Tag Archives: bacteria

Illuminating Household Germs

Here’s a statistic that’s sure to upset your stomach: By the end of 2006 more than 76 million Americans will have gotten sick from eating bad food. Even more frightening: Food poisoning will kill 5000 of them. Food safety experts say blame it on dirty hands and dirty kitchens. Personally, I didn’t find the statistics to be that shocking. About six years ago I participated in a study for a product called “Glo-Germ.” It’s a non-toxic substance that simulates germs commonly found in household kitchens like e-coli and salmonella. The product allows researchers to see how quickly germs spread in … Continue reading →

Can viruses cause mental illness?

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Spend time in a crowded shopping center or in an air conditioned office during peak winter virus time and you’d expect that your chances of picking up a cold or flu virus would be increased. But what if you could pick up a mental illness via the same method? Conditions such as depression and schizophrenia have long been regarded as having a strong biological component by most doctors. That is, it is believed that there exists a genetic link in the development of these conditions. But what if these illnesses were caused by viruses? This is exactly what researchers in … Continue reading →

Zap Zits With Zeno!

Are you ready for this? The FDA has approved a zit-zapper! It’s called Zeno. Zeno is a handheld device that uses low-level heat to zap your zits into history! Most blemishes are caused by a bacterium called P. acnes. The heat from the Zeno causes that bacteria on your skin and in your pores to self-destruct — this is known as heat shock response. When the bacteria die, the pimple goes away! If you have mild to moderate acne problems, Zeno may be right for you. The Pros The low-level heat kills the bacteria that clogs pores and causes pimples … Continue reading →

Bath Toys Are Not Clean!

As parents, we do our best to keep our homes clean for our family’s health and safety. It is part of being a parent, the seemingly never-ending chore of cleaning house. However, we are human, and some things are overlooked. Our parenting life is hectic, and we just don’t think of some things (yes, I am going to add another chore to your list). One of those things is right in your bathroom. You see them every night as your child plays and splashes in the bathtub getting squeaky clean. Nevertheless her bath toys won’t stay clean for too long … Continue reading →

Your Kitchen Can Make You Sick!

Some studies, like those done on an Oprah episode have shown that your kitchen is the one room filled with the most germs out of your whole house! You would think it would be your bathroom, but it is not. Salmonella, Ecoli, and other germs/bacteria that cause illnesses (common to serious) could be lurking in your kitchen right now. Here are some tips to help you decrease the amount of bacteria in your kitchen: 1. Clean countertops and other most-used areas more than once a day. Clean up spills right away. 2. Thoroughly clean your trash can every time you … Continue reading →