Your DNA is in less than half of your body’s cells. Maybe you are only 10% human. Microbiologists are debating the real numbers but all agree human DNA is in less than half. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/01/160111-microbiome-estimate-count-ratio-human-health-science/
This one simple fact demonstrates the urgent need for a change in the way we think about and interact with the world and how we do things like grow food. In this article I will focus on two things, our desire to disinfect everything and a re think of our place in the world.
Disinfect everything?
Before you reach for the sanitiser or the anti-biotic think about what it will do to your biota. I am not saying these things are bad, I am suggesting that most times something else would be better. We and in fact all higher life on earth needs a healthy, robust and diverse biota to survive. Sickness is when there is a weakness or lack of something. Dis-ease.
Putting it another way -while you don’t invite a bikie to your party sometimes you have to deal with them. The same thing happens in your body and growing plants. Antibiotics and sanitisers are like calling in the army to get rid of the pathogen (bikies). It works but there is collateral damage. A better way is being resistant to the drugs so as not to attract them and have moderators (police) to keep the rules in case they try deception and the people at the party are healthy enough and have the resources to defend themselves. In other words, a whole system approach. This is what we as humans and plants need to live well. Having a diverse biota in our bodies or in the soil is essential. Providing balanced nutrient (minerals) are the supplies we need to keep them well. Note that in this way of thinking we need some bikies to keep the police healthy and vigilant so perhaps colds and flu are a good thing as is eating dirt when you are a kid.
Rather than bring out the big guns there are alternative strategies which will keep the balance and have fewer side effects. For humans things like clean water and dishes, condoms, immunisation and washing out the kitchen sponge and your hands with mild detergents or soap regularly as well as eating nutrient dense food. The same type of things apply to plants. Balance is far more important than eradication. We are not yet made of metal so its time to refocus on looking after the biota in our bodies.
One other thing, current treatments to human sewerage don’t take into account Phages so avoid food grown in it. But that is a whole other news story.
Are we in control?
Given that at least more than half of our body cells are not ours I think it’s a good question. Recent research suggests that symbiotic bacteria and fungus do influence their hosts and can modify plant and animal behaviour. I think they modify our behaviour as well.
Where do craving for certain foods come from? Is it a bacterium that releases endorphins when we eat sugar? Yes, studies support this. Dutch biota (cheese and dairy) is different to Japanese (fish and vegies).
Another example are sex and reproduction. Sexual attraction may simply be the desire of our biota to propagate in another body. Think about why we kiss deeply and what else is in the exchange of body fluids. There is also some evidence we choose the farther or mother based on their bodies different immunity systems (implying biota) and that smell is the trigger.
I find myself contemplating the view that humans (and other animals) are just portable oceans for our biota. A humbling perspective.
So, may I suggest to ask yourself the question. Is there another way before you use the sanitiser or pour on the fungicide into the veggie patch?
