Ajit Karn
Why Do We Wash Hands Before Eating? Handwashing has been an integral element of personal sanitation, as well as a religious and cultural practice, for a very long time. Ignac Semmelweis, a Hungarian obstetrician and the “Father of Hand Hygiene,” made the connection between handwashing and health around 1856. Even today, his concept of hand sanitation as a means of preventing the transmission of pathogens is central to the management of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In recent years, handwashing with detergent and other forms of hand hygiene have come to be recognized as a cost-effective and crucial health measure.
“Did you wash your hands?” How frequently did you hear this as a child, particularly prior to meals?
Consider how frequently you consume with your hands. That fresh apple, those crunchy almonds, and your salad roll for lunch. Consider all the objects you touched today, including your cell phone, the lavatory flusher, and the grocery cart. No matter what you did today, your palms were exposed to pathogens. This is why it is so simple for pathogens on your hands to enter your mouth.
Wash Hands Before Eating
Make It A Golden Rule to Wash Your Hands:
- before eating
- before preparing or serving food
- after using the bathroom
- after blowing your nose or coughing
- after touching pets or other animals
- after playing outside
- before and after visiting a sick relative or friend
- whenever your hands are dirty
Why Is It Important to Wash Your Hands Before Eating?
When you consume food without cleansing your hands, the bacteria on your palms enter your mouth. Infections like sore throats and the gastrointestinal virus can be caused by pathogens.
Handwashing is essential because our hands transmit disease. Numerous studies have demonstrated that by properly cleansing our hands and using soap containing tea tree oil, we can significantly reduce the number of pathogens on our hands and the risk of becoming ill.
What Is Tea Tree Soap Good For?
Due to its antimicrobial properties, soap containing tea tree oil, such as Lifebouy Tea tree and Aloe Vera Germ Protection Soap, is effective at preventing the spread of pathogens.
Whether you choose to use bar detergent or handwash soap in your residence is a matter of personal preference. Each is equivalent to the other.
Also read: How to Start a New Habit That Actually Sticks
Now that we’ve covered the importance of handwashing, here are some steps to ensure that you get your hands perfectly clean:
- Use lukewarm or chilly water (not hot) to wash your hands.
- Lather your hands (front and back), wrists, and between your fingers. Never forget to sanitize your cuticles. This is an area where pathogens often conceal themselves.
- Wash your hands before singing “Happy Birthday.” (Sing it twice quickly, or once if you’re singing it leisurely.)
- Rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean towel.
- It is essential to remember that hand-washing is a crucial measure for preventing the transmission of pathogens.
