Blog de Ford

I sometimes worry that our national obsession with cleanliness and need to avoid germs at all costs is one of the things that makes us more susceptible to colds, coughs, and other maladies.

Those who are the most germ-phobic seem to be ill more often than those who aren’t.

And maybe it’s that people are germ-phobic because they get sick often. Or maybe it’s because germ0phobes get sick often because they do their best to avoid germs.

But it’s nice to have my theory validated:

Parents who let their kids romp in the mud and eat food that has fallen on the floor could be helping to protect them against maladies like heart disease later in life, a US study showed Wednesday.”Our research suggests that ultra-clean, ultra-hygienic environments early in life may contribute to higher levels of inflammation as an adult, which in turn increases risks for a wide range of diseases,” including cardiovascular disease, Thomas McDade, lead author of the study, said.

Snip:

the message to take home from the study is the importance of being exposed early in life to common microbes and bacteria.

Parents, please let your kids have some fun even if it might expose them to bacteria.

Your kids and I will thank you.