touch the handle of a cart when the last person who used it just left their doctor’s office diagnosed with the flu, but wanted to “stop by the store and get a few things” before going home to crawl into bed? Sometimes, we stop to grab a few things, pick up our prescriptions, and then head back to work because we don’t have any sick days, and we can’t miss the pay. Sounds nasty, but unfortunately, that’s how we have to roll.
You might not be this cautious yourself, but there are plenty who are. I have to admit that when hubby and I fly, I always have wipes in my purse to wipe the seat arm rests off, and to clean our hands after touching other stuff.
I carry them with me when I’m visiting my grandchildren because of them constantly touching their face and mouths with their hands.
Don’t get me wrong – I’m not afraid of dirt. I was probably one of the dirtiest kids around, and my older sister used to eat it out of the flower pots. We are both happy and healthy. Dirt poses no problem with me; my problem lies with germs – specifically the germs of people I don’t know.
While we’re so intent on wiping the world free of germs, we’re unknowingly causing some health problems. Scientists say we’re in overkill mode, and that we might be causing diseases like eczema, irritable bowel syndrome, and even diabetes. In other words, the preventative measures we are taking to protect ourselves is upsetting the natural balance of good bacteria within our bodies.
So now comes a new form of treatment many doctors are saying is helping to turn around some of the damage we have caused – probiotics. Through this form of therapy, patients get fed bacteria such as eczema, and in a lot of cases, probiotics has helped to completely eliminate the disease. They have also drastically reduced symptoms with irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, acne, and even PMS.
Doctors say many of the problems they treat are chronic inflammatory diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, and multiple sclerosis. Although some of these diseases are genetic, they now believe some of them can be caused from physiological changes in microbiota, or our body’s immune system’s bacteria.
Probiotics are live microorganisms that aid in healing upon ingestion by improving the balance of intestinal bacteria. Dannon’s Activia Yogurt is a probiotic, and there are several nutritional supplements on the market to assist our immune system also.
I wouldn’t rush right out to buy any without first checking into it more thoroughly. But don’t be surprised if the next time you go to the doctor, you walk out with a prescription for yogurt!
And, I guess, don’t be so clean!