Microorganisms (viruses, fungi, bacteria, worms) are my friends. Brushing hair instead of washing. Eating fried eggs with hands.

October 23, 2024.

Greetings! Last night before bed, I listened to a podcast from SWR about hygiene in the household. Here’s what stuck with me:

• The smartphone is like an extension of the hand. Whatever microbes are on my hands are also on my phone. So, if you care about washing your hands, you should not only wash them but also disinfect your phone if you're going to use it after washing your hands.
• Many people have a misconception about where most microorganisms in the household are located. There are 100 times more microbes on a phone than on a toilet seat. What many people don't know: the toilet seat is almost germ-free. Most germs are found in sponges or in the kitchen sink. (I didn’t know that, which is why I have a separate cleaning cloth for the toilet.)
• Microorganisms multiply exponentially. This means that after disinfecting the sink, new microorganisms will be found on it just minutes later.
• The immune system of modern humans is very weak because it’s exposed to very few microorganisms. Everything is disinfected and sterilized, so the immune system hardly has a chance to train itself.
• The human body is made up of 50% cells and 50% microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and mites.

This podcast made me realize once again that microorganisms are an integral part of our lives. They are part of us. They protect and help us. That's why I have great respect for microorganisms. From today on, I'm removing the term "germs" from my vocabulary because it has negative connotations and suggests that microorganisms are bad and must be killed. I prefer to use the terms "microorganisms" or "microbes."

Yesterday, I briefly woke up at 1:40 AM and 3:16 AM. At 7:30 AM, I was fully awake.

I had a dream that I was at a KUFA party. The bouncers let me in, even though they knew I wasn't supposed to be there. However, the boss noticed me and called me into his office. I started crying and said that I really wanted to visit KUFA and that it was so unfair. He felt sorry for me and allowed me in. But then he brought my mother. When she listened to what he had told her, she was horrified. I didn't know what he had told her. I only met her outside the club when I was getting some fresh air. She verbally tore into me. I then said, "You're not my mother at all. Leave me alone." I called security and said, "Get this woman away from me. She’s not my mother," because she was not only verbally aggressive but also tried to physically approach me.

That was an intense dream. But what does it say about my relationship with my mother?

Yesterday's tooth brushing with a plant leaf worked, but not as well as with a cloth, since the leaf tore while rubbing over the teeth. It's best to use two leaves—then it works just as well as with the cloth.

The podcast about microorganisms and videos of van lifers washing under their armpits because they don't have a shower have led me to rethink my washing habits and make my lifestyle in this area more species-appropriate.

After having breakfast on the balcony at sunrise, I focused on personal hygiene, particularly showering and washing my hair. The point that many people today don’t understand is that being clean does not necessarily mean being healthy. Just because someone showers regularly doesn’t mean they live a healthier life—in fact, the opposite may be true.

As you know, I only wash my hair with water. I shower very rarely. I only wash odor-causing areas (armpits, intimate areas) or dirty spots (like the soles of my feet as a barefoot walker). The last time I took a shower was two weeks ago (on October 10, 2024) when I washed my whole body. Yet I know, based on my role model James Hamlin, who hasn’t showered for over five years, that I should completely avoid full-body showers from the perspective of the skin microbiome. This not only saves money, water, and time but is also extremely important for the skin's protective layer. If I want to maintain a good, natural skin barrier, I shouldn’t destroy it.

Starting today, I’m trying an experiment: completely eliminating hair washing and instead brushing my hair. Before, I washed it only with water and very rarely with shampoo (only for social reasons, meaning my fears of not being accepted).

Brushing my hair instead of washing it not only has the advantage that I am less dependent on the availability of water (which is a significant benefit for van life), but it also prevents unnecessary drying of my scalp. My problem is that even washing my hair ONLY with water dries my scalp out extremely, regardless of whether I use cold or warm water.

It doesn't make sense to work against my body. The sebaceous glands in my scalp produce oil to protect my hair from split ends and external influences. And what do I do? I simply wash away that protection. The scalp produces more oil, and then I wash it away again. It makes no sense to go against human nature.

By switching from washing to brushing, I would gain financial, sustainable, and health benefits. Minimalism might suffer a bit since I would need a brush or comb. However, I thought before buying a hairbrush, I would try to manage with just my hands as a brush and comb. I want to learn to care for my hair with just my bare hands and nails, massage my scalp, and comb my hair with my fingers. This way, I can avoid having to minimalize the hairbrush later. I will simply learn to care for my hair with my hands from the start.

Today, I discovered an interesting non-fiction book on the topic of the placebo effect by my role model, Dr. Joe Dispenza, titled „You Are the Placebo“. I added it directly to my reading list to deepen my understanding of the placebo effect and learn to utilize it better.

Another non-fiction book is by my other role model, the previously mentioned James Hamblin, called „If Our Bodies Could Talk“. I’ve also added that to my reading list.

Microbes, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms, unfortunately have a bad reputation because they can cause diseases (the emphasis is on "can"). To further dismantle my somewhat negative view of microbes, I researched their positive aspects and learned the following:

• Microbes assist in digestion by breaking down food and absorbing nutrients that the human body could not process alone.
• By coming into contact with bacteria, worms, and viruses, the immune system learns how to handle them if they spread where they shouldn’t. Microbes strengthen the immune system. Those who are exposed to fewer microbes are more likely to develop allergies and autoimmune diseases, known as the farmer effect.
• Microbes in the gut produce essential vitamins, such as vitamin K and B vitamins. Without microbes, we would have more frequent vitamin deficiencies.
• Many foods we enjoy daily are produced through microbes, such as yogurt, cheese, bread, beer, wine, sauerkraut, kimchi, and more.
• Microbes break down organic materials and contribute to the nutrient cycle. For example, they decompose dead plants and animals, turning them back into soil where new life can emerge. Without them, life would not be possible!
• Some medications, like penicillin, are produced by microbes.
• Microbes live in symbiosis with plants and animals, supporting each other.
• Microbes on our skin protect us from external environmental influences.
• Microbes were the first living beings on Earth and have significantly influenced the evolution of all other life forms. They are the true rulers of the Earth! Therefore, we should respect them and be grateful for their presence.

In the afternoon, I ate a fried egg with my hands for the first time. Even though it’s hard to believe, it’s possible.

During eating, I imagined how the microbes on my hands come into contact with the microbes in my mouth, exchange with each other, rearrange, adhere to the food, and finally interact with the gut microbiome. It’s essentially a symbiosis between the skin, mouth, and gut microbiomes.

In this sense: Until tomorrow! ❤️

Today I am grateful:

• That I found a possible solution to my skin/hair problem (brushing instead of washing).
• That I can now count all the bacteria, viruses, fungi, and worms as my friends.
• That the entire morning was sunny.
• That I discovered new non-fiction books.

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