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| 27 September 2011
UK Edition |
 Dear Reader,
A recent news article in the magazine Popular Mechanics was a real eye-opener that got me looking in a different way at my dishwasher, washing machine, and a few other surprising places.
I talk about superbugs here in the e-Tips from time to time — how they're bred in hospitals and how the overuse of antibiotics is contributing to what's becoming a major public health issue — but I never knew that I could have a little superbug farm going on in my very own home. But after reading about five places that could be breeding these mega germs, I'm definitely going to be adjusting a few domestic habits.
First up is the dishwasher, that wonderful invention that eliminates dishpan hands and gets your dishes sparkling clean... My wife is certainly happy about this, but the latest research will wipe the smile off her face in no time.
Researchers in Slovenia tested 189 dishwashers on six continents and found that 62 per cent had fungi living in the rubber door seals. They were a bit surprised — they'd thought the high temperatures and harsh soaps wouldn't support microorganisms. But the species of black yeast they found, which can cause infections, thrives in such extreme conditions, especially with a steady stream of nutritious crumbs and other debris that go with your plates into the dishwasher.
There's some more bad news on this one — nobody knows how to prevent these nasties from growing. There haven't been any reports of infection related to contaminated dishwashers, but more research is needed since these fungi could be quite harmful to infants and the elderly.
Next up we have the shower. That "soap scum" that builds up when life takes over and there's no time to clean? Yeah, that's not soap. It's actually bacteria, which absolutely love the warm, moist conditions in the shower. Most of the bacteria that live on your shower curtain and walls are harmless, but it's another story when it comes to your showerhead. There, it's warm, moist, and dark. Staphylococcus, legionella, and Mycobacterium avium come in with the water supply and multiply in the nice little cave that is your showerhead.
And half of the water droplets that come from a typical showerhead are just the right size to go straight into your lungs. The good news is that you can clean your showerhead or replace it, and rain-type heads don't create the fine mist that can be inhaled. Also, if your immune system is working properly, you don't have to worry about any infections.
The washing machine is the third hidden breeding ground for superbugs. Tests have uncovered 94 species of microorganisms in washing machines — and about a third of those can infect humans. The water filter, rubber tubes, and metal elements of the outer drum are all home to germs. Even concentrated detergent can't get rid of the microbes. One contributing factor could be washing with lower temperatures and bleach- free cleaners out of environmental concern.
This next one is a big one. It's, unfortunately, the air you breathe in your home. In one test in Philadelphia, researchers found colonies of MRSA in the air around kitchen rubbish and in bedrooms. It could come from pets, and the bacteria in the kitchen are probably from food. Researchers pointed out that the steady diet of antibiotics given to farm animals leads to meat and dairy products crawling with antibacterial-resistant bacteria. In the rubbish, those bacteria get plenty of food and warmth. They also noted that airborne bacteria are associated with infections in hospitals and could therefore definitely be culprits at home, too. I know I'm going to start taking the rubbish out every day, no matter how tired I am after a long day of work. (I see a smile back on my wife's face.)
Finally, there's the fridge. In a 2008 study, 23.4 per cent of tested fridges were home to bacteria that cause respiratory infections. The veggie drawers had the highest concentrations. There's an easy, though tedious, fix for this. When you clean your fridge, don't just give it a quick wipe down. Take the drawers out and get all the nooks and crannies where bacteria can thrive.
Generally, unless you have a compromised immune system, you don't have to freak out over these hidden superbug breeding grounds. But it's certainly a good reminder that, no matter how clean we think we are, germs are going to find a way to multiply!
Now, I'm off to give every nook and cranny of our house a good scrubbing!
Continues below...
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Fighting early hair loss
Q: I'm only 32, and I've been losing my hair for the past few years. It's very sparse now. I have read your advice about taking omega-3s and I do take fish oil capsules. I'm wondering if there is anything else I can do?
Dr Jonathan V. Wright: Taking omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil is a very good first step towards slowing hair loss. The next thing I would urge you to do is check with your doctor right away to see if hair loss is one of the side effects of any medications you may be taking. Many blood thinners and medications to treat arthritis, depression, gout, heart problems, and high blood pressure are known to cause hair loss.
If that isn't the case, there are two other natural approaches you can try. The first is to increase your iron intake.
A three-year study of hair loss in women conducted in the late 1990s identified iron deficiency as the cause of hair loss in 72 per cent of pre-menopausal women. But you don't need to be anaemic to start losing your hair from lack of iron: Even deficiencies that don't qualify for an "anaemic" diagnosis can contribute to this problem. Fortunately, increasing your iron intake is relatively simple to do through your diet. Dried fruits, fish, meat, legumes, and dark leafy greens have high a iron content. But if you find that eating more of these foods doesn't help, you might need to take an iron supplement — although if you do so, you should seek the assistance of your doctor.
Another way to combat hair loss is to supplement with MSM (methylsulfonyl methane), an important component of proteins found throughout the body, like the ones in your hair, nails, skin, and tendons. Since MSM is a sulphur-containing supplement, be sure to take a small amount of another nutrient called molybdenum along with it. Molybdenum helps your body metabolize sulphur.
Wishing you the best of health,
Andrew Miller
UK Editor
Nutrition and Healing
In the latest issue of Nutrition & Healing, Dr. Wright explains the many dangers of vitamin A deficiency... and how to make sure you're getting enough for optimal health. Also learn about the number 1 herb every woman should know about that can help alleviate stubborn PMS symptoms... plus much, much more...
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Sources:
"5 Places in Your Home That are Breeding Superbugs," Popular Mechanics (popularmechanics.com)
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