bacteria

Have you ever dropped a coveted piece of food, only to pick it right back up, citing the "five-second rule"? I've always wondered whether this cultural phenomenon could actually contain an iota of truth. If something's only been dropped for a moment, does that mean it potentially picked up fewer germs?

A recent New York Times article sets the record straight. The five-second rule should really become the zero-second rule, because the time on the floor doesn't at all change the risk. In fact, a 2007 Clemson University study indicated that 99 percent of bacteria was transferred nearly immediately, and neither contact time nor various surfaces (wood, tile, carpet) affected the bacteria count.

Does this change your attitude toward food that's been dropped — if only for a second?

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When I used to get sick as a kid (picture vomiting, diarrhea, fun times), my mom would serve me up bowl of yogurt while going on about the benefits of re-populating the good bacteria in my gut. Fast forward twenty-something years later and it dawned on me after a recent bad bout of bronchitis that I may be running low in the bacteria department. Here's why.

My doctor prescribed antibiotics for the bronchitis. Fine. I can handle antibiotics. But on day four I started feeling a bit off. My stomach was constantly in knots, and I knew something was up. I stopped taking the antibiotics and seemed to be progressively getting sicker (the bronchitis had cleared up, but now I was dealing with lots of new fun symptoms). I put on my Andrew Weil thinking cap and did the math — it was after the antibiotics that things went awry. My appendix was removed in 2004, and although this organ is said to be useless, it really does have a purpose — it provides a safe haven for good bacteria to hang out in the stomach until they are needed. I don't have an appendix, therefore, my appendix can't open its floodgates to my intestines when the good bacteria are needed for backup. Throw in some antibiotics that kill all of the good bacteria alongside the bad bacteria, you're intestinal flora isn't going to be happy.

I've never been a big probiotics person, but considering that they can help regulate the digestive system by managing lactose intolerance, prevent colon cancer, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, improve immune function, prevent infections, reduce inflammation, improve mineral absorption, and prevent harmful bacterial growth under stress, why was I so late to jump on the probiotics train?

Keep reading to learn more about my breakthrough with bacteria.

Sometimes, even when we do our best to destroy germs in our home, they know the right places to hide and fester. Damp environments like bathrooms and kitchens are the perfect places for bacteria to thrive. In order to keep our homes healthy and happy, there are a few common items that should be replaced regularly. Check out the list below to see if it's time for any of your items to get dumped.

• Bath sponges: These have the great honor of potentially spreading mold and bacteria all over your body, so you should wring them out and dry them after each use. Loofahs should be replaced every month because the bacteria can grow in their nooks and crannies easily, but synthetic sponges are more resistant and can last up to eight weeks.
• Kitchen sponges: Cleaning, nuking, and drying out your kitchen sponges between washes will help keep them bacteria-free, but you should throw out heavily used sponges every two weeks, or up to eight weeks for those used less vigorously.
• Toothbrushes: It's always a good idea to toss your toothbrush after you get over a sickness, and in general, replace yours every three months.
• Mattresses: These should be replaced every seven years since any uneven sagging can cause you to have trouble sleeping, not to mention their permanent collection of dust, dirt, and allergens.
• Cutting boards. While there's no set time limit for when to replace your cutting boards, you should toss them if you notice discolored grooves, deep clean them regularly, and don't forget to use a separate one for raw meat!

Source: Flickr User Minimalist Photography

I must confess: I don't wear a ton of makeup, but I don't go completely bare either. A little powder, some mascara, a touch of lip gloss, and I am good to go.

Regardless of your daily beauty regimen, cosmetics can be pricey, so I don't blame you for not replacing your products regularly. But makeup does have shelf life after all. Beauty products should be tossed on a regular basis because bacteria can grow in all those slick-looking containers and tubes, which can lead to nasty infections like pink eye, rashes, and cold sores — these blemishes are definitely not attractive. Check out the handy little chart below to see how long your makeup and beauty essentials should last before replacing them.

To see the shelf life of other products read more

I thoroughly wash apples, pears, and strawberries before eating because that is what you do with produce with no peel. My mother taught me this as a small child. With food borne illnesses seemingly on the rise, it's recommended to do a solid rinse and even a scrub to produce that you do peel like cantaloupe and potatoes. The majority of fruits and vegetables are seriously manhandled from harvest to store. Even if you do peel certain fruits like kiwis, mangoes, bananas, melons, and oranges, your hands still come in contact with pesticides, germs, and bacteria, which can transfer from the unwashed peel when slicing or peeling to the part you eat. Kind of gross, no?

Do you already wash produce you're going to peel or not eat the skins of?

Scrubbing the handle on your fridge and all the light switches with germ-killing cleaners may be on your to-do list when Spring cleaning this year, but those aren't the only germ-infested areas in your house. Prevention magazine has a list of places you don't want to skip when scrubbing:

1. Kitchen faucet. The screen on your faucet is perpetually moist and dark — the perfect environment for bacteria. It doesn't help if you accidentally touch the screen with food or your dirty hands. Once a week, it's recommended to "remove the screen and soak it in a diluted bleach solution — follow the directions on the label. Replace the screen, and let the water run a few minutes before using."
2. Garbage disposal. We all know that we let all kinds of things go down the disposal, from raw meat to cucumber peels to leftover milk from our cereal bowl. The disposal and the bottom of the sink are full of bacteria, "about 1,000 times more than the average toilet has." So whatever comes in contact with it, whether it be utensils, dishes, or your cutting board, can become contaminated. At least once a week you should "clean the disposal's rubber stopper with a diluted bleach solution — soap and water aren't enough."
3. Welcome mat. This was a surprise to me, but it makes sense. It's a place where people wipe their shoes off, and one study found "that nearly 96 percent of shoe soles had traces of coliform, which includes fecal bacteria." The solution? "Spray the doormat once a week with a fabric-safe disinfectant (such as Lysol Disinfectant Spray). Leave shoes at the door, and avoid resting bags and groceries on the mat, too."

Curious to know where else germs are lurking in your home? Then read more

When it comes to fruits and veggies, I usually don't buy prewashed, precut, preanything. It seems too gimmicky and way lazy on my part not to slice my own apples. I make an exception for salad greens. I know it's hypocritical of me, but salad greens are pretty dirty, and I hate having to break out my cumbersome salad spinner. So yeah, I give in and buy the prewashed bags of mixed greens from the grocery store. So much for my laziness — it looks like the salad spinner is coming out anyway.

Even prewashed, nay, triple-washed bags of salad mixes aren't so clean after all. Consumer Reports tested 208 bags of salad greens from 16 different brands and found that 39 percent of the samples had traces of fecal contamination. Researchers also found that mixes containing spinach had higher levels of bacteria and that greens tested at least six days before their "use by" date had lower levels of contaminants. Luckily, no traces of deadly pathogens like E. coli or salmonella were found. But still, the thought of cow poo on my baby arugula is totally gross.

To find out how to protect yourself, read more

Germs are everywhere. Swine flu, regular flu, our homes, the gym — there's no escaping the little buggers. One of the best ways to protect yourself is still the easiest: wash those hands! If you're like me, you probably believe that the hotter the water, the better. Not so, says a recent study.

Conducted by scientists with the Joint Bank Group/Fund Health Services Department, the study looked at the bacteria levels of participants after they washed their hands in different water temperatures. The results showed no difference in levels between participants who washed their hands in hot water versus those who washed in cold. The scientists went on to say that tepid water is a better choice for hand washing because it's gentler on the skin and it's better for the environment.

I think it'll take me a little while to adjust to this change — something about washing my hands in hot water just feels safer. When you do wash up, though, make sure you always use soap and lather up for at least 30 seconds.