A recent poll found 74 percent of Americans who use public restrooms would rinse their hands with water and let them air dry if theres no soap or towels.
Why bother, asks Dr. John Cmar, an infectious disease expert with Baltimores Sinai Hospital. “Washing with water alone does not get rid of microbes the action of working up a lather with soap, and then rinsing it off, is what washes them away. Plus, by touching the sink faucet one of the dirtiest things in a restroom these people could be adding even more germs to their hands,” he says.
The study also found that people are washing their hands more often because of concern about the H1N1 “swine flu” virus. Nearly 8 out of 10 adults surveyed claim to wash their hands more frequently or thoroughly to avoid getting sick.
Proper and frequent hand-washing is said to be one of the most important things you can do to avoid the flu and other viruses.
containing vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, echinacea and probiotics have also been shown to help boost immunity.