When’s the last time you washed your water bottle?
Might want to make that right now: a new study from Brazil suggests reusable shaker bottles (and water bottles) might be more gross than you thought.
In the study, researchers asked 30 gym members to hand over their shaker bottles for testing, and compared the results to that of 30, unused (contaminant-free) ones.
They discovered bacteria contamination in 83 percent of the used plastic bottles.
For one, staph bacteria is present in the noses of about 30 percent of people, and generally does not cause harm, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
So how likely is it that your bottle bugs can make make you sick?
The bacteria likely comes from contamination during handling, said Tierno.
Since people are handling their bottles to make their recovery drink or just fill it up, bacteria can be transmitted through indirect contact.
To avoid spreading harmful bacteria to your shaker bottle or water bottle, Tierno suggests making sure that you properly wash your hands before fixing your gym drink to get rid of any residual organisms on your hands, remembering to pay extra-close attention to your nail bed, where germs can hide.
“Run your hands like a claw in the center of the opposite palm to get suds into nail bed, and sing the song ‘Happy Birthday’ twice to wash hands adequately.” To help keep bacteria from growing, Tierno suggests using steel, metal, or glass bottles when possible, as bacteria can more easily adhere to plastics and other surfaces that are rougher.