Over-Sanitizing Our Environment: Why Germs Are Good for Us

With fears of potential pandemics taking hold in the minds of many, we are told to clean and sanitize everything in our environments. Every surface we come into contact with throughout the day contains millions of germs and pathogens threatening to harm us. Kitchen counters are said to contain more harmful germs and bacteria than toilet seats. Handles of shopping carts are used by people with colds or the flu and re-used by others. We want to remain healthy and protect our families, but the question remains, are we harming ourselves by eliminating too many germs and bacteria?

We are harming the development of our children's immune systems with our need to obliterate germs and bacteria, according to immunologist and author of "Why Dirt is Good: 5 Ways to make Germs Your Friends ," Mary Ruebush, Ph.D. Dr. Ruebush says that without exposure to bacteria and germs, immune systems are prevented from developing properly.

There is a theory of thought called "Hygiene Hypothesis" that has been discussed since 1989. It holds that the development of allergies and auto-immune diseases are increasing in prevalence as an increase in cleanliness has taken root in modern society. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, there has been an increase in allergies over the past 15 years. When humans are not exposed to normal environmental sources of germs and bacteria our immune response turns inward and attacks itself.

Dr. Dennis Ownby, chief of Allergy and Immunology at the Medical College of Georgia claims that studies have shown that babies in day care have more infections early; however, they develop fewer allergies or wheezing in later years. He also found in studies that babies in households with multiple pets have fewer allergies to animals, ragweed, grass and dust mites at age 6 or 7 than those not raised with pets.

In order to keep our children healthy, Ruebush says that children should wash their hand with plain old soap and water, definitely not the anti-bacterial soaps on the market today. But, she points out that humans have an "unbelievable, miraculous immune response." She discusses the importance of keeping vaccines current because they expose humans to things that we are not naturally exposed to and can therefore allow us to develop immunity. Finally, she says that sleep, drinking fluids, eating well and avoiding stress are also essential.

Basic hygiene and common sense should guide our philosophy of parenting when it comes to cleanliness. Parents simply do not need to stress over every bacteria or germ their children come into contact with if they are following the basic principles of hygiene.

Sources:

Hygiene Hypothesis.com

cbsnews.com

cnn.com