In researching some information for an upcoming newsletter, I came across some interesting facts about the “good germs”. The bad germs are why we have been using those antibacterial soaps and scrubbing our hands. The washing of hands is a great habit, but plain old soap is just as effective and might be better for us than the antibacterial soaps.
The “good germs” is what I find most interesting and are an important factor in keeping our immune systems healthy and ready to attack those “bad guys” when we are exposed to them.
The research states, we have an estimated 100 trillion “good” bacteria, many of which reside in our gut. We actually live in harmony with these good germs and they are essential to our survival.
The problem lies when we take antibiotics to fight or treat an infection we can cause an imbalance of bacteria in the body that can lead to gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea.
This is often when a physician will prescribe (over the counter) probiotics to keep that gut flora healthy. If you do take a probiotic, yogurt or another fermented food while taking the antibiotic it could reduce the effectiveness of both. Be sure it is taken 2 hours before or after an antibiotic to keep those healthy germs alive!
Don’t take a probiotic without discussing it with your physician first – always be safe and not sorry!
Keep washing those hands every time you come back into your home, before meals and after using the bathroom. Also, if you are the cook in the house – wash those hands frequently especially after handling meats.
Be healthy – smile often! Be kind to the “good germs”!