Research-backed
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It is quite common to see a bunch of kids playing in the sand, rolling around in the dirt, and sometimes putting some of these in their mouths, without any hesitation. The sight of it makes you cringe now but as kids, didn’t you do the same thing? You may or may not remember how you were as a kid, but your parents and grandparents do. Ask them and they will probably have loads of stories to tell you about rescuing you from eating mud. The fact that it’s common among most children makes us wonder what’s so special about it and more so, makes us worry about the things our precious little children are putting into their bodies.
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After all, what kind of parents do we make if we allow our kids to swallow dirt, right? Well, you might think you’re doing the right thing but science has a different take on it. It might seem hard to digest but according to science, eating tiny amounts of grime and dirt is good for your kid. It helps boost their immune system and makes them stronger to fight infections and allergies (1). *Mindblown*
Friendly Germs For Healthy Lives
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In recent times, we have seen a lot of parents taking extra care to keep their kids clean and their surroundings sparkling and free from any germs. But studies have shown that this does more harm than good. Let’s look at two scenarios, a kid who grows up being exposed to some germs and bacteria and another who is never exposed to any and has always been among clean and germ-free environments. Ideally, the one who hasn’t ever been exposed to germs should be stronger and grow up with the best immune system, right? But that is not the case.
Because science is tricky. It has its ways around and it says that the first kid who is exposed to little germs grows up to be stronger. He has an immune system that is better equipped to ward off infections and allergies than opposed to the other kid. Why does this happen? Exposure to a certain amount of dirt helps build the immune system and makes it stronger and robust (2).
Why Over-Sterilization Is Harmful
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As parents, we might think that cleaning out every bit of everything our kids are exposed to is good for them. But what this does is, it weakens their immune system. Studies say that when a kid has only been in an over-sterilized environment, their immune systems become hyper-sensitized. The human body is created in a way to fight off foreign substances. They contain special soldier cells that are meant to protect you from allergens and bacteria. But when your body is never exposed to germs, these cells have nothing to do and become inflammatory. They end up attacking even the slightest of bacteria that enter your system which causes a full-blown reaction. Most of the time, asthma, food allergies, and eczema are examples of such reactions (3).
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Having said this, we don’t mean that your child should not follow a healthy lifestyle. Eating the right kinds of foods with balanced nutrition is essential for the healthy growth of your child. Try to include leafy vegetables, colorful veggies, and high fiber foods in your kids’ diet while reducing the consumption of sugary foods. As long as your kid is vaccinated properly, there is no need to be overly cautious about your kids playing or eating habits unless they are in a surrounding of high-risk deadly pathogens. Do not hold them back for wanting to experience the world because you fear that it would harm their health. As you know now, a little bit of dirt, germs and grime are beneficial to your child. So the next time your kids say they want to jump in a puddle full of mud or roll around with their pets in the dirt, let them. Not only will this make them happy but it will also make them healthy!
