Things You Didn’t Know About Germs

What we don’t know about germs could be making us sick. Brush up on your personal hygiene, housekeeping strategies and food handling skills with this guide to beating the spread of bugs.

1. Water temperature doesn’t matter to germs.

Scrubbing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is your simplest defense against harmful germs. But no need to bother with warm water as it is no more effective than cold in removing bacteria from your hands.

2. Hand sanitizer is the next best thing to washing.

If water and soap aren’t available, use alcohol-based sanitizer. As long as the product contains 62 to 70 per cent alcohol, it will kill most of the germs on your skin.

3. Some germs are worth nurturing.

Some suggest consuming prebiotic-rich foods like bananas and asparagus*. Unlike probiotics—live bacteria that improve digestion—prebiotics help nourish the good bacteria already present in your gut.

*(Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that is the member of the lily family. It is a highly prized vegetable, The most commonly eaten variety of asparagus is the green and white and also the purple variety. Asparagus is known for its innumerable health benefits. This springtime vegetable is filled with nutrients, minerals, vitamins and much more.)

4. It pays to keep your fridge organized.

Harmful bacteria, such as salmonella, can be spread when ready-to-eat foods, like washed fruits and veggies, come into contact with potentially hazardous ones, like raw meats and their juices. I suggest organizing your fridge with raw meats at the bottom, unwashed produce in the middle and ready-to-eat foods at the top in order to avoid cross-contamination.

5. Toilets aren’t the most dangerous thing in public bathroom.

The toilets in public washrooms aren’t necessarily where you’ll find the most germs. The door handle and sink basin are more dangerous than the toilet itself. Using paper towel when opening bathroom doors would be highly useful.

6. Germs love toothbrushes.

If you can’t remember when you last changed your toothbrush, it’s time to toss it. Rinse your toothbrush with hot water for five seconds before use.

7. Germs love cellphones, too.

Our cellphones carry more than just data. In 2011, British researchers tested 390 phones and discovered one in six devices had fecal traces on their surfaces. So, wiping phones down with a disinfecting cloth daily will minimize your risk of infection.

8. Always take off your shoes.

On average, 421,000 different bacteria are on our shoes. Leave your footwear at the door to avoid dragging the organisms through your home.