How Can Proper Hygiene Boost Our Immune System?
Proper hygiene can Boost Our Immune System by simply reducing our risk of getting sick. To cause disease, germs need to get inside the body. The less germs you allow to enter your body, the less chance you have of getting sick.
Approximately 80 percent of all infectious diseases are passed by human contact, either direct or indirect. That includes viruses like pneumonia, salmonella and the common cold. How many times do you recall hearing "Wash Your Hands Before You Eat" as a child? Well, there is a very good reason for that. Personally, I always thought my dad was a bit obsessed with hand washing but now I understand why.
Simple hand washing is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of germs. Every time we touch something or someone, we can transfer germs to and from our hands. After that, it's easy for germs to pass into our bodies when we touch our mouth, eyes or nose. Washing removes most germs from our hands.
It's estimated that fewer than 50 percent of people do not practice proper hygiene such as washing their hands after using the restroom. Of those who do, very few do it correctly.
It takes 20 seconds to appropriately wash our hands — getting in between our fingers, getting on top of our knuckles, getting under our nail bed with at least one swoop each time with a lot of soap, and then rinsing.
The Center for Disease Control recommends singing "Happy Birthday" twice for an effective wash. 
If we remember to wash our hands at certain important times during the day, we can substantially
reduce our chances of becoming ill:
Before eating or preparing food
Immediately after handling raw foods, such as poultry
After using the restroom or changing a diaper
After contact with blood or body fluids such as vomit, nasal secretions or saliva
After touching animals or their toys and leashes
After touching a contaminated areas such as trash cans
Before dressing a wound, giving medicines, or inserting contact lenses
Whenever hands look dirty
We can't make any environment germ-free—nor is it necessary. To keep our families healthy, we just need to reduce the risks of infection where and when germs are likely to spread.
Along with proper hygiene, disinfecting and removing germs in our homes is also a good way reduce our risk of sickness and disease.
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