Good Lifestyle

If we believe the "five seconds rule", it is normal to eat foods that have fallen on the ground, as long as you pick it up in a few seconds. The theory is by reacting quickly, you can beat the bacteria in punch, allowing you to enjoy your food before germs The chance to contaminate him .

If this logic seems doubtful to you, you are not alone - many people reject popular practice In the name of hygiene . This is why we decided to go directly to experts to find out what is going on if you eat something that fell on the ground. Could this really harm your gastrointestinal health? Read the rest to find out what doctors say about the five -second rule - before seizing this abandoned cookie from the kitchen floor. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

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According Soma Mandal , MD, a Certified board of directors At Summit Health in Berkeley Heights, NJ, there is simply no credible evidence to support the five seconds rule. She says that when food comes into contact with a contaminated surface, it can immediately collect harmful bacteria - in less than a second.

This is why Mandal recommends being mistaken on the side of prudence each time the food affects the ground. "It is generally not recommended to join the five seconds rule to determine whether food is sure to eat or not. If food comes into contact with a contaminated surface, it is preferable to risk the possibility to get sick, "she says Better life.

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Although Mandal discourages to eat on the ground in all circumstances, she notes that some of the particular circumstances can simply affect how contaminated your food has become. "The transfer of bacteria may depend on the quantity of contamination present on the surface, the type of surface, the type of food and the duration of the time where the food remains on the surface," she explains.

In fact, a 2007 study published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology Tested to which surfaces posed the greatest risk of contamination. The team infected various types of floor coverings by salmonella, dropped bologna pieces on the affected areas, then analyzed the most dangerous parts to consume. "We found the type of floor, carpet or tile coating, makes a difference in the Quantities of transferred bacteria , " Paul Dawson , PHD, professor in the Department of Food, Nutrition and Packaging of the University of Clemson and author of the study, told Clemson News . "The carpet has transferred less salmonella to the Bologna," he noted.

Likewise, the texture of the food you drop can also make a difference. Wet and porous foods are particularly effective in collecting bacteria and contaminants - and are therefore particularly dangerous for eating on the ground.

Experts seem to agree: if you get into the habit of eating food that has fallen on the ground, your health can quickly undergo the consequences. "If you eat food that has fallen on the ground, your chances of getting sick are quite high," said Dawson.

Melissa Wasserman Baker , RDN, dietitian and nutritionist registered and founder of Food requests , says that the symptoms of foods of food origin can be variable. "Depending on the type and quantity of bacteria present, the symptoms can range from light stomach discomfort to more serious illness such as diarrhea, vomiting, fever and dehydration," she notes.

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Even if your floor glance Clean enough to eat, Baker warns us not to be deceived. "A floor that looks clean can still shelter harmful bacteria, especially in areas with high traffic or where food is frequently prepared or consumed," she said, adding that bacteria found on soils may include E. coli ,, Salmonella ,, And Listeria monocytogenes . Allergens, pathogens of animal or human waste, dirt, hair and dust are also common culprits for contamination that can fly under the radar.

Although Baker says that regular cleaning can help reduce the risk of contamination, you can finally replace the risk of ingesting dangerous bacteria with that of ingestion of cleaning chemicals. Neither is healthy, warn experts.

So the next time you put a piece of food on the ground, think twice before citing the five seconds rule and eating it anyway. It can be embarrassing to lose your meal, but it is worse to lose all day to a disease of food origin.