Over the past decade our hand soaps, dishwashing liquids and other cleaning products have been invaded by antibacterial chemicals. It may seem as though these are doing wonders by killing off bacteria that can make you sick. The problem is that while they may be killing off some bad bacteria, they are also killing off lots of good bacteria, which are part of the normal flora of the body and help keep us well. The only bacteria that seem to withstand this attack are the strongest ones, and unfortunately, the most harmful.
The same holds true for antibiotic medicine. We as consumers must make informed decisions about antibiotic use. We should only get antibiotics if a bacterial infection has been diagnosed (antibiotics do nothing for viral infections like the common cold.) Also, if a prescription for an antibiotic is truly warranted, we must be sure we finish the whole dosage. Partial consumption can kill off lots of good bacteria and only some of the invading bacteria, leaving the remaining ones stronger, and us still sick. If antibiotics are taken, please be sure to also take a probiotic 2 hours after each antibiotic dosage to help replenish the good bacteria in the intestines.
The other place to look out for antibacterials and antibiotics is in our food. Antibiotics are given to animals as a prophylactic treatment for infection, plus antibacterials are sprayed all over crops. Buying local, cage free, organic, non-GMO food can help mitigate some of this, but please be aware this is an ongoing problem. The resultant problem from the abuse of antibacterials and antibiotics goes beyond our individual bodies. The problem is this: as we all abuse antibacterials and antibiotics we are in essence creating stronger, more virulent bacteria in our society, which are harder and harder to kill. If we abuse antibacterials in our homes, what will happen in hospitals and research laboratories where antibacterial agents are really needed? Already there exist a number of bacteria that are resistant to penicillin, and a few, like MRSA, to much stronger drugs than that.
In a nutshell, a few things we can do to try to bring bacteria back into equilibrium and stay healthy are:
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wash our hands with regular soap and hot water (25 seconds is ideal)
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purchase cleaning products that do not contains added antibacterial agents
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ask for antibiotics only when we have a bacterial infection (and if received, complete the prescription and take a probiotic)
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buy the cleanest food we can find