A Little Dirt is Good For You

[Paul2]

Babies Know: A Little Dirt Is Good for You

[SIZE="1"]By JANE E. BRODY
Published: January 26, 2009[/SIZE]

Ask mothers why babies are constantly picking things up from the floor or ground and putting them in their mouths, and chances are they’ll say that it’s instinctive — that that’s how babies explore the world. But why the mouth, when sight, hearing, touch and even scent are far better at identifying things?

When my young sons were exploring the streets of Brooklyn, I couldn’t help but wonder how good crushed rock or dried dog droppings could taste when delicious mashed potatoes were routinely rejected.

Since all instinctive behaviors have an evolutionary advantage or they would not have been retained for millions of years, chances are that this one too has helped us survive as a species. And, indeed, accumulating evidence strongly suggests that eating dirt is good for you.

In studies of what is called the hygiene hypothesis, researchers are concluding that organisms like the millions of bacteria, viruses and especially worms that enter the body along with “dirt” spur the development of a healthy immune system. Several continuing studies suggest that worms may help to redirect an immune system that has gone awry and resulted in autoimmune disorders, allergies and asthma.

These studies, along with epidemiological observations, seem to explain why immune system disorders like multiple sclerosis, Type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma and allergies have risen significantly in the United States and other developed countries......


......Dr. Ruebush deplores the current fetish for the hundreds of antibacterial products that convey a false sense of security and may actually foster the development of antibiotic-resistant, disease-causing bacteria. Plain soap and water are all that are needed to become clean, she noted.

“I certainly recommend washing your hands after using the bathroom, before eating, after changing a diaper, before and after handling food,” and whenever they’re visibly soiled, she wrote. When no running water is available and cleaning hands is essential, she suggests an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Dr. Weinstock goes even further. “Children should be allowed to go barefoot in the dirt, play in the dirt, and not have to wash their hands when they come in to eat,” he said. He and Dr. Elliott pointed out that children who grow up on farms and are frequently exposed to worms and other organisms from farm animals are much less likely to develop allergies and autoimmune diseases.

Also helpful, he said, is to “let kids have two dogs and a cat,” which will expose them to intestinal worms that can promote a healthy immune system.

Link

Interesting.  I guess maybe we should have kids go barefoot outside and let them play in the dirt, and not to wash their hands when they come in to eat to develop appropriate immune regulatory circuits.

[Viper_Fujax]

are you telling me that if you keep kids as sterile as possible they wont grow strong immune systems? you\'ve gots ta be shittn me

edit: i\'ve been a dick all day today. the bacteria that is resistant to anti-biotics is interesting though..thats like immediate evolution in our lifetime.

[clips]

Absolutley idiotic...why would you purposely expose your kids to something like this?.....how about just waiting for some type of vaccine to boost their immune system? Those parasites can be hard to diagnose because their presence in the body can lead to misleading symptoms....some can even cause excruiating stomach pains. Even worse is that some have the ability to work their way up to the heart where they can cause a serious health risk.

I think some of these scientists or doctors need to get out of the lab every once in awhile to get some fresh air, cause whatever s**t they are breathing in there is f**king their brains up.

[Viper_Fujax]

let them eat dirt? no..let them play in dirt? absolutely

its not a crazy idea that keeping kids too clean is harmful. too much of anything is bad, and thats just another one of those things

[Paul2]

yeah, i agree.

[GmanJoe]

[Paul2]

that is hilarious and most of them are true.  lol.

This is true. Some years I get allergies to pollen, so I eat intestinal worms and it goes away.

[GmanJoe]

This is true. Some years I get allergies to pollen, so I eat intestinal worms and it goes away.

Click here if you dare

http://bio1152.nicerweb.com/doc/class/bio1151/Locked/media/ch33/33_Ascaris.jpg

[Paul2]

that is sad.  what happened to him?

[GmanJoe]

that is sad.  what happened to him?

Ascaris infestation.

[Titan]

Click here if you dare

http://bio1152.nicerweb.com/doc/class/bio1151/Locked/media/ch33/33_Ascaris.jpg

God damn.