You’ve heard about taking probiotics (healthy bacteria) for a healthy gut, but how about spraying live bacteria on your skin? Dave Whitlock, a chemical engineer and MIT grad, believes that’s exactly what we should do to replace necessary bacteria that have been stripped away by what he views as excessive cleansing.
And here’s the real kicker — restoring the proper level of bacteria means kissing all those baths and showers goodbye! As a matter of fact, Whitlock boasts, ”I have not taken a shower in over 12 years.”
Defending this unorthodox conviction has led him to co-found AOBiome — a company that, according to General Manager Jasmina Aganovic, believes, “We don’t spend as much time outdoors as we used to.” She suggests one way to reconnect with our environment is to reintroduce a bit of dirt back into our lives. So AOBiome has created a product called Mother Dirt, a mist containing live bacteria that is sprayed directly on the skin twice a day. [1]
Aganovic explains the benefits by saying, “Our users are … cutting out or cutting down on deodorant, cutting out or cutting down on moisturizers.” There’s also a Mother Dirt shampoo and cleanser that promises not to remove bacteria. [2]
Can you imagine not taking a bath or shower for 12 years?
If you’re a Christian, this shouldn’t be such a stretch, for we know what it’s like to be bathed just once, and to never need to be bathed again.
“No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean…” (John 13:8-10, NLT).
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1. “Cambridge Company Says Live Bacteria Spray Will Keep You Clean,” Dr. Mallika Marshall, WBZ-TV, September 4, 2015.
2. For more information, go to www.motherdirt.com