March 15 - East County Gazette

But it’s not just about infection.Many scientists believegood microbes play a criticalrole in regulating our metabo-MARCH 15, 2012 EAST COUNTY GAZETTE PAGE 9For Health’s SakeThe dirt on antibacterial soapby Amy Mathews Amos Scientific studies now revealthat nine out of 10 cells tasks – helping digest food, rial hand soap, body soap, Which begs the question: do ment, influencing behavior andearning their keep with hefty multiple brands of antibactecrobialclaim until I got home. lism, guiding brain develop-When my sister and Iwere kids, we giggledupon learning ally us, they’re microbes. Yes, disease-causing invaders. and more – have mushroomed microbes in healthy ears? microbes in the gut have beenin our bodies are not actu-absorb nutrients, and attacking dishwashing liquid, sponges I really need to worry about regulating health. For example,that 60 percent of the human we’re crawling with microscopicrecently, fed by our growingfears of germs and nasty In truth, most of these prod-in mice, affecting anxiety andshown to alter brain chemistrybody is comprised of water. creatures, including bacteria, So if they’re good, and weWe wiggled and wobbled and viruses, and fungi.need them, then why are we “superbugs” that no longer ucts aren’t needed. Washing depression, and they may influenceinflammatory responsesmoved our bodies in mushyworking so hard to kill them? respond to antibiotics. Up to hands with regular soap andwave-like motions, mimicking And in fact, the overwhelmingmajority of these crea-we also unknowingly harming sold in the U.S. is antibacterial. germs just as effectively as an-heart disease.And by harming them, are 75 percent of hand soap now warm water removes harmful that contribute to cancer andthe sloshy mess one wouldexpect of something made tures are not bad, but good. ourselves?tibacterial soap, says the U.S.largely of liquid. It turns out These puny partners, havingI even bought antibacterial Food and Drug Administration.Soap binds with bacteria,we should have been pretendingwe were covered in bugs. just hitching a ride. They’re sumer products – including take, not noticing the antimi-picks them up off the skin, andevolved with us for eons, aren’t Sales of antibacterial con-cotton swabs recently by mis-allows them to be whiskedaway with warm water. PeopleLaughter is the Best Medicinewith compromised immune——— A woman’s week at the gym ———systems from chronic diseaseor chemotherapy may wantadded protection, but most ofus don’t need it.Dear Diary, for my birthdaythis year, my husbandpurchased a week ofpersonal training at the localhealth club.Although I am still in greatshape since being a high schoolfootball cheerleader 43 yearsago, I decided it would be agood idea to go ahead andgive it a try.I called the club and mademy reservations with a personaltrainer named Christo, whoidentified himself as a 26-yearoldaerobics instructor andmodel for athletic clothing andswim wear.Friends seemed pleasedwith my enthusiasm to getstarted! The club encouragedme to keep a diary to chart myprogress.MONDAY: Started my dayat 6 a.m. Tough to get out ofbed, but found it was well worthit when I arrived at the healthclub to find Christo waiting forme. He is something of a Greekgod — with blond hair, dancingeyes, and a dazzling whitesmile. Woo Hoo!!Christo gave me a tour andshowed me the machines... Ienjoyed watching the skillfulway in which he conducted hisaerobics class after my workouttoday. Very inspiring!Christo was encouraging asI did my sit-ups, although mygut was already aching fromholding it in the whole time hewas around. This is going to bea FANTASTIC week!!TUESDAY: I drank a wholepot of coffee, but I finally madeit out the door. Christo mademe lie on my back and pusha heavy iron bar into the airthen he put weights on it! Mylegs were a little wobbly on thetreadmill, but I made the fullmile. His rewarding smile madeit all worthwhile. I feel GREAT!It’s a whole new life for me.WEDNESDAY: The onlyway I can brush my teeth isby laying the toothbrush onthe counter and moving mymouth back and forth over it. Ibelieve I have a hernia in bothpectorals. Driving was OK aslong as I didn’t try to steer orstop. I parked on top of a GEOin the club parking lot.Christo was impatient withme, insisting that my screamsbothered other club members..His voice is a little too perkyfor that early in the morningand when he scolds, he getsthis nasally whine that is VERYannoying.My chest hurt when I goton the treadmill, so Christoput me on the stair monster.Why would anyone invent amachine to simulate an activityrendered obsolete by elevators?Christo told me it would helpme get in shape and enjoy life.He said some other crap too.THURSDAY: Butt hole waswaiting for me with his vampireliketeeth exposed as his thin,cruel lips were pulled back in afull snarl. I couldn’t help beingSANTEE - WeWelcome YourBusiness -We Delivera half an hour late-- it took methat long to tie my shoes.He took me to work out withdumbbells. When he was notlooking, I ran and hid in therestroom. He sent some skinnywitch to find me.Then, as punishment, he putme on the rowing machine--which I sank.FRIDAY: I hate that jackassChristo more than any humanbeing has ever hated any otherhuman being in the historyof the world. Stupid, skinny,anemic, anorexic, little aerobicinstructor. If there was a part ofmy body I could move withoutunbearable pain, I would beathim with it.Christo wanted me to workon my triceps. I don’t haveany triceps! And if you don’twant dents in the floor, don’thand me the darn barbells oranything that weighs more thana sandwich.The treadmill flung me offand I landed on a health andnutrition teacher. Why couldn’tit have been someone softer,like the drama coach or thechoir director?Leo’s LakesidePharmacyCARING FOR YOU AND ABOUT YOU!Serving the Community since 1960We accept Express Scripts from Tricare InsuranceCVS - Caremark • Walmart - HumanaAnthum Blue Cross(Certain restrictions apply)and all major insurance!Free Delivery and Mail ServiceExpert in PA and TARSSATURDAY: Satan lefta message on my answeringmachine in his grating,shrilly voice wondering whyI did not show up today. Justhearing his voice made mewant to smash the machinewith my planner; however,I lacked the strength to evenuse the TV remote and endedup catching eleven straighthours of the Weather Channel.SUNDAY: I’m having theChurch van pick me up forservices today so I can go andthank GOD that this week isover. I will also pray that nextyear my husband will choosea gift for me that is fun-- like aroot canal or a hysterectomy.I still say if God had wantedme to bend over, he wouldhave sprinkled the floor withdiamonds!!!Submitted by Regan ShutteHave a funny joke or anecdoteyou would like to sharewith others? Send them to:Gazette jokes, P.O. Box 697,El Cajon, CA 92022 or emailto: jokes@ecgazette.com. Includeyour name and city ofresidence so the Gazette maygive credit.www.leosrx.cominfo@leosrx.comMON.-FRI. 9AM-7PMSAT. 9AM-5PMSUN. CLOSEDTRANSFERYOUR RXANDGET $5 OFFANY LEADER BRANDVITAMINS9943 MAINE ST, LAKESIDE • FAX (619) 443-8517 • CALL (619) 443-1013In fact, antimicrobial productsmay be bad for you.Most antibacterial items aretreated with a pesticide calledtriclosan. Studies suggest thattriclosan disrupts thyroid andsex hormones in animals.It also gets washed downdrains into waterways, wheresunlight converts it into apoisonous dioxin that hurtsfish and wildlife.Also, remember that triclosankills all bacteria, which meansit can kill those good bugs onyour body that help preventdisease by keeping harmfulbacteria, viruses and fungi incheck. Some scientists worrythat excessive use of antibacterialsoap could actually makeinfectious bacteria worse byaccelerating their resistance toantibiotics.The National Institute ofHealth is currently examiningthe trillions of microbes foundin the human mouth, nose,esophagus, gut, skin and urogenitaltract to identify whichare found in healthy people,and which are missing in thosewho aren’t. Related researchis exploring whether microbescan help treat chronic digestiveand autoimmune disorderssuch as Crohn’s disease andmultiple sclerosis.Scientists are also studyingwhether modern medicalpractices such as C-sections (inwhich newborns bypass healthybacteria in the birth canal), andexcessive antibiotic use arecontributing to escalating healthproblems such as asthma, foodallergies, and obesity.So save your creepy crawlyfears for Halloween. Most ofthose trillions of tiny creatureson your body help maintaina very complicated and miraculoussystem: you. Washthe truly scary bugs away withsimple soap and water andignore the marketers trying totrick you into buying somethingyou don’t need.Your microbes, and the remaining10 percent of humancells in your body, just maythank you.Donald Adema, DO(Board CertifiedFamily Practice)Most InsuranceAccepted10201 Mission Gorge Rd., Santee, CA(619) 596-5445Call today for your appointment!