Re: Bacteria

[Guest guest]

I find it interesting that a doctor rails against honey use by an HIVer; yet, many forms of traditional medicine employ honey for antiseptic purposes, and I know several HIVers seeing naturopaths who continue to promote uncooked honey-based remedies for them, even using raw honey as a minor wound dressing.

Continuing along JB's discourse on the omnipresence of bacteria and virii, honey seems pretty low on the totem pole of threats to HIVers, and the minor risk can be easily mitigated in handling and use. Even with CD4s in the low 200s I didn't deny myself sushi--salmon, tuna, octopus, roe--as long as I had plenty of ginger and wasabi to create a hostile environment for any little critters..... but I'm also a notoriously stubborn patient <G> The expense of bottle water also never appealed to me even at those numbers, as bacteria and virii are just going to get on and in the bottle and on and in drinking glasses from normal use. Still, I've been careful to not consume untreated water since getting giardia from well water in rural Oklanhoma in 1998.

Like so many things, the avoidance of certain edible pleasures is a personal choice.

Cheers,

[Guest guest]

I remember reading somehere (I think it might have been in Jon Kaiser's book) that honey doesn't support the growth of bacteria. Could this be because, like jams and jellies, the high sugar content inhibits the growth of bacteria? Does anyone else remember reading this? In any event, I consumed honey when I had no t-cells, and drank unfiltered water (except when traveling outside of the country) away from home. I used a PUR water filter at home when my t-cells were low. I also remember being advised not to take hot showers, because the mist might contain aerosolized particles of MAI bacterium. I never gave up hot showers. One has to live, too. Just Do It wrote: My nutritionist reminded me that there is bacteria in honey. Since it can'tbe homogenized or pasteurized. That concerned me so I went to grocery storeand it was true, regardless of brand.I almost stopped using it since I don't know a lot about these things,having only been diagnosed in October. I have been using it since I camehome with no adverse effects so I think I'm just going to continue.Sometimes the quality of life is more important than quantity.Also, I drink bottled water but my icemaker doesn't. I've been adding thecubes to my drink since I came home two months ago. Is that a bigger threator should I stop using them? For clarification, I only put them in my glassof water at dinner. (Drink

lukewarm water, YUK!)So what's the consensus?

[Guest guest]

At 02:47 PM 12/16/2006, R. wrote:

I remember reading somehere (I

think it might have been in Jon Kaiser's book) that honey doesn't support

the growth of bacteria. Could this be because, like jams and jellies, the

high sugar content inhibits the growth of bacteria? Does anyone

else remember reading this?

Sterlized honey has indeed been used for wound healing properties--and

works marvelously for bedsores. An outfit in New Zealand I think and

another in Germany (Manuka?) makes such a variety. I do not believe honey

is a risk. Coca-Cola or Pepsi is a MUCH bigger risk to one's health.

However, some cheap forms may contain enough to be a risk to infants--so

possibly to a compromised immune system?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey

M.