The Evolution of the Danger Theory
The Evolution of the Danger Theory
There are two aspects to this. One is the one that everyone talks about, which is that it is good to grow up dirty. There is a whole conversation that could be had about this. Such as, what about being dirty is good? Is it that being dirty is good or being too clean is bad? Is having infections good or is it that not having them is bad? This need not be the same thing! Is it because when you are dirty you get commensals at an early age that affects your gut or skin in such a way that it sets the immune system in such as way that you do not get allergies. Or is it that the commensals prevent pathogens from coming in later? Another aspect that is less commonly discussed comes up from evidence that farm children get fewer allergies than city kids. I have a farm, train sheepdogs and spend a lot of time with farmers, and I have noticed that they prefer to use well water where possible. They drink and shower with this water and as a result do not breath hot chlorine every day. They're not exposed to some of the toxins that city people use to keep themselves clean! That is an aspect of farm life that I think has not been considered but should be.
Of course many of them spray pesticides on their fields. It would be interesting to divide farmers into organic and nonorganic farmers and look at the rates of allergy and asthma there. The organic people are probably not only growing their crops organically but living their lives a little more organically and are probably less likely to be in contact with as many toxins.
Following on From Allergy & Asthma, How Do You Think the Hygiene Hypothesis Fits With Your Theory?
There are two aspects to this. One is the one that everyone talks about, which is that it is good to grow up dirty. There is a whole conversation that could be had about this. Such as, what about being dirty is good? Is it that being dirty is good or being too clean is bad? Is having infections good or is it that not having them is bad? This need not be the same thing! Is it because when you are dirty you get commensals at an early age that affects your gut or skin in such a way that it sets the immune system in such as way that you do not get allergies. Or is it that the commensals prevent pathogens from coming in later? Another aspect that is less commonly discussed comes up from evidence that farm children get fewer allergies than city kids. I have a farm, train sheepdogs and spend a lot of time with farmers, and I have noticed that they prefer to use well water where possible. They drink and shower with this water and as a result do not breath hot chlorine every day. They're not exposed to some of the toxins that city people use to keep themselves clean! That is an aspect of farm life that I think has not been considered but should be.
Of course many of them spray pesticides on their fields. It would be interesting to divide farmers into organic and nonorganic farmers and look at the rates of allergy and asthma there. The organic people are probably not only growing their crops organically but living their lives a little more organically and are probably less likely to be in contact with as many toxins.
Source...