Germs!!!!

Been doing a bit of reading about germs lately. I'd like to avoid sickness in this crowded city... Newsweek has had quite a few stories concerning anti-bacterial products and antibiotics. Here are some of the interesting things I read:

Bacteria are responsible for processing the calories in food, and they react differently depending on the person. So, some people are more prone to get fat because they have more "efficient" bacteria. (Newsweek)

The bacteria in your gut may be more responsible for the food you crave than you know. They want that extra cheeseburger, not you...

They have found evidence of bacteria that can stimulate serotonin production, acting like an anti-depressant without side effects.

Washing your hands well for at least 30 seconds with soap, and scrubbing between fingers etc. is more effective than using all the anti-bacterial wipes and creams that are out there. The alcohol in things like Purel hand sanitizer merely dry the bacteria to kill it, but your hands aren't exactly clean.

There is a strong link between allergies and exposure to bacteria in your early years. This includes food allergies as well. Today's children are increasingly susceptible to food allergies.(Newsweek)

Good bacteria are responsible for helping us fight bad bacteria (we've all heard this). So why do we use anti-bacterial soap and kill all the good bacteria? I'm no longer buying anti-bacterial products.

Industry uses mass amounts of antibiotics in livestock and farming. These pass straight through to the consumers (us). Here's a good article about 5 items you can use to limit your exposure. (NYT)