Not all bacteria are damaging to our health. Some of them ensure our wellbeing and we have to foster them
There has been a great increase in the number of diseases, disorders and allergies in ‘developed’ countries in recent decades. For example, 20 years ago they calculated that only 20% of the population had any type of allergy, while today that number has doubled, and they estimate that it could jump to 50% by 2025.
David Strachan formulated the ‘hygiene hypothesis’ in 1989, which sustained that children from the countries with the greatest resources were growing up in overly sterilised environments, in which detergents and the lack of almost any contact with animals and nature prevent the immune system from adapting to common pathogens.
After years of research, this hypothesis was confirmed:excess cleanliness, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle and living in enclosed spaces are some of the causes for the increase in many common diseases.Our bodies react disproportionately to elements they consider foreign, such as pollen, mites, some fruits, and similar, creating allergies, for example.
We have to change the mentality with which we were educated of eliminating all germs, as many bacteria are not harmful. They promote life and are the foundations of our bodies and the environment in which we live.For example, in our digestive system there are 10 times more bacteria than cells in our entire body.
Indeed, the microbes that cause diseases are fewer than 5% of the total, although it is impossible to eliminate them without damaging the rest. Clearly antibiotics and pesticides do have many benefits in our lives, but we have overused them, leading to damaging both our bodies and our environment.
Biotechnology is an alternative to the indiscriminate elimination of bacteria.Due to the study of microbiology, we can produce a wide variety of products with infinite applications that work with nature, and not against it.
Beneficial microorganisms let us restore the damaged microbial area, control pathogens and help ensure that good bacteria work optimally. In combination with other natural products, they can be applied to our bodies, to those of other living beings, and to our homes and workplaces.
The consumption of probiotics helps to restore our intestinal flora, controlling and decreasing the amount of harmful bacteria.They are beneficial microorganisms that ensure that our body functions well.They can also be applied to animals and plants and to cleaning products, and to cleaning products to improve the environment in which we live.
On the one hand, calculations claim that the average child from a ‘developed’ country will receive between 10 and 20 antibiotic treatments before the age of 18.This excessive intake affects the balance of our intestinal flora, in the same way as stress, too much alcohol or a poor diet, to give just a couple examples. To care for our immune system, we must promote the good bacteria that keep our intestines healthy. Without them, the harmful bacteria can proliferate that could end up causing serious illnesses.
On the other, the population of developed countries spends 90% of their time in enclosed spaces. The communities of bacteria in inside air are less diverse, but contain more damaging organisms than in the fresh air.Further, we must add the large amount of damaging substances that we live with that are ingredients in our cleaning products, cosmetics, paints and other widespread household products.
Finally, we will give you a few tips to help keep our bodies healthy:
- Avoid processed foods
- Do not consume too much sugar, salt or alcohol
- Eat a large and varied amount of fruits and vegetables
- Avoid antibiotics unless they are absolutely necessary
- Take probiotics
- Ventilate rooms with natural air
- Grow a kitchen garden to come into contact with nature and have fresh foods
- Eat locally-grown and seasonally foods
- Exercise