[Nfbf-l] GERMS

[JD TOWNSEND]

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