Hand-washing 101

Wash your hands before you eat, drink, handle contact lenses, treat a cut or open wound, and frequently through the day. Also make sure you wash up after blowing your nose, playing with pets, coughing, changing diapers, handling money and, of course, using the toilet.

The dirt on antibacterial soaps
Plain old hand soap is the best choice for washing your hands. Antibacterial soaps and other bacteria-fighting cleaning products aren't necessary, and can possibly do more harm than good. “Not only do these products kill the bad germs,” de Heer explains, “they can also kill the good bacteria -- those that help us fight off the flu and other illnesses. Even worse,” she goes on, “they can also contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.”

Health Canada advises against using antibacterial soaps for everyday use and de Heer and most experts agree. “Any hand soap will do,” she explains. “It's the friction that happens when lathering up that gets the hands clean.” In the U.S., the FDA is even considering limiting these products for use only in health-care and daycare settings.

And what about that bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer we carry in our purses? When a sink and soap isn't available, health experts recommend using these sanitizers. Apply to your hands and rub them together until dry. The alcohol will kill the germs.

For more information, visit the following sites:

IHA website
www.interiorhealth.ca

Health Canada
www.hc-sc.gc.ca

Do Bugs Need Drugs
www.dobugsneeddrugs.org

For more ways to stay healthy, read about 8 nutrients to boost your immune system.

Visit our Prevention section for more on keeping yourself healthy.

Page 2 of 2