Everyday we get up, we fight a battle. Our enemies surround us, yet we can’t see them.
We’re told that they are there. We’re told they will get us when we’re down. We’re told they can make us sick… or worse.
How on Earth are we supposed to fight an enemy we can’t see? “Use this!” they say. So we do. And we use and we use, but since we can’t see the enemy to begin with we don’t really know if it’s working or not.
Years go by and we come to find out that the weapons they gave us to kill our enemies didn’t kill them after all. It killed some, but not all. The ones we left behind got more and more powerful, so strong they now have super strength, because you know what they say, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. ”
What’s worse, is the weapons we chose, instead of killing them, are killing us.
This could be the plot of any science fiction movie, but instead it’s the state of what we have done in our battle against bacteria.
Triclosan, the word might not roll off your tongue, but trust me, you know what it does, or shall I say, what it was supposed to do. Triclosan is the chemical in antibacterial soaps, dish soaps, and yes, even toothpaste. And Triclosan is the weapon we chose to fight bacteria. It’s time to lay that weapon down. It’s not working and studies are finding that it’s doing more harm than good.
I know, it seems scary at first, to let go of that antibacterial soap we’ve become so accustomed to using. It feels like you’re saying, “Hey, Bacteria! Yeah, you, look here, I put my weapons down. I’m defenseless!” but the reality is, we’re not.
By choosing not to use products labeled antibacterial, we are choosing to take our lives back. We are choosing to take the super powers away from the bacteria and leave them simply as bacteria. And when we choose not to buy antibacterial products with Triclosan, we are choosing to take our lives back from Cancer, from infertility and from many other diseases that sound way worse than bacteria if you ask me.
So the tip for the week?
Environmindful Monday Tip #13: Wash Your Hands of Antibacterial Soap and go back to regular soap and water. Wash your hands. Wash them well, for at least 20 – 30 seconds, scrubbing the germs off and then rinse them down the drain. When you’re done, wipe your hands on a towel to grab any stragglers that may have gotten missed.
The simple act of washing our hands is just as effective as Triclosan and way less detrimental to our health.
Be healthy, be safe, be well.
Kate
Walnuts n Pears 