Are you sure you want to swab the handle of your shopping cart with that anti-bacterial wipe? New research shows that our anti-bacteria and anti-infection obsessions may be doing us more harm than good, increasing the risks of asthma and allergies and perhaps other diseases.

According to Colorado State University immunology professor Dr Gerald Callahan, there are good infections and bad ones, and we need to learn to differentiate.

In fact, we humans have 10 times more bacterial cells in our bodies than regular human cells. There are far more bacteria in this world than any other living thing. Quite simply, without bacteria, we would not exist.

The truth is, "we are a minority on this planet, and we must learn how to work with the majority," Callahan says.

"Microorganisms shape the lives of all living things and infections steer the course of the world. Most people understand that infections are at the root of many terrible diseases like malaria and leprosy. But infection may also play a significant role in many chronic aliments, including some that may surprise you such as schizophrenia, ulcers and obsessive compulsive disorder," according to Callahan.

Other research shows that sheltering children from bacterial infections increases their chances of developing asthma and allergies.

Our love affair with anti-bacterial products and strong "detox" diets is affecting how our immune, gastrointestinal and even nervous systems function, stripping away the good guys and leaving us vulnerable to the bad.

"We need our bacteria," Callahan said. So don't fret about the ATM keypad, eat your "active" yogurt and think twice before you "Master Cleanse" or "Fruit Flush."