As stories go, this one is a happy story and one that needs to be told…yup there is good E. Coli bacteria. And yes, you can avoid be infected with harmful E. Coli. Since I don’t have any photos of E. Coli bacteria that I have taken, some of my water photos have been inserted for your viewing pleasure.
The Beginning
Every story starts somewhere. Mine started because I am looking to raise funds to create Manitoulin Acres Learning Space. Wonder what the spring fed well water would say if it were tested? The tap water ran for 10 plus minutes as it comes from way back there. Put some water in a couple of sample containers, packed them in ice and off I went. Brought the sample into Wahl Water here on Manitoulin Island where Jeff Wahl has decades of experience. From there it goes to Public Health (Sudbury location for Manitoulin Island).
The cattle are on the farm for their third season (May through to November). The animals roam all around the pastures and near the well (40 + acres while another 50 is the spring fed bog and woods).
Grass-fed could mean eating fruit like apples and pears if available in the natural environment which they are here…over 40 apple trees, six pear trees and dozens of plum trees! They will chase me down if they see me walking in the pasture with my fruit picking tool.
The water well is near the south fence line and because it is spring water fed, it has a lovely pool of water around it. North of the well are cattails in a small area. You can see that they have trampled their way to the well for a drink even though they have a watering hole nearby that is also spring fed.
The results came back and the well water was deemed ‘UNSAFE TO DRINK’ (in capital letters) as there was target found. No number was provided because over a certain limit they stop testing. Target means fecal matter found or E. Coli to be specific and didn’t surprise me considering the cattle is on the property. I feel as healthy as ever. So what is going on!?
The E. Coli Bacteria Back Story
Remember the Walkerton story where E. Coli was the cause of 2,300 people getting sick and seven died?
It has been in my head for as long as I can remember “E Coli is deadly and harmful.”
When my youngest daughter was in public school (approx. 6 years old), she got sick and was bedridden (Christmas time). She was very lethargic but didn’t have any of the harmful E Coli symptoms listed in my latest research. According to the Cleveland Clinic, harmful E. Coli symptoms include severe stomach cramps, watery or bloody diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and low grade fever. Apparently several other kids came down with the same thing. After a few days, she was checked out at the doctors only to be told she had E. Coli poisoning. I told the doctor about the other kids getting sick and ask “should you notify the school?” Her response was “it is more common than people know.” She will be fine.
In my research, Toronto water from the toilet goes to a waste management plant then treated then released into Lake Ontario. The Toronto tap water comes from Lake Ontario and is suppose to be of high standards. So how does fecal matter get into the water in a school? Apparently, there had to have been fecal contamination from a breach in sanitation…hmmm, but the doctor seemed not too worried about it. Quite a stark difference from Walkerton.
Fifteen years to the present, E. Coli pops up again in my awareness.
Why Good E Coli Bacteria
Why am I not sick with any of the symptoms? It turns out that the Public Health testing does not test for harmful E. Coli but just E. Coli in general. Why does E. Coli bacteria get into fecal matter? This is a good question. Because good E. Coli is naturally in your gut. It is a bacteria that is in all animal’s guts and ours too. The good E. Coli helps with digestion.
Well there you go. It doesn’t mean you want fecal matter found in your water but it doesn’t mean you are going to get sick. Ever heard of the fecal matter transplant in order to populate the digestive system with some good bacteria? Even most will recover on their own if they ingest some harmful E. Coli without the use of antibiotics.
E. coli is a gram negative bacteria, part of human intestine microbiome.
Why Bad E Coli Bacteria
The harmful or mutated E. Coli causes an infection. Depending on how much and depending on the strength of your immune system, will determine the degree of symptoms and the infection which may lead to death (especially in the elderly and very young) as other infections can as well.
Mutated E. Coli can be caused by antibiotics. Beyond this, it gets into serious science talk.
AI shares: Yes, exposure to antibiotics can cause harmless E. coli to mutate, primarily by triggering a stress response that significantly increases the rate of genetic changes.
Escherichia coli Mutators Present an Enhanced Risk for Emergence of Antibiotic Resistance during Urinary Tract Infections
https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/aac.48.1.23-29.2004
There are valid reasons to take antibiotics but it can be a slippery slope when used over and over again if you do not address the microbiome/the gut health. There are ways to protect yourself and in some cases, treatment doesn’t need to be antibiotics. Two years ago, I got an infection from mold on tomatoes…no antibiotics.
Eat well and keep your immune system built up. And the ways to build your immune system are:
- get outside…hello daylight
- touch the earth…she doesn’t bite
- eat fruit right off the tree…fun fun
- proper hydration…down the pipes
- good rest and sleeps…chillax
- movements…both kinds
- good attitude…letting go or letting ego
- balanced diet…tip the scales
- healthy eating habits…put the fork down
- go with the flow…rock the boat
- be creative…imagination for a healthy nation
And the list goes on. You get the gist of the way life ought to be. Life comes with volatility should there be growth needed but really, it is all good. Grow and get on with it. Forgive and let go. Be in joy more and more. Where are you now? Start there as there is only NOW and HERE (or THERE where you are.)
Simple Practices To Avoid Fecal Matter
Some of these are common sense but then again, the world is full of distractions so let’s get down to basics.
- When you go to the bathroom, wipe from front to back. This is a way to avoid any harmful whatevers to get into your urinary system.
- When you go number two (including changing a poopy diaper or picking up dog shite) and there is a chance you got it on your hands, don’t fret, be sure to wash your hands – the rule is 20 seconds with soap and water. Not to say you shouldn’t wash your hands anyway and if you believe there could be fecal matter on your hands, wash your hands before you go to the bathroom. Chances are there is nothing there!
- When you buy your fruit and vegetables from outside your garden, wash them with vinegar and water (as fecal matter can be oily). Chances are there is nothing there!
- When you grow your own veggies and have pets that roam the gardens, wash them as well. Chances are there is nothing there!
- When you have pets, keep them off your counter and table. What, you let your dog lick your face? hehehe Chances are there is nothing there!
This topic is worth a whole book and if concerned one iota, I would encourage you to look up information.
When I am walking the pasture, I have stepped in cow shite over a dozen times. I spread it around as it makes good fertilizer. Best I don’t play with the bottom of my boots.
The world turns and all animals that eat go poop. Chances are there is nothing there! Follow your instincts and leave fretting at the door. Enjoy nature as nature is healing and builds a strong immune system.
Your health…my passion!
Cheryl
Spring fed well with living plants – wild celery
Cheryl Millett
Champion for your better health…
Before the age of 20, it never dawned on me that what I chose to put in my mouth would have such a dramatic effect on my well being.
On my path of discovery, I learned that our eating choices directly affected how much energy we have first thing in the morning or that it would build our immune system strength during flu season. Part of it was coming to understand how gentle nutritional cleansing directly helped overcome my health challenges. People keep telling me how beautiful my skin is or how I look younger.
As my studies continued, it became obvious that there is an intrinsic connection between the mind, body, and spirit which directly affects our health and happiness. Omegas are another critical piece of the wellness puzzle. The Auum omegas alone turned on some switches in my brain in just one day.
I have developed a deep appreciation for the wonderful miracle workers our bodies are in the recovery process. Our bodies have natural intelligence. I am passionate to share the connection between nutrition and wellness in my practice and my presentations.
Book All Guts All Glory 2020 on Amazon
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