The discussion centers on the "Farm Effect," a phenomenon identified by the Helmholtz Institute Munich, which suggests that children raised in traditional farm environments have lower rates of asthma, hay fever, and allergies due to increased microbial exposure. Participants share personal anecdotes contrasting sterile child-rearing practices with those that encourage outdoor play and contact with livestock. The conversation highlights the importance of early-life exposure to diverse microbes, particularly from livestock and unprocessed cow's milk, in shaping immune responses. Epidemiological studies support these claims, emphasizing the health benefits of less sanitized environments for children.
PREREQUISITESThis discussion is beneficial for parents, pediatricians, immunologists, and public health professionals interested in childhood health, allergy prevention, and the impact of environmental factors on immune system development.
+1 on that.Hornbein said:Kids who grow up in too-clean environments get allergies. The immune system demands something to fight.
The Helmhotz Institute Munich even invented a nice name for it: Farm-Effect.phinds said:+1 on that.
My son tries to maintain as sterile an environment as possible for his son. Drives me nuts. Kid's only three and he's already gotten sick several times.
My niece, on the other hand, is raising her 7 (or it may be 8 now) kids out in the country where they play in the dirt and help clean up after the cows and chickens and goats and pigs. They all very healthy.
https://www.helmholtz-munich.de/en/...ve shown,hay fever and allergic sensitization.Numerous epidemiological studies have shown that children who grow up on traditional farms are protected from asthma, hay fever and allergic sensitization.
Farm-Effect or Send-the-Kids-Outside-to-Play-Effect?fresh_42 said:The Helmhotz Institute Munich even invented a nice name for it: Farm-Effect.
I think Farm-Effect. Sending the kids outside in NYC probably hasn't the same effect. AFAIK hay, pollen, and contact with animals are crucial.jrmichler said:Farm-Effect or Send-the-Kids-Outside-to-Play-Effect?
Early-life contact with livestock, especially contact to cow sheds as well as the consumption of unprocessed cow’s milk have been identified as the most effective protective exposures. Studies of the immunobiology of farm living point to activation and modulation of innate and adaptive immune responses especially by intense microbial exposures. Farms are environments that afford a wide range of microbial exposures.
Wikipedia said:Helmholtz Zentrum München - Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), also known as Helmholtz Munich, is one of Germany’s leading non-university centers for biomedical research. It operates as part of Helmholtz Health, the health research division within the Helmholtz Association, Germany's largest scientific organization. Helmholtz Munich primarily focuses on interdisciplinary research in the fields of environmental and metabolic diseases, spanning the full research spectrum from basic science to applied research. The center employs approximately 2,500 staff members (as of 2024) and is headquartered on a campus in northern Munich, covering an area of over 50 hectares.