Stop Fighting Germs For Your Own Good, Scientists Say
If you were to look at the microbes in your mouth you would discover more than 100 species and that’s a good thing. A growing number of scientists are asking everyone to lay off the eradication of germs.
In a report from the New York Times one scientist puts the war on bacteria in perspective, noting:
“I would like to lose the language of warfare. It does a disservice to all the bacteria that have co-evolved with us and are maintaining the health of our bodies.”
Last week nearly 200 scientists came together to publish the Human Microbiome Project which is attempting to catalogue the body’s indigenous lifeforms. The scientists point out that most bacteria are peaceful and even some non-harmful viruses are found in our bodies.
As we take unneeded antibiotics and use hand sanitizerz that kill bacteria we are essentially also killing off the good bacteria. As one scientist puts it, we are essentially killing the weeds along with the vegetables and that simply is not sustainable over the long term.
Instead of killing off bacteria many scientists are suggesting that we might actually need to give ourselves more bacteria. In some cases bacteria therapy has actually helped patients in need for a toughened immune system.
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James Johnson James is a new media professional with more than half a decade worth of experience in the online writing space. He currently serves as the Associate Editor of Inquisitr.com and the Editor-in-Chief of SocialNewsDaily.com. He also serves as a resident writer for Splash Press Media. In his spare time James consults businesses regarding SEO and Content Development.
