Can Better Hygiene For Children Actually Increase Food Sensitive Conditions? The Hygiene Hypothesis
By Robert Owens
As the global population increases, so do the millions of people who develop allergies in epidemic proportions. It was thought that the industrialized nations spewed more pollution into the air causing more issues with respiratory types of diseases such as asthma.
In the latter part of the '90s a health expert known as Dr. Erika Von Mutius decided to document the rates of allergies and respiratory diseases in poorer children while East and West Germany were still separate nations. At the time, she believed that the lower class areas of East Germany would produce more unhealthy children than those located in the western part. The belief was based on the thought that the lack of Hygiene in children would contribute greatly to their allergies and illnesses.
Once the re-unification was complete at the end of the millennium, the two sides were analyzed and the result was 180 degrees in the other direction. What was astonishing to the doctor was the incidence of allergic reactions and asthma conditions were actually less than those in Western Germany. Dr. Von Mutius was forced to re-evaluate here original beliefs and determine a new thinking and develop what is known today as the "Hygiene Hypothesis".
The Hygiene Hypothesis concludes that the more that children are exposed to other children and conditions that force them to exercise their immune system, the more likely they will not be effected by allergies or more disease later in life. The amount of microbes (microscopic bacteria and viruses) that a child is exposed to will actually help them strengthen their immune system responses.
Based on the "Hygiene Hypothesis,'' our immune system evolved two distinct types of biological defense systems. If one of the defensive structure becomes weak though lack of use by not having to fight off bacteria and virus infections, the other begins to over compensate and thereby increasing the possibility of a reaction to certain foods or other allergens.
This lack of use could be attributed to lifestyles that reduce access to germs and microbes by living a more sanitary existence. This hypothesis provides keen insight into the thought that when we are young, our bodies might indeed need to be bobmarded by infection causing bacteria, to allow our defensive immune systems to become stronger as we grow older.
In summary, a reduction in the amount of viruses or other microbes a child is exposed to, the more likely the chances to allergic reactions in some foods. As a society, we are always instituting better practices in hygiene in children. However, in doing so, the more we may be increasing their sensitivities to food and other allergens according to the Hygiene Hypothesis. Dr. Von Mutius continues her research throughout the region sampling and comparing people living in villages to farming families, to see if this hypothesis continues to be supported.
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