Healthy Habits - Getting Dirty

Getting dirty is good for your health. Research conducted in the U.S. and Europe as far back as 2012 and 2016 (NEJM) has shown that Amish children, who grow up on farms and play in “dirty” barns and fields have a potent immunity against allergies and asthma. Coined “the farm effect,” scientists published research in 2023 showing this natural immunity stems from early exposure to farm dust teeming with microbes that provide a protective shield against allergens and inflammation in the respiratory system.

“Good dirt leaves people less prone to allergies,” explains board certified internist Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., author of From Fatigued to Fantastic Today, over 3 billion people worldwide suffer from some kind of allergy and in the U.S. over 50 percent of children suffer from the problem. In contrast, only 7 percent of Amish children have any kind of allergic condition. On average, 8 to 10 percent of American kids have asthma, in contrast to 1 to 2 percent among Amish kids.

“The increase in allergies nationwide is in part caused by our modern habit of trying to sterilize every inch of the environment with Lysol, deodorant soaps, bleach, or whatever. Truth be told, we grow up healthier in an environment in which we’re closer to nature—replete with a myriad microscopic bugs that grow in it.”

“So, whether you're playing in a barn or just in a dirt-filled playground, getting your hands and the rest of your body covered in dirt is actually good for you. Kids, tell your mom that there’s a lot of published science that supports getting good and dirty!”

I had a chance to learn a little more in an interview with Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., where he added these comments.

You can think of our immune system learning in the same way as our children learn languages. You want to immerse the young  child in at least one language, and preferably several, to increase their linguistic skills. 

Otherwise words sound foreign to them. In the same way, you want to immerse your children in the environment. Which means not disinfecting everything, and also letting kids play in the dirt. This way, they get a broad exposure to the numerous things that make up a healthy normal environment. So the immune system later recognizes them and knows not to react against them- unless they’re dangerous. Without this young exposure, like a child without exposure to language, the immune system reacts to unfamiliar items that it meets. Triggering the tendency to increase allergies.

This is why playing in the dirt actually and intuitively is associated with a lower allergy risk. It is quite healthy for children to do this.

The illnesses of modern life are very different than the ones we had centuries ago. Now we face a major challenge with auto immunity and immune conditions. In large part because of the countless chemicals and artificial compounds added to our food supply and the environment in general.

 Meanwhile, some food processors continue to try to sell us fake food. This leads to misleading medical myths, such as butter, eggs, and salt being bad for you. These can actually be quite healthy for people, and are healthier than the margarines and eggs substitute.