Antibacterial

Anti-bacterial = Anti-health?

It seems that almost every soap and cleaner that is being brought onto the market now contains antibacterial ingredients. In fact some 72 per cent of all liquid soap sold in the United States contains them. So is this a good thing?

Are antibacterial soaps effective? Well, that depends on how you determine effective. Do they decrease the amount of bacteria on your hands or the object being cleaned? Almost certainly yes. Does this make you healthier? Almost certainly no! In fact studies have shown that people who use antibacterial soaps and cleansers get sick just as often as those who do not and in 2005 the U.S. FDA stated that there is "no added benefit" from using antimicrobial products as opposed to plain soap and water.

Not only are these soaps not helping to make you healthier, they may actually be making you sicker. Research has shown that children exposed to bacteria early in life actually have stronger immune systems whilst those who are not tend to have higher rates of both allergies and asthma. Even the American Medical Association has said that "there's no evidence that they [antibacterial soaps] do any good and there's reason to suspect that they could contribute to a problem". The other problem of course with antibacterial soaps and products is that they contribute to the formation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, meaning that if you do get a serious infection it can be far harder to treat.

In addition, researchers have determined that about 75 per cent of a popular antimicrobial, triclocarban (TCC), resists water treatments meant to break it down and ends up in surface water. TCC is known to cause cancer and reproductive problems. Releasing these products into the environment also further adds to the development of “super-bugs”.

Of course the best way to make sure that the germs in your environment aren’t making you sick is to make sure that your body’s resistance is as strong as possible. The only way to do this is to give your body all that it requires in terms of eating, moving and thinking.

So by all means wash your hands with soap and water, but if you want to stay healthy, avoid the antibacterial products.