After visiting Liberia, West Africa, (before the civil war) I can see how people in Rwanda have nearly no occurance of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. The children actually get to play on the land! They are exposed to parasitic worms. It is normal for the worms' eggs to contaminate food, water, air, faeces, pets and wild animals. Women still wash the clothes in streams and wildlife is all around. Yes, I nearly ran into a dead deadly green mamba snake (I didn't know it was dead while I was running). I believe in the Hygiene Hypotheis and feel that too many Americans are too fearfull of germs.... and worms!
Anyway, I think the University of Iowa study is right on. Thanks Dr. Cohen for telling us!
Here is the publication:
Helminths and harmony
http://gut.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/53/1/7
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4 comments:
I completely agree...I read an article that goes along with this theory in every day situation: using antibacterial soap may promote yeast infections by eradicating whichever microbial species kept a balance. This also has the potential to cause more resistant infections.
http://media.www.dailyvidette.com/media/storage/paper420/news/2008/09/09/News/Antibacterial.Soaps.Harm.Environment.Contribute.To.Resistant.Illnesses-3420285.shtml
article link:
visit:
http://media.www.dailyvidette.com/
search:
Antibacterial Soaps Harm Environment
It is interesting to look carefully at the article Aleks cites. The authorities who are quoted are not really authorities, and their knowledge of chlorine chemistry isn't very good; they say that triclosan plus chlorinated water make chloroform, "a carcinogen." But it has never been shown to be a human carcinogen, the quantities would be microscopic, and it does not last in the environment.
I agree as well. I've concluded that exposing kids to more "germs" will help build their immune system and tolerance to allergen. However, we just have to figure out the balance of how much exposure can we get before we really get sick.
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