Viruses, sanitizers, illness, germs...

[perc-o-prince]

Here's a quote from an extant thread: "...there's enough nasty germs going around without making it worse."

There is a LOT of truth to that. Why? Because we as a society have become way too sterile. People get sick easier, and viruses (viri??) are getting nastier and nastier. Every day, routine, unnecessary use of sanitizers, anti-bacterial cleaners and the like are making our immune systems weaker and weaker.

Does anyone else see this?

Yes, there are times that some of these products are necessary (unfortunately because the damage has already been done). But, how do we reverse the damage that's been done so we don't need to use them as much?? Eat a little dirt like we used to as kids?

Thanks for listening to my rant,
Chuck

 

[tomturbomatic]

There is a lot of abuse of antibiotics, especially in the livestock and poultry industrial farming operations. It's the only way that they can keep that many animals alive and well in such crowded conditions. That introduces a lot of antibiotics into the environment as well as creating antibiotic-resistant bacteria in animals. I think I read that is why the diseases we can get from infected eggs, poultry and meats are so dangerous. The bacteria that make humans sick are resistant to many of the antibiotics that doctors would prescribe to make us well.

 

[danemodsandy]

Chuck:

Here's how I did it with my late partner, who had been getting colds and bugs and nasties all over the place:

1) Got rid of the Miele White Star vacuum with the HEPA filter, in favour of a TriStar with quad filtration, but no HEPA.

2) Discontinued use of all fancy-schmantzy "new" products, both household and personal, that said "antibacterial." Wilson had been buying those products whenever he could find them; if there was a choice between a regular and antibacterial version, he always got the antibacterial.

3) Used plain soap and water for cleaning, also ammonia for cleaning grease. Bleach for toilet bowls, and Pine-Sol for bathroom floors, but no other antibacterials.

4) Pried the antibacterial wipes out of my partner's clenched hands; he used those things constantly, everywhere. That, sports fans, was a battle.

He began getting healthier within a month or two, and the next year, had only one cold and no other bugs. All of this was in collaboration with his doctor, whom I had told about Wilson's over-reliance on antibacterials. The doctor said he'd been seeing a lot of unnecessary illness in older patients caused by their immune systems getting very little work to do, due to antibacterial products all over the place. They were fine when they stayed home, but when they got out, whammo. They were sitting ducks for everything out there.

Normal soap-and-water clean is all you need for everything but the bathroom. Really.

 

[ironrite]

Foodstuffs

Growing up in a family of seven we had a regular size Kelvinator two door freezer/refrigerator. How my Mom kept food in that thing for a week was amazing. My Father did the shopping on Wednesday nights for the week. However it being stuffed with food didn't leave a lot of room for storing leftovers. So she would put them out on our screened patio in Phoenix. Even in winter it never got that cold there. Large pots of stew, breaded pork chops, stuffed peppers or cabbage and even the chicken paprikash. We never got food poisoning from anything left out. The food would get reheated, but if there was still leftovers, out to the patio they would go.

Now if I get so much as a slight off hamburger or some bad KFC, my stomach lets me know. I don't recommend this way of food storage, but maybe we have been too careful in the war against germs.

 

[spankomatic]

Household Refrigeration is one of the top leading inventions in the 20th century to save lives.

http://www.history-magazine.com/refrig.html

 

[lordkenmore]

None of the comments above are news...at least to me. I've read countless articles on this theme. A fast Google search will turn up plenty to read.

Past this, Triclosan (used in antibacterial soap) has other problems other than making things "too clean." It's been linked to various problems, including cancer.

Link about Triclosan:

http://www.greenandchic.com/blog/chemicals-to-avoid/the-dangers-of-antibacterial-soap/

 

[lordkenmore]

And yes, virus in the plural is viruses. Wikipedia link:

Plural form of words ending in -us - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[kenmore81]

I agree

We are to anti-bacterial these days. The antibiotics they used to tell us to flush if they were old have caused (more so in well water areas) bacteria to become immune to them, causing the need to stronger antibiotics.
I work in a hospital and certian bacteria has even become resistant to the germicides we used in the past causing us to get stronger germicides. Now we even need a germicide for germicides!
The same goes for our bodies. The more anibiotics we feed our livestock,we introduce them to our immune systems, then we need stronger antibotics again when we get something as simple as a cold or sinus infection.
Just my 0.02

 

[whitekingd]

I agree!! The overusage of anti-bacterial products is a problem. I only use anti-bacterial dish detergent to clean my CPAP mask with occassionaly. I rarely use bleach. I get sick twice a year, maybe three times a year, but keep in mind I am a bartender. I am exposed to sick people everyday. Considering this, I think I am doing well without all the anti-bacterial crap. When I do get sick, it never lasts long.

 

[twinniefan]

I agree as well

I also agree that today's society has become antibacterial crazy, like most of you I played in and ate dirt as a small child and it never did me any harm and I rarely get sick i.e. colds influenza etc, I do get migraine headaches from time to time however these are an inherited trait i'm afraid.
These days kids are supposed to be kept in almost hospital grade cleanliness every minute of the day and one must ask how on earth does their immune system ever get built up to fight infections and germs that they will inevitably get.
Actually a year or so ago Omo laundry detergent ran a campaign called "Dirt is good." encouraging Mums and Dads to let their kids play in and experiment with dirt,(obviously to encourage them to purchase Omo as well.)as just part of nature.
I was alarmed to see LordKenmore's link to the article on Triclosan as it is in virtually every antibacterial product you buy here in Australia, Sapoderm soap, Dettol soap I think and even a type of toothpaste has got Triclosan in it, as do most of the anti bac handsoaps etc.
Thanks for an interesting thread.

 

[alr2903]

These come and go, anyone remember hexacholorophene (sp), i think it was linked to birth defects, it was in lots of store brand bath soap bars. I think its still in phisohex a hospital grade preop bath soap. alr2903

 

[favorit]

antibiotics abuse and useful bacteria

One says bacteria and thinks of something harmful. Actually not every bacteria/yeasts are dangerous. Bread, cheese, yoghurt, beer, wine and vinegar would not exist if there weren't particular yeasts/bacteria that raise dough, allow alcoholic fermentation, milk fermentation, cheese seasoning

Antibiotic abuse in stables produce "weak" milk. This milk is useless to produce seasoned cheese cause it will kill every bacteria while seasoning, not to mention that if sold as drinking milk or butter, it will stuff unaware consumers with unnecessary antibiotics

Even our bodies have plenty of bacteria. Skin, stomach, intestines. When we take antibiotics we destroy not only evil bacteria but also those useful ones that live in our intstine and on our skin. Joghurt and raw, non pasteurized beer can help a lot in these cases

Another collacteral effect of antibiotics abuse is the increase of allergic people, expecially among kids, who often also live in "surgery room-like" environements.
When our immunitary system has nothig to defeat, it "looks for" fake enemies. So many people become allergic to common thing as strawberries or dust

IMO "clean", "sanified", "sterile" are progressive steps ; not all steps are required in every environement.
Common sense should suggest that a sterile floor makes sense only in a surgery room or in Silicon Valley hi tech labs, while normally it's a nonsense in a average household .

Between those who would put their raincoat in a autoclave and those who wash bath towels, kitchen towels, intimates, socks all toghether in cold water/no bleach, there is the good old middle course driven by common sense

 

[favorit]

about bleached poultry

.... from germ-o-phobia towards poisoning ??
Really can't understand.

If poultry is correctly cooked (e.g. NOT with microwaves ONLY, that also makes it disgusting) there's is not health hazard. Normal oven/casserole temps kill dangerous bacteria

IMO it makes more sense to bleach all the things that get in touch with poultry and its blood/juices (sink, cutting boards, knives, towels)

Chlorine Bleached Chicken Coming to EU?

EU - It seems that chlorine treated chicken from the US could well be on its way to European shores after it emerged that the EC has begun to draft plans to end the 11 year ban.

www.thepoultrysite.com

 

[favorit]

but also here we've self poisoning germophobes ..

Here in Italy there is a LCB desinfectant used for skin. The commercial says also to use it to desinfect baby bottles, fruits and vegetables ... and to remove pesticides. That's scary ! They encourage people to further contamination, while people actually will ingest more chemicals with the belief those fruits/vegs are decontaminated. Not to mention those chemical reaction that may develop between LCB and eventual chemicals on vegetable skins ......

And what about baby bottles ?? One can boil baby bottles instead of bleaching them.

http://www.amuchina.it/pagine/Soluzione_disinfettante_concentrata.asp

 

[markk290]

Microwaving foods

I work in the lab at a local hospital and have learned that microwaving food does kill 99% of germs, bacteria and viruses, that can be harmful.

 

[launderess]

Hexacholorophene

Was banned for over counter sales in the United States due to concerns it caused cancer,which were not proven to be true. Hexacholorophene is toxic to infants and other segments of the population, mainly if it is absorbed through the skin or some how manages to get inside the body (ingested, etc).

One can still purchase skin cleansers containing hexachlorophene, but not over the counter, via doctor's perscription only in the United States.

Speaking of "old" skin disenfectants no longer in use, one of the first soaps for such use were those containing carbolic (vintage Lifebouy for instance)is now banned or restricted for sale by many countries. The active ingredient was phenol, which can be pretty nasty stuff, especially for infants and children.

 

[twinniefan]

Carbolic and phenol

Hello Laundress,
You mention phenol, well actually you can get it here it is sold under the trading name of Phenyle, and it is used mostly for cleaning out your drains and for washing out filthy garbage cans.
It has a really pungent odour and personally I can't stand the stuff I would rather use standard bleach for cleaning the bin.
There used to be a soap in Australia during wartime called Protex which claimed to be 15 times stronger than Carbolic, which makes one wonder what on earth was in it.
Funny this morning before heading off to work I had a quick look at a few cleaning products we have here at home and most seem to have a chemical called Benzalkonium Chloride in it rather than Triclosan, although I think Triclosan is more in personal care products and B.C more for household disinfectants and the like.
There is a book called Slow Death by Rubber Duck written by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie in which these guys experimented on themselves by subjecting themselves to the various range of toxic chemicals which are everywhere in our day to day lives, I am thinking of purchasing a copy to see what is in it.
Cheers.
Steve.

 

[rolls_rapide]

I'm not a fan of these antibacterial cleansing solutions. Ten years ago there were questions about the persistence of Triclosan in the enviroment. At the time it was in everything - toothpaste, kitchen bins, chopping-boards, detergents - you name it.

If I need to disinfect something (say the kitchen sink, or the bathroom, I use chlorine bleach, leave it for a short time, then rinse well with hot water).

Chlorine bleach breaks down quite quickly in the environment (though there have been questions about certain by-products being produced under certain circumstances) and is still the best germ killer for a quick one-shot blast to sanitise properly.

Mr UNIMATIC: (program bug alert)- Double quotes cause the text between them to disappear!

 

[aquarius1984]

Cooking chicken in a microwave only makes it still unsafe to eat.

What a load of claptrap if I ever heard it.

Same with the comments about it being disgusting. Microwave steamed chicken breasts feature occasinally on my weekday menu as a quick tea with steamed veggies and to be really honest they are juicy tender and plump, much nicer than roasting if I may add.

I can have it plain or add a table sauce at the end if I really feel like it maybe perhaps sweet chilli.

If making chicken sandwiches or salad I may also cook chicken like this and let it cool in its juices or even poach them in water. Slices much better and makes a better sandwich IMO.