Comments on: A Sanitized World is a Healthier World?

By: Mark’s Daily Apple » Blog Archive » Dear Mark: Primal Personal Products?

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:00:27 +0000

[...] A Sanitized World is a Healthier World? [...]

By: Mark Sisson

Mark Sisson — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:09:16 +0000

Scott,

It was only a few hundred years ago that we even washed our food at all. Eating dirt (and the microbes that came with it) were actually incorporated in to the evolutionary “design” of our immune systems. We need dirt to survive! Add to that the notion that sugar suppresses the immune system (thanks, Markus) and we have more sick kids than ever, getting more frequent sicknesses because they don’t get exposed enough and/or when they do, they can’t respond adequately.

By: Brian A

Brian A — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:52:31 +0000

It’s mostly the rubbing that cleans your hands, so any soap will do as long as you use it for 20 seconds or more…

By: Scott Kustes

Scott Kustes — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:22:02 +0000

I recall reading something about the immune systems of today’s suburban kids being underdeveloped because of our over-sanitized culture. Couple that with kids that don’t play outside, and just plain don’t get dirty, and you have kids that are highly prone to illnesses. It’s amazing how “normal” it is to be sick these days. I was at a social function Saturday and listened to three (of 6 total people at the table) talking about their migraines and I was thinking “This isn’t normal…everyone should not be having headaches.” But we’ll just continue (as a society) popping pills and vaccinating against things the body can deal with on its own and wonder why our health never improves.

Scott Kustes
Modern Forager

By: Donna

Donna — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:13:34 +0000

I never use anti bacterial soap, good ole’ plain soap does the trick.

By: markus

markus — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:27:46 +0000

excellent stuff mark
here’s some more data to back up your immune story:
did you you know that:
*high blood glucose (i.e. high carb low fat diet etc) can damage your immune system:
In the constant fight against disease, our bodies have a sophisticated defence mechanism - our immune system. Part of this system are cells called neutrophils , a type of leucocyte or white blood cell, which circulate in our blood streams and mop up any bacteria or other foreign bodies they come across. This process is called phagocytosis . While phagocytosis is an energy requiring mechanism that needs an adequate supply of the blood sugar, glucose, too much glucose has the effect of reducing the neutrophils’ ability to ingest and kill off invading bacteria:
Sanchez A, et al. Role of sugars in human neutrophilic phagocytosis. Am J Clin Nutr 1973; 26: 1180-84
Ringsdorf WM jr, Cheraskin E and Ramsey RR jr. Sucrose, Neutrophilic Phagocytosis, and Resistance to Disease. Dent Surv 1976; 52 (12): 46-48

*polyunsaturated vegetable oils (sunflower oil etc - those oils that the “health” “authorities” wanted us to replace those “nasty” sat fats) dampen the immune system very effectively
Lipids and Immune Function
Joseph J. Vitale and Selwyn A. Broitman
Boston University School of Medicine, Mallory Institute of Pathology, Boston, Massachusetts 02118

Abstract
There is in vitro and in vivo evidence to suggest that dietary lipids play a role in modulating immune function. A review of the current literature on the interrelationships among dietary lipids, blood cholesterol levels, immunosuppression, and tumorigenesis makes for a very strong argument that (a) immunosuppression may be causally related to lymphoproliferative disorders, as well as to tumorigenesis and (b) diets high in polyunsaturated fat, relative to diets high in saturated fat, are more immunosuppressive and are better promoters of tumori genesis. The effects of dietary fat on immune function seem to be mediated through its component parts, the unsaturated fatty acids, specifically linoleic, linolenic, and arachidonic.

All the best
Markus