The Scoop on Dirt

For you mommies and daddies out there, when your baby or toddler puts something dirty in his or her mouth, know that there’s an evolutionary reason.

Since all instinctive behaviors have an evolutionary advantage or they would not have been retained for millions of years, chances are that this one too has helped us survive as a species. And, indeed, accumulating evidence strongly suggests that eating dirt is good for you.

In studies of what is called the hygiene hypothesis, researchers are concluding that organisms like the millions of bacteria, viruses and especially worms that enter the body along with “dirt” spur the development of a healthy immune system. Several continuing studies suggest that worms may help to redirect an immune system that has gone awry and resulted in autoimmune disorders, allergies and asthma.

I do notice that my son gets sick a lot less often than kids who were never in daycare.  I read somewhere else that good germs build immunity, while germs that get kids sick are actually not so good.  Either way, germs are in.

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