Kids Are Right: Eating Bugs and Dirt is Good For You

A recent article in Britain talks about the increasing rise in allergies amongst both youngsters and now appearing in later life as middle aged adults. What is the cause of this rise?

One of the causes is likely our much more diversified diets. With a wider range of foods available for consumption, we're more likely to run into foods we're allergic to. That's only a small portion, though.

The rest of the explanation has to do with our modern lifestyles, amenities, and the way our immune systems work.

Allergic reactions are basically an over-reaction by our immune system to a stimulus. As our system attempts to repel what is believes is an invader (disease). Usually, this happens during childhood and then goes away by adulthood as the immune system learns what is and isn't "bad."

Now we're seeing a reverse of this in many people where perfectly healthy, non-allergic people suddenly find themselves having severe (and even potentially fatal) reactions to foods they've enjoyed for their whole lives.

Many immunologists and medical scientists are attributing this to several factors combining: stress, bad overall health, and a lack of immuno-stimulation.

Stress and bad overall health are generally linked, with higher-stress people being more likely to be overweight. This usually means circulation is not as good and diet is often not very good either. These are all bad for the body in question.

The other one, though, is the one that is of interest to me. Our overly-clean lives may be what help make us allergic. I've long suspected this with children and the general rise in allergies and propensity towards sickness. I hadn't considered how it could also affect adults.

When growing up, I was one of those kids who lived in the country, ate bugs, shared food with the dog, and swam (and inadvertently drank) in ponds and lakes. I came home most afternoons with a protective coating of mud and dirt caked over my body. We also had access to real, natural, and good foods.

Most kids today don't have this. Sanitized houses, with air filters and Lysol and processed, overcooked foods are the norm.

Adults, too, are in the same situation. Thankfully, I don't live in the city, cooped into a too-clean house, going outside to smog and nasty smells. Where I live, you can go outside at night and see stars. Lots of them. Billions of billions of them, as Sagan would say.

My wife is a city person. She grew up in cities, lived the upper-middle class lifestyle, etc. She is continually amazed at my apparent lack of hygiene when it comes to washing, cleaning, and cooking.

I'm not averse to picking stuff off the vine in the garden and just eating it without washing. I have no problem with letting the dog lick the plate clean so I can use it to make a sandwich. Welcome to Aaron's World. The world of healthy immunity.

Take a lesson from me: your kids are right. Eating bugs, dirt, and even the occasional germ isn't going to kill you. It might even make you healthier!