Dirt is good for the immune system?
There’s been speculation the rise of autoimmune disorders, allergies, and asthma may be due to our super clean living conditions – otherwise known as “the hygiene hypothesis”. Jane E. Brody dishes on the role of dirt in building healthy immune systems in her Personal Health column in today’s New York Times – “Babies Know: A Little Dirt Is Good for You“. Any less than perfect parent will welcome this tidbit. The scientist who suggested kids not only regularly run around barefoot in the dirt but also not always wash their hands before eating. Amen. If only I’d heard this before my daughter licked the window of that Continental jet…