10 Common Hygiene Habits That Do More Harm Than Good

 Dr. Joseph Mercola says that these ten common hygiene habits actually do more harm than good.

An article featured in Reader’s Digest1 called out a number of so-called “healthy” hygiene practices that actually do more harm than good. Given the condensed nature of their commentary and the many misconceptions involved with these particular areas of hygiene, I would like to elaborate on some of them. You are probably aware that many commercial personal care products, such as bubble bath and hand sanitizer, are laced with harmful chemicals that can potentially damage your health.

But, what’s your view on brushing your teeth right after a meal, cleaning your ears, douching or exfoliating? Are those widespread practices helping or hurting you? If you’re not sure, let’s take a closer look at popular hygiene routines that may be wreaking havoc on your health. Below are 10 hygiene habits that do more harm than good. Read more

How to Feed Good Bacteria and Fight the Bad

Bacteria play a major role in our lives, both good and bad. Here's how to feed the good bacteria and fight the bad.

Bacteria play a central role in our lives, shaping much of the world around us, as well as the world within us.

We’ve long regarded bacteria as something to be feared – agents of illness and death – but, increasingly, it’s understood that many bacteria are, in fact, harmless and even beneficial.

Bacteria in our gut, for example, help us produce vitamins, such as folic acid, while others help us to absorb important metals, such as calcium, from our food. Read more