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continued from p.1 way is to "get you to look into the mirror," he said, as the body is comprised mostly of germs. Tetro noted there are about 100 trillion microbial cells and 37.2 trillion cellular biology cells in the human anatomy. "You might think of yourself as being 100 per cent human, but the fact is you're actually not. You really are only somewhere between 10-30 per cent human," said Tetro. "The majority of who you are is microbial in nature. If you tend not to believe that you have a relationship with them, you're in trouble." At any given time, there are nonillion (one with 27 zeros) microbes on the planet, he noted. That may seem ominous, but for every 100 microbes, approximately 99 are either harmless or "have absolutely nothing to do with us," Tetro said, while the other one could possibly be a pathogen. "The City of Toronto has about 2.8 million people, the same number of microbe types that we have in the world. Out of that, we have hundreds of thousands of microbes, much like the people in the city, that you never interact with," said Tetro. "You have tens of thousands of mutuals (microbes), which help you out." While only a small percentage of microbes can harm humans, they garner most attention. "We always look at that one individual or that one virus as the one thing we fixate on," said Tetro. Out of the nearly three million types of germs, there are 1,450 that could potentially hurt Human body is mostly microbial in nature, says Tetro humans, The Germ Guy said, noting people will only encounter about a dozen in their lifetime. One of the problems with microbes is circulation, he said, which can happen through inhalation, ingestion, ingress, injury and intercourse. Social distancing and hygiene will stop 90 per cent of "all the current problems of your life when it comes to germs," Tetro stated. For comparison, he noted someone with measles could contaminate 12-18 people; mumps can be transmitted to four to seven people, both "vaccine preventable," while a SARS-infected person could pass it on to twofive people. Despite the publicity it receives every fall and winter, influenza -- the disease "that spreads around the world, that requires us to get vaccinated and huddle down" -- infects only two or three people when transmitted, he said. However, you can eliminate the influenza spread with hygiene and social distancing, Tetro added. "When it comes to our good friend influenza, it evolves rapidly, about once every couple of years. When it evolves, it becomes a little bit more infectious and it really can cause a little bit more infection and maybe take a few more lives," said Tetro. Antibiotics are often used to fight infections, but excessive use can lead to Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), Tetro warned. "That is a microbe that we can pay attention to and we should pay attention to because it is, unlike tuberculosis, probably one of the greatest threats we can't stop. It forms these little balls called spores that can resist everything," said Tetro, noting the only way to prevent C. difficile is hygiene and social distancing. Tetro says your microbiome -- a collection of the 100 trillion microbes "within and on top of you" -- needs to integrate with your cells, so it creates a harmonious relationship. The partnership provides a mucus barrier that prevents many pathogens from entering your body and communicates back-and-forth with your cells and immune system to obtain a balance, while bugs, such as lactobacillus 5 | Friday, December 5, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com acidophilus, create anti-infectives to eliminate various harmful bacteria. "Lactobacillus, although we call it probiotics, is really the mafia of the microbiome. If your gut is colonized with this lactobacillus, you don't get C. difficile ever. It's part of the hygiene that I'm talking about," said Tetro. "Not only does it mean washing your hands and making sure you've sprayed the air, it also means making sure your body is hygienic as well by making it flush and prime with good bacteria." The Germ Code: How to Stop Worrying and Love Microbes is available to purchase online and at local book retailers. A STEP BEYOND IN CARE Do you have: Salima Kassam Reg. Chiropodist · Foot/Arch Pain? · Ingrown Toenails? · Diabetes? · Swollen Ankles? · Corns, Calluses? Call for an appointment 905-632-1414 728 Burloak Drive www.footandhealthclinic.com The Region's Finest Lighting Store Merry ChristMas CONCEPT LIGHTING FURNITURE & SALE ASK ABOUT OUR RUG CLEANING SERVICE FREE PICK UP & DELIVERY Hand Knotted AREA RUGS. 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