May 06, 2015

7 Taboo Hygiene Habits That Are Actually Good For You

Sorry germaphobes - this is certainly not going to be your favourite article. Turns out, there is such a thing as too clean! Multiple studies on hygiene are finding that having some germs in your life is a good thing. For years, we've focused on killing bacteria to prevent infection and illness, however, scientists are now saying that we should be working just as hard to create a healthy "micro biome"(aka, healthy bugs). Bacteria are powerful allies: they help us with digestion, boosting our immune system and even improving our mood. Still here? Great! Let's create some good bugs with the 7 things you always thought were taboo!

Kiss Your Doggie On the Lips

Dog lovers everywhere - you can now celebrate! No one can give you any grief for puppy kisses all over your face! Apart from doggie bonding being amazing for lowering stress, even just petting a dog lowers your blood pressure and stress levels. Canine kisses themselves are beneficial to! How? The dog works as a furry probiotic, helping build healthy bacteria colonies in the human owner.

Skip The Hand Sanitizer

So they may make you feel better - but they may be making things worse. Yes, these products do destroy the bad bugs but they also kill all of your good bacteria and may even contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.

Scrub Your Kitchen Without Chemicals

Say goodbye to your chemical cleaning products and still get a clean kitchen! Unless you're using raw meats (which warrants disinfectant), you're good to clean with just plain water!

Sharing is Caring!

Research has found a little saliva shared between healthy friends and family members can help you build up your stock of good bacteria. Spin the bottle anyone?

Don't Brush After Every Meal

We all want minty fresh breathe, however, brushing your teeth too often can actually erode enamel and irritate your gums. Even worse, brushing right after a meal can make the dental damage even worse! When you eat acidic foods the acid can stay on your teeth and eat away at your enamel. this means, if you brush right away, you can drive the acid deeper into your teeth instead of removing it. If you must, try to wait 30-60 minutes after eating to brush those pearly whites.

Get Your Hands (and mouth) Dirty

For those of you that have a green thumb, the dirt your veggies grow in can be just as good for you. Yes, studies are actually telling you to eat dirt (within moderation). Think of it this way: we have been practicing geophagy (the act of eating soil) for millennia. Why? Because it protects the stomach against toxins, parasites, and pathogens.

Leave Your Food Out

Although some foods (like meat) definitely needs to be refrigerated - allowing other edibles to be exposed to air and warmth can cultivate healthy bacteria, helping to create good probiotics. Milk and vegetables were often fermented before refrigeration was common. The findings? Eating home-fermented foods boost your immune system, increases nutrient content in the foods and also has mental health benefits.