Foo - Germs & Bateria: Q&A

Interesting article that caught my eye on MSN.


It gives 12 common notions about germs and bacteria and then explains if (and why) they are true or false.

http://lifestyle.msn.com/MindBodyandSoul/HealthyBody/Articlelhj.aspx?cp-documentid=376522&GT1=7850

Holy crap batman...an article on MSN that was actually somewhat interesting!

Unfortunately, it does nothing to alay the phobia some people have about bacteria. There's a decent amount of evidence that moderate exposure to bacteria keeps the immune system active, thereby increasing your resistance to infection.

Did you know that your body has more bacterial cells on it than it has human cells? Categorically, bacteria are no big deal. But a few of them are really nasty.

my biochem prof in university was so paranoid about bacteria, she did everything just short of bathing her kid in isagel to keep her clean. on numerous occasions during her paranoid bacteria stories ive just left the room. Ive never wanted to smack a prof so hard in all my life..

Just think people of my parents generation (born around 1940) would go out into the fields for the day to work and mom/grandma would come out to the field with lunch. Did the wash their hands in paranoia no they ate with dirty hands. People have lost sight of how good most bacteria/fungi are today do to the bad press of a few and the marketing of anti-bacterial every thing.

IMHO it is this increase dependence on chemicals the is responsible for our health problem in the "developed" world.

Just think people of my parents generation (born around 1940) would go out into the fields for the day to work and mom/grandma would come out to the field with lunch. Did the wash their hands in paranoia no they ate with dirty hands. People have lost sight of how good most bacteria/fungi are today do to the bad press of a few and the marketing of anti-bacterial every thing.

IMHO it is this increase dependence on chemicals the is responsible for our health problem in the "developed" world.

And back then, almost nobody was allergic to anything. They got worms a lot more often, though.:eek:

Most of the anti-bacterial soaps and stuff need to be on you for several minutes to be really effective; most people don't wash their hands that long. Hosing down the house with Clorox isn't that good of an idea. The fumes are bad for you, the stuff is bad for your floors, and you kill the good with the bad. Now if you've got sick people in the house things are a bit different but to try and avoid all bacteria all the time is just plain silly.

Just think people of my parents generation (born around 1940) would go out into the fields for the day to work and mom/grandma would come out to the field with lunch. Did the wash their hands in paranoia no they ate with dirty hands. People have lost sight of how good most bacteria/fungi are today do to the bad press of a few and the marketing of anti-bacterial every thing.

IMHO it is this increase dependence on chemicals the is responsible for our health problem in the "developed" world.
I tend to agree with you. I think people are getting too dependant on cleanliness levels with chemicals and causing ourselves to be more sensitive to "simple" things.