Bacteria does a body good

[Syringer]

http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/news/2007/04/bacteriahacking

Modern humans are bacteria-killing machines. We assassinate microbes with hand soap, mouthwash and bathroom cleaners. It feels clean and right.

But some scientists say we're overdoing it. All this killing may actually cause diseases like eczema, irritable bowel syndrome and even diabetes. The answer, they say, is counterintuitive: Feed patients bacteria.

..

And it now appears that our daily antibacterial regimens are disrupting a balance that once protected humans from health problems, especially allergies and malfunctioning immune responses.

That's it, I'm not washing my hands any longer.

 

[dawnbug]

What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger.

 

[RichUK]

You could always lick the toilet rim for a bacteria top-up, although I would advise against it.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Certain bacteria is good, other is bad. You can't just make a sweeping statement that all bacteria is good or bad.

 

[Howard]

nm

 

[her209]

What about virii?

 

[illusion88]

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
Certain bacteria is good, other is bad. You can't just make a sweeping statement that all bacteria is good or bad.

Word

 

[jdoggg12]

I've been a long time believer that anti-bacteria battles are counter productive. It really is true that whatever is left ("Kills 99.9% of germs") is stronger, so that .1% that lived is now giving birth to more resistant offspring.

unless i just touched something gross, i rarely wash my hands. i shower 1-2 times per day, but dont use ant-bacterial soap. I hadn't (until this year when i got the flu) been sick in 3 years.

 

[Mill]

I am not a big hand washer, either. I haven't been sick since August 2006.

 

[lyssword]

Originally posted by: RichUK
You could always lick the toilet rim for a bacteria top-up, although I would advise against it.

I would advise against it too, but toilet rim doesn't have much bacteria, (unless someone poo'd on it ) compared to door handles for example Bacteria like warm temperatures + urine doesn't have any bacteria. Sure it would be nasty, but that's not the best way to get bacteria

 

[Aluvus]

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
Certain bacteria is good, other is bad. You can't just make a sweeping statement that all bacteria is good or bad.

The basis of this article is that even exposure to "bad" bacteria is a net positive because it strengthens your immune system.

 

[AbAbber2k]

Originally posted by: Aluvus

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
Certain bacteria is good, other is bad. You can't just make a sweeping statement that all bacteria is good or bad.

The basis of this article is that even exposure to "bad" bacteria is a net positive because it strengthens your immune system.

Exactly. Even the "bad" bacteria provide us with the benefit of better developed immune systems. The problem is where you draw the line on strains being TOO bad and needing to eliminate them to prevent SERIOUS health risks.

 

[Analog]

Same can be said of allergens. People living sterile lives inside buildings with filtered air from an early age never get the exposure to pollen and other possible irritants and develop allergies and asthma later in life - in fact, there is an epidemic of asthma, and I think this is a big part of it.

 

[GoingUp]

You ever see George Carlins routine on bacteria?

 

[Farang]

This is why I never bathe.

 

[Flammable]

Originally posted by: Farang
This is why I never bathe.

:disgust:

 

[OVerLoRDI]

I think this is mostly aimed at people who take loads of antibiotics and over do the sort of stuff. But I think washing your hands and such regularly is still worth it.

 

[SirStev0]

Our body is full of good bacteria that help us out or just hang out with out hurting us. Broad spectrum antibiotics as well as regular everyday stick antimicrobials in everything philosophy kills off all our bacteria friends. This lets the disease causing bacteria to come in and have a party, the mess of which ends up in our pants.

BTW... it is often referred to as the Normal Flora theory. The good bacteria is more successful at living in our bellies. They compete with bad bacteria and win. We stay healthy. We kill good bacteria or raise their rent or stop taking care of the building ... bad bacteria starts to move in and then there goes the neighborhood.

 

[SirStev0]

Originally posted by: lyssword

Originally posted by: RichUK
You could always lick the toilet rim for a bacteria top-up, although I would advise against it.

I would advise against it too, but toilet rim doesn't have much bacteria, (unless someone poo'd on it ) compared to door handles for example Bacteria like warm temperatures + urine doesn't have any bacteria. Sure it would be nasty, but that's not the best way to get bacteria

Urine also kills some bacteria. Your eye is a much better habitat then a bathroom seat.

 

[LegendKiller]

That's why I can't stand it when a person I know who hasn't undergone major surgery gets prescribed antibiotics for stupid stuff like cuts. Seriously, all it does is make it less effective in the future. Not to mention all of the stupidity about hand sanitizer and such, your body is awesome at killing stuff, why worry about it?

 

[OS]

i don't buy into this backlash, i went to the dentist recently and I have moderate gum disease and bone loss, which is directly attributable to bacteria in mouth. The dentist made it a point to that I should use specifically listerine and rinse for atleast a minute when i do to kill bacteria.

most people here are not medical professionals so everything with a grain of salt.

 

[compuwiz1]

Speaking of bad things, I accidently grated some mould on the side of the cheddar cheese into the rest of the taco cheese last night. I ate it anyway. Am I going to die?

 

[jdoggg12]

Originally posted by: OS

i don't buy into this backlash, i went to the dentist recently and I have moderate gum disease and bone loss, which is directly attributable to bacteria in mouth. The dentist made it a point to that I should use specifically listerine and rinse for atleast a minute when i do to kill bacteria.

most people here are not medical professionals so everything with a grain of salt.

If your logic were to follow everywhere, then anything with risk would be avoided, regardless of return on that risk.

If you shield your self from bacteria your whole life - what happens if you're thrust into a group of 8 year olds? Odds are, your non-existnt immunity to germs will be overpowered in about 7 seconds.

 

[mugs]

I stopped using anti-bacterial soap a long time ago.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: jdoggg12

Originally posted by: OS

i don't buy into this backlash, i went to the dentist recently and I have moderate gum disease and bone loss, which is directly attributable to bacteria in mouth. The dentist made it a point to that I should use specifically listerine and rinse for atleast a minute when i do to kill bacteria.

most people here are not medical professionals so everything with a grain of salt.

If your logic were to follow everywhere, then anything with risk would be avoided, regardless of return on that risk.

If you shield your self from bacteria your whole life - what happens if you're thrust into a group of 8 year olds? Odds are, your non-existnt immunity to germs will be overpowered in about 7 seconds.

That is a ridiculous strawman, i said nothing of the sort. That is like saying this thread means everyone should bathe in sh*t and sewage to build up immunity.

It depends and I am just saying most of you are not doctors and not to read too much into this sort of article.