Dirt is good for the body, mind, and soul! Maybe I took that too far, but you never know! This article suggests that inflammatory disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, allergies and asthma may be a result of being in too clean of an environment through the span of immune system development. Because we are so clean that we do not test or should I put it as taste our environment, our immune systems cannot adjust or even introduce our body to these bacteria, viruses, and worms. Babies on the other hand instinctively go for the dirty toys in their mouth or some may think it as evolutionarily. This introduction of a variety of organisms allow for the good ones to stay with us and protect us, so the hypothesis goes. Others think that these inflammatory responses are activated by an increased reaction of Th17, a subclass of helper T cells, which can be lowered in activity by certain worms. Whatever the case may be, maybe we take cleanliness to too far of an extent. Most bacteria in the world are harmless, and many are necessary to our stability in health. So the next time you get a Dirt Sundae from Brusters, you might want to take in a spoon full of actual soil? Maybe not. It’s a thought to consider, but don’t blame me if you get sick. You probably didn’t get enough microorganisms into your diet as a child.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/health/27brod.html?em
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2 comments:
I just forwarded this article to a grad student in my lab whose wife shaved their dog to keep a cleaner environment for their newborn.
Wow this was interesting. I'm actually a complete neat freak and disinfect/chlorox my entire apartment twice a week. Maybe I should think about cutting down on that a bit.
I'm a little confused as to how those disease play a factor in the cleanliness though- cause aren't some of those autoimmune diseases? And how does that connect to not getting certain bacteria? Thanks!
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