[Nfbf-l] GERMS

[Sherri]

JD, I totally agree with you. My mom used to say "A little dirt never hurt 
anybody." Of course, we have to watch out for those strains of bacteria that 
have become "superbugs".

Sherri
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "JD TOWNSEND" <townsend.lcsw at gmail.com>
To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "Alan Dicey" <adicey at bellsouth.net>
Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2013 5:18 PM
Subject: [Nfbf-l] GERMS


On 4/28/2013 1:17 PM, Alan Dicey wrote:
> Unexpected Sources of Infection
> During the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th
> century a typhoid epidemic was traced to Mary Mallon, a professional
> cook. "Typhoid Mary" infected many people with the bacteria that
> caused typhoid fever - a debilitating, often fatal infection. Mary
> never showed any symptoms of infection herself. However, many of the
> people who contacted her became seriously ill.
>
> Today we face another source of infection from bacteria and viruses:
> our children and grandchildren. Our little Typhoid Mary's and Johnny's
> bring us the gift of exposure to potential illness from all of their
> friends at school and in daycare. How does this actually happen and
> what can we do to protect ourselves as well as our young ones?
> "Germ-o-phobia"
> There is a medical condition called mysophobia which is the fear of
> germs.
> People with this disorder take extreme precautions to avoid touching
> anything that might be considered "dirty" or contaminated with germs.
> They have a relentless hand-washing procedure that rivals the
> sterile-field procedure used by surgeons.
> Normally, germs and viruses are harmless and may even be beneficial in
> educating our immune systems. Some bacteria are even good for you,
> such as the probiotic, acidophilus. This is because "good" bacteria
> keep "bad" bacteria away and may even become part of a healthy immune
> system. However, children that grow up without exposure to normal
> bacteria called "soil-based organisms" or SBOs, have fewer defensive
> bacteria. That means pathogenic bacteria have a better chance to breed
> in them, potentially causing illness and spreading infection.
> This effect is multiplied when children are kept in close quarters
> with other children and their germs. Further, their immature immune
> systems may allow them to become breeding grounds of infection without
> producing symptoms themselves. Limiting physical contact and washing
> our hands with soap and hot water becomes a rational defense strategy
> instead of a phobia.
> The best defense...
> There is an old saying: The best defense is a good offense. Being
> proactive in protecting ourselves and our family simply makes sense.
> How can we build a good defense against infection without becoming
> isolated? More important, how can we build healthy immunity and
> resistance in our children and grandchildren? Once again we can turn
> to Typhoid Mary for clues.
> First, isolating people with a fever is very important. Usually an
> infection is contagious when a person has a fever. When the fever
> breaks, transmissibility of the infection rapidly declines. (This is
> not true with H1N1 swine flu, which may continue to be contagious for
> up to 12 days.)
> Stay away from sick people if at all possible.
> Frequently wash your hands with hot soapy water and dry them
> thoroughly to help avoid viruses.
> Insulating yourself and educating your immune system with probiotics
> and Healthy Aging nutrients as well as emotional nurturing is
> critically important. After all, it is the health of your immune
> system that determines whether or not you will get sick. And the
> severity of the illness is dictated by the state of balance in
> immunity: symptoms become more severe as the immune system becomes
> more imbalanced.
> Finally, become a source of influence in advocating for healthier
> children.
> Both children and adults have fewer and less severe illnesses when
> they take care of themselves. For example, getting enough rest and
> eating properly will reduce the frequency, severity and duration of
> infections. Growing a garden may provide your loved ones with
> healthier food and also expose the gardeners to healthy probiotic SBOs
> at the same time.
> Just imagine: Time in the garden may help provide your family with
> better food, stronger social connections and even immune protection
> from all those little Typhoid Mary's and Johnny's. What a great way to
> defend yourself from this unexpected source of infection!
> Take Control of Your Health
> Wash your hands with hot soapy water often Dry your hands thoroughly
> Isolate sick people for three days after a fever (12 days after H1N1
> Swine
> Flu)Sleep between 7o and 9 hours nightly
> Eat 5 to 9 servings of fruit and vegetables every day
> Educate your immune system with probiotics and Healthy Aging nutrients
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbf-l mailing list
> Nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Nfbf-l:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/townsend.lcsw%40gmail.com
>

Alan:


We are symbiotic with most "germs."  We would die rather quickly without
them.  The newest treatment for folks with digestive disorders is the
insertion of the germ media from a healthy person's intestines into the
patient.

An old saying informs that a child needs to eat dirt to be healthy.

You are correct that maintaining a healthy immune system is the best,
but children have been infecting each other and us blow-ups from our
days on the plains of Africa;  children are busy building up their
immune systems, especially when they are more immune deprived having not
been breast-fed.

The use of anti-bacterial hand-wash has led to a less immune aware
population, more vulnerable to disease.

Now,,Whhew ...  I'm off my soap box.

JD
_______________________________________________
Nfbf-l mailing list
Nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
Nfbf-l:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/flmom2006%40gmail.com