Playing In The Dirt And Microbe Exposure Can Give Children Healthy Immune Systems

Children's immune systems are vulnerable to diseases and viruses. From chickenpox to measles to food allergies, parents are always worried and are constantly looking out for the safety of their kids. At times, these anxious parents tend to limit children's playtime outside for fear that they would acquire dangerous viruses.

How could this be remedied? Some experts think exposing children to dirt can actually strengthen their immune systems, as opposed to what parents believe. A new book titled "Healthy Food, Healthy Gut, Happy Child" penned by Dr. Maya Shetreat-Klein explores this belief.

Dangers Of Oversanitizing

Shetreat-Klein said children can benefit from being exposed to soil containing microbes, the Telegraph reported. It's good for healthy immune systems to come in contact with different compounds and organisms, and this process is keeping a child's immune system strong and prevents common childhood illnesses.

However, when there is a shortage of organisms and compounds in a person's gut, the immune system tends to attack food we eat and "the things it's exposed to in the environment," Shetreat-Klein said, as reported by the Telegraph. Over-sanitizing prevents the gut from getting exposed to the biodiverse components of healthy soil. This deprivation makes children's immune systems weaker.

Another study found children over-sanitized by their parents are more susceptible to acquiring viruses. These kids are also 20 percent more likely to have the flu. Meanwhile, children who grew up in farms filled with biodiverse soil are less likely to develop asthma or allergies.

Shetreat-Klein encourages parents to make their children eat food grown in rich soil that is also organic and biodynamic instead of the ones already packed in supermarkets. She said parents should allow their kids to play outside in the dirt, as well as plan trips in forests, parks and mountains.

Fewer Playtimes Outside

A study published in Psychology Today found that 6- to 8-year-olds saw a 25 percent reduction from their playtime outside between 1981 and 1997. Outdoor physical activities still exist, but it is usually supervised and controlled by parents. This is called play dates, a common trend among American families.

Children who play with their peers outside benefit from the experience more than you know. Kids learn how to solve real-life problems and develop emotional connections with friends. Running around with their peers makes children's bodies stronger, as opposed to sitting in front of televisions or playing with their gadgets all day.

Outdoor activities reduce children's stress levels from their long days at school, KRCB wrote. Being exposed in the sun also gives kids better moods, increased energy levels and improved memory.