02/21/2026
Rethinking Germs……..
Rethinking germs involves shifting from a "warfare" mindset to understanding that only about 1-2% of microbes are harmful, while the rest are crucial for immunity and health.
Modern perspectives emphasize that a robust microbiome and healthy immune system are more effective than excessive sanitization, urging a shift toward supporting, rather than attacking, all microbes.
The Microbiome Connection: Rather than sterilizing everything, fostering a healthy microbiome is vital for overall health.
Immune System Memory: Healthy adults' immune systems "remember" germs they have never actually encountered, indicating a more complex interaction with microbes than previously thought.
Rethinking "Germs" vs. Host Health: Some perspectives suggest that illness is less about the germ itself and more about the host’s internal environment, encouraging a focus on diet, nutrition, and lifestyle to maintain health.
Contextual Hygiene: While washing hands is important, the push for a "hyper-clean" environment may be unnecessary and potentially detrimental to long-term health.
The Nuanced View of Biofilms: Microorganisms in biofilms, often viewed as purely pathogenic, may also serve as a protective response for the host in certain contexts.
The goal is to maintain a balance, fostering beneficial microbes while avoiding dangerous pathogens, rather than attempting to eradicate all bacteria.
Are we viewing germs as enemies? This perspective shifts: they're integral to life, inside us and on the planet. Influenced by Pasteur's fear, we've misunder...