עדכונים מהבלוג
הכניסו את כתובת המייל לקבלת עידכונים מהבלוג:(Written by Uri Mayer-Chissick)
You don’t have to be a microbiologist to come across germs. I “meet” them’ for instance, when I use fermentation processes, when I suffer an infection or disease, when I prepare compost and even when I digest food (and enjoy it!). There are around one million germs in a drop of water, around 40 million in one gram of soil, and overall their mass is greater than all the animals and plants in the world. As a matter of fact, the human body has more microorganisms than human cells [1]. They are always present in our lives – but what do we know about them?? In my first article about germs I described how our concern and fear of germs bring us to the verge of sterility. However, as explained before, there are millions of them around; if they are not synonym to harm and disease – what are they?
Let us follow, step by step, the development of thinking in this field, by studying three books that deal with fungus and microorganisms from 3 different viewpoints, but reach the same conclusion which is very different from the popular and accepted views.
“לסלק את הקוץ” – on getting the germs out of the food
In 2002 Dr. Haim Sadovski published this book (“Get the thorn out”) – a fascinating book that presents the reader with the problem of food preservation in the modern industrial world. An important part in the book presents a long list of the preservatives and the industrial dyes, used to lengthen the shelf-lifespan of the products and to eliminate the germs in the food. Apart from warning us about them (which we won’t discuss here), Sadovski explains at length the harm caused by the total elimination of germs.
In modern food industry, the longer the shelf life – the higher the profits. You may think that this is not true – but it is. It does not matter how much you invest in lengthening the lifespan of the product – the profits from this process are always higher. And how do you do that? You kill all the germs. In the past, it was done by sterilization or pasteurization. Nowadays, it is done by different substances that do not allow the germs to live. Thus we now eat germless food and take in the harmful substances that kill the germs. Sadovski tells the story of the industry that sees only its own benefits and not the customer’s; thus it lengthens the shelf life of foods using unreasonable methods that could harm the public. He also discusses at length water injection to meats – a process used extensively here and is followed by adding different substances using a variety of excuses.
Rethinking Pasteur’s Germ Theory: How to Maintain Your Optimal Health / Nancy Appleton
On the theory that was formed when germs were discovered.
In her PhD thesis, that was published as a book by California University, Nancy Appleton suggests rethinking the Pasteur’s Germ Theory. Pasteur was probably the pioneer in this field. He developed the Germ Theory that maintains that our bodies and digestive systems are completely clean, and germs that get in from outside cause infections and disease. According to this theory, that was developed when germs were discovered, all germs should be exterminated, inside the body and outside. This is why milk is pasteurized (outside), and antibiotics are taken (inside). The impact of this theory on the dogmas of medicine and science was so great, that although many years have passed and we know now that it is mistaken and our body is not sterile but full of germs that are necessary for its wellbeing, it is still used. Appleton proves it with her research and shows how it is done. This is the main reason for the world’s “antibiotics syndrome”. The quantities of antibiotics used by men and livestock in the world is enormous, and it helps develop stronger germs!
An Epidemic of Absence: A New Way of Understanding Allergies and Autoimmune Diseases / Moises Velasques-Manoff
A new theory on the place of microorganisms in our lives.
A new book that I have only recently received presents fascinating researches on these processes (that the previously described books are about) – exterminating the germs and funguses in our bodies in the last 150 years. Velasques-Manoff tells us how our lives are entwined with a diverse flora of germs, parasites and warms (in our bodies). They all help us to function and to fight disease. When men moved into crowded cities, especially where sanitation was bad, plagues developed from uncontrolled growth of the parasites in our bodies. In the last 150 years we succeeded, with proper sanitation, to control the situation and stop the plagues. The problem is – we went too far. Thus we are at a stage when we don’t have the germ-system to protect us.
The researcher presents evidence that shows how our immunization system, that was used during the evolution to survive with the microorganisms that were part of it, was left without and started attacking itself. This is the reason why, he claims, the autoimmune diseases and allergies appear (asthma, psoriasis, diabetes and more…).
As he puts it:” The body is a country where considerable effort goes toward cooperation with other organisms.
The gut, perhaps our preeminent immune organ, serves as the primary command center for this endeavour – a reactor chamber that set the tone for immune and metabolic functioning far and wide.
The makeup and dynamism of the living community it houses, therefore, have far-reaching consequences.
Perhaps most essential for the immune system peacekeeping is an active process, not an absence of process.”
Velasques-Manoff stresses that the process by which we gain germs and cooperate with them is of the utmost importance. It starts when we come out of our mother’s womb through the birth-canal, where we are already equipped with germs, through breast feeding that supplies us with basic antibodies, plus our nutrition and way of life later.
According to this book, all those germs and parasites are an important part of the system – as long as it is balanced and they let us live our lives. They are there to support the bowel activity. This is the place to say to you, parents: if your child has worms and he is not disturbed by it – don’t worry. It shows that the system is alive and well. However, if you want to minimize it, you should minimize flour and sugar in his diet, instead of giving him “bombs” that will kill anything alive inside. According to this book – when there are no germs and worms inside, it is much more worrying.
Summary
In the end – the balance is the key word. Behavioral balance – keep hygienic but don’t overdo it; health wise we should use modern medicine to fight severe diseases or infections, but should not take antibiotics every time we have a temperature; and lead a healthy life, thus enabling your body to look after itself.
