Tropical Health

Why I Stopped Showering Every Day

By Susan Patterson

Up until about two years ago, I was a huge advocate for a shower a day — or sometimes even two. In fact, I loved a long and very hot shower. It was relaxing and I felt it was necessary for optimal cleanliness. I workout daily and just didn’t feel right not showering to freshen up.

It wasn’t until I discovered that I was vitamin D deficient (despite spending a great amount of time outdoors) that I realized I needed to stop showering so frequently.

According to leading natural health expert, Dr. Joseph Mercola, vitamin D can take up to 48 hours to absorb through the skin when first exposed to the sun. If you use soap and water on the skin it can actually interfere with the necessary chemical reaction.

Not wanting to “wash off” the vitamin D that I had absorbed from the sun, I began to be more cognizant of the amount of time I spent in the shower.

Vitamin D3 is an oil soluble steroid hormone

Vitamin D3 is what’s known as an oil soluble steroid hormone. It is actually formed when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation from the sun. When the rays hit your skin, it converts a cholesterol derivative in the skin into vitamin D3.

Once the D3 is formed, it sits on the surface of the skin for quite some time. It takes a long time — up to 48 hours — for it to be completely absorbed. So, you can see that a nice warm shower with body wash will cancel any benefit you gained from your time in the sun. In fact, in order to fully optimize your time in the sun, it is best not to shower for a full two days after exposure to the sun.

Showers strip away natural oils

I live in the Southwest where the air is incredibly dry. After moving from the swampy southeast a couple of years ago, I decided that daily showers would only contribute to the battle I was having with dry skin. Showers, especially long and hot ones like I used to take, strip the body of natural oils, leaving it dry and cracked.  In addition,  frequent showering also disrupts immune supporting bacteria. This is especially true if you use an antibacterial soap or body wash.

Showering is really only aesthetic

What if I told you that showering is practically for aesthetic reasons? According to Dr. Elaine Larson, an infectious disease expert and associate dean for research at Columbia University School of Nursing. “People think they’re showering for hygiene or to be cleaner, but bacteriologically, that’s not the case.”

If you must shower daily, only hit your stinkiest parts — your pits, groin and buttocks. It isn’t really necessary to bother with the rest of your body. Once you hop out of the shower, be sure to apply a natural moisturizer like coconut oil.

How often should I shower?

According to Dr. C. Brandon Mitchell, assistant professor of dermatology at George Washington University, most people over-bathe. If you are bathing for health reasons, Mitchell states that once or twice a week is plenty to keep natural oils and bacteria in balance. The body is an amazing self regulating machine that doesn’t need washing nearly as much as we think it does.

What is the right way to shower?

So when you do make it to the shower, is there one way that is better than another to wash your body? The ideal shower is very dependent on water temperature. Again, as much as most of us probably love a steaming hot shower, this is not the best thing for our skin or hair. Hot water will make your hair very brittle over time and leave your skin dry and cracking. Also, be sure to use an all natural, preferably organic body wash and lightly rub your skin in circular motions to cleanse. More aggressive scrubbing will only cause damage and irritate your skin.

When you finish showering, don’t rub your skin harshly with a towel. Instead, gently pat yourself dry. Follow up with a natural oil such as coconut or hemp seed all over to help replenish moisture.

I love to end my shower with super cold blast of water. This helps to close open pores and firm skin. It is especially refreshing to let the cold water spray on your face.

Don’t forget a chlorine filter

Your skin is the largest organ of your body, and it is highly porous and absorbent. It may be possible to take in more chlorinated water through your skin during a hot bath or shower than through drinking it. So, if your home water system is treated with chlorine, and you take baths or showers without some sort of filtration system specifically designed to weed out the chlorine, you’re chronically exposed.

It’s not just chlorine itself that you have to worry about, either. Though chlorine alone has its own dangers, it also combines with organic compounds, such as the sweat and oil on our skin, to produce trihalomethane byproducts, commonly referred to as THMs. The levels of THMs produced when you take a hot bath or shower are rather low. However, over time, these carcinogens could have increasingly detrimental effects.

If your area does use chlorinated water, there are several steps you can take. You definitely don’t want to be drinking this stuff; installing a dechlorinating water filter on your taps is a great first step. Make sure to read reviews and compare units. Also, it’s key to find out how often these filters need to be replaced, and how they need to be maintained.

You can install a dechlorinating shower filter. There are many on the market, so it’s worth it to compare and check reviews on these, as well. There are also bath dechlorinators available, such as bath ball dechlorinators, which hang underneath your faucet and remove the chlorine when the water enters the filter. Remember, not all filters remove chlorine from water, so you want to make sure that the filter you choose is effective for this purpose.

Final Note

If showering every day is something that you just can’t give up, consider the tips offered above. This will save your skin, maximize your vitamin D production and keep your good bacteria in check.  

-Susan Patterson

Why Your Feet Stink and What You Can Do

By Susan Patterson

Have you ever noticed your feet smelling bad? If you say no, you’re probably lying. Let’s face it. We’re all human, and we’ve all been turned away by the stench of our own feet at some point. You get home after a long, hard day at work, kick off your shoes and…run straight to the shower because you can’t stand the distinct, cheese-like aroma that your tootsies are emitting. So what exactly causes this nauseating smell, and how can you avoid it in the future? 

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Why You Need to Take Your Shoes Off At the Door

By Susan Patterson

The Japanese are well-known for leaving their shoes at the door. In fact, it’s the norm in most Asian countries as well as throughout Scandinavia, yet in Europe and the U.S., other than Hawaii, most people keep their shoes on when they enter their home or someone else’s.

We really need to work on changing that, as shoes can bring a host of nasty things into your home, causing all sorts of problems. The next time you step inside, think about these reminders as to why those shoes need to come off.

Herbicides and Pesticides are Tracked In

When you’re outside, your shoes collect all sorts of substances, including herbicides and pesticides that can lead to health issues. A government-funded study published in Environmental Science & Technology found that weed killers, pesticides, herbicides and the like applied to one’s lawn or garden can be tracked into homes by people up to a week after treatment. Rooms with carpeted floors, as compared to bare floor areas by the researchers, generally had a higher level of tracked-in 2,4-D, the journal reported

Homes with bare floor entryways tended to have the highest levels of the chemical in carpeted living rooms and bedrooms. In homes that had carpeted entryways, levels were higher there than in other parts of the house. That exposure can result in minor skin rashes or gastrointestinal upset, and the risk is much greater for infants and toddlers who often crawl or lie on the floor. The expert noted that the bottom line was that tracking in these potentially harmful compounds can be easily limited simply by consistently remove outdoor shoes at the door.

Bacteria

Researchers at the University of Houston discovered that roughly 40% of shoes they tested carried “C.diff” bacterium or Clostridium difficile, nasty spores that can cause symptoms that range from diarrhea to fatal infection and are difficult to treat. The bacteria was found not only on the soles of shoes, but throughout the household, in floor dust, surfaces, toilets, and countertops. If one develops an infection caused by C.diff, it’s very hard to treat as it’s resistant to the majority of antibiotics, which can cause it to proliferate. It attacks intestinal linings which leads to colitis – and, those bacteria can survive for days or even weeks on your shoes.

In another study from the University of Arizona, researchers assessed the quantity of bacteria and found over 420,000 different units that included nine different strains that can cause an infection in the lungs, eyes, and stomach, including E.coli, which makes up about a third of all bacteria. While most are relatively harmless, there are some nasty ones too that can lead to severe intestinal problems, causing diarrhea and vomiting, and in rare cases, meningitis. The experts also discovered Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria, which is known to cause urinary infections as well as significant damage to the lungs, leading to pneumonia. This bacteria has a high fatality rate at 50%, and in those who are suffering from alcoholism, it’s as high as 100%.  

Keeping Things Clean

It’s not just for health reasons that you and everyone in your household should remove their shoes. While bacteria on your sneakers is invisible to the naked eye, things like dust, dirt and other debris are not, and those are all easily carried on your shoes. While it may not be toxic, it can quickly make your home dirty after time out on the trail, at the park, or even just walking city streets. By leaving your shoes at the door, your house will be much cleaner and healthier.

Preventing Damaged Floors

The soles of shoes are often abrasive or contain sharp edges that can cause damage to your floors. By not wearing shoes in the house it will be easier to maintain your floors and keep them lasting longer due to reduced wear and tear, and it limits the continuous need to vacuum and shampoo carpets. Not only will your house be cleaner and healthier, you’re likely to save money too.

Being a Better Neighbor

If you live in an apartment or another multi-home complex, your neighbors will be happier if you leave those shoes at the door, whether your home is carpeted or has hardwood floors. That’s because wearing socks or slippers keeps the sounds of feet shuffling across the floor to a minimum.

Making an Easier Transition From Work to Home

The Japanese have often noted that one of the reasons, in addition to health and cleanliness for removing shoes before entering a home, is it signals a transition from busyness to relaxation. You slip out of your shoes you’ve been wearing all day, and into cozy socks or soft slippers, as part of a relaxing ritual that allows your mind to let go of the cares of the day and the outside world.

While it may seem like an insignificant thing to do, incorporating habits like this into your day helps you to feel more calm, slowing down and become more connected to your body as well as the environment. It basically signals your psyche that you’re now entering a sacred space, and it creates an energy of sanctity. It makes your home a healthy sanctuary, where you can easily unwind and relax your mind.

Ways To Change Your Old Habit

If you’ve been in the habit of wearing your shoes at home and allowing your guests to do the same, you can make the transition easier in a number of ways, including providing an appealing, practical spot for everyone to leave their outdoor shoes. A wide range of attractive options are available these days, whether you want a beautiful, handcrafted piece made of solid mahogany to keep indoors in your entryway, or something outside on your porch. Or, you could always keep it simple by using any type of basket or a cheap shoe rack. Either way, that will make it easier for everyone to remember to do it before eventually, it becomes an ingrained habit.

You may also want to inform your guests about your shoes-off preference in a kind, gentle way that adds to the look of your home’s entrance. A simple engraved stone that says, “Please, kindly remove your shoes,” or a sign with a similar statement is a great way to accomplish that and keep all of that nasty debris out of your home.

-Susan Patterson

The #1 Reason Why You Should Dry Your Hands

By Susan Patterson

Washing your hands is always a good idea, but did you know that drying them is also a good idea? In fact, drying your hands is equally as important as washing them. How often do you wash your hands after using the bathroom only to walk out and wring them in the air? Not a good idea. Damp hands can actually spread 1000 times more bacteria than dry hands. Yuck!

According to a study from the University of Bradford published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology, not drying hands after you wash them increases the spread of bacteria:

The degree of wetness of hands appears to greatly influence bacterial transfer and dissemination to surfaces and items touched. This probably occurs not only because of the physical aspects of moisture droplets transferring between one surface and another but also because the bacteria may be maintained in a physiological state that makes them better able to survive in the new environment.

According to the study author,  Anna Snelling, “Good hand hygiene should include drying hands thoroughly and not just washing,”

Researchers also tested which type of hand drying is best. According to the study, using good ol’ fashioned paper to dry your hands is the best method. This was followed by the new type of Airblade jet dryers and traditional air dryers last. One of the issues with drying your hands under air is that it pulls out valuable moisture. Another concern is that many people rub their hands under these dryers and when they do they actually bring bacteria that is embedded in the skin to the surface.

How to properly wash your hands

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is a proper way to wash your hands that will result in eliminating the most bacteria:

  1. Wet your hands with running water and apply soap.
  2. Make a lather by rubbing your hands together. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.
  3. Do not forget to wash your wrists, back of your hands, between your fingers, and under your fingernails.
  4. Rinse all parts of your hands well under running water.
  5. Dry your hands thoroughly.

Dangers of hand sanitizers

You may think that applying a good blob of hand sanitizer on your hands after washing will get them spanky clean but using alcohol-based sanitizers can actually do more harm than good. These products often contain fragrance and may dry your hands. Non-alcohol based sanitizers are often made with triclosan or triclocarban.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that there may be unnecessary risks associated with triclosan. Recent studies have also raised questions about whether or not triclosan could be hazardous to human health.

Triclosan contributes to an ongoing problem with antibiotic resistance. Using hand sanitizers may actually lower your resistance to diseases by killing off good bacteria, which is necessary to fight against bad bacteria. According to the Food and Drug Administration, triclosan may also disrupt hormones.
It is best to use a non-alcohol, preferably organic soap to wash your hands and remember to dry thoroughly to keep those bacteria in check!!
-Susan Patterson

 

Here’s What is Lurking On Your Toothbrush and How to Fix It

By Susan Patterson

We wash ourselves, our clothes, and our dishes until they are squeaky clean. But we rarely stop to give a second thought to the equipment we use to clean these things. Our showers, washing machines, dishwashers, and sponges are some of the filthiest areas of our homes – and our toothbrushes are no exception.

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The Hidden Dangers Lurking at Your Spa

By Susan Patterson

Spa getaways can do the body, mind, and spirit good. But then again…with hot, moist environments come bacteria, fungi, and parasites. And some bacteria, like those found in hot tubs, saunas and showers — when breathed in — can be downright dangerous. What if seemingly clean foot spas and mani/pedi tools aren’t sterilized correctly? Bacteria and fungi can cause skin, ear, eye, urinary tract infections, and worse, life-threatening diseases. Throughout the U.S., spas are re-opening with safety measures, hopefully in place. But what hidden dangers could still be lurking at your spa? Beyond physical distancing and wearing masks, what can you do to avoid exposing yourself to potentially harmful bacteria?

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6 Reasons to Stop Using Bleach and Do This Instead

By Susan Patterson

Did you know that using bleach more than once a week could increase your risk of developing a fatal lung disease? Bleach may be a safe bet when it comes to killing germs; but when it comes to health, bleach can be downright dangerous. You’re not limited to using bleach as a disinfectant. There are alternatives — all natural, safe, and just as effective. Here are six reasons to stop using bleach and what you can use instead.   

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Why You Should Always Wash Your Avocados

By Susan Patterson

Have you ever spent a long Friday at work getting excited about kicking back with a bowl of nacho chips and freshly made guacamole…only to find that your avocados are still green and inedible?

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DIY Moisturizing Hand Soap For Lots Of Handwashing

By Susan Patterson

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve been told to wash my hands lately, I would be a very wealthy woman. More people are upping up their handwashing game now that the CDC and health officials have emphasized that regular hand washing is imperative to helping curb the spread of COVID-19. Ironically, by over-washing our skin, we can develop dry cracks in the skin, giving bacteria an entry point into our bodies.

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