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Why Dirt is Good
Janelle Sorensen
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
I don’t know how to say this without sounding crazy, so I’m just going to be blunt. When I was a child, I liked to eat pebbles and stones. Well, technically I didn’t eat them, just sucked on them. Yes, I was a closet rock sucker. Away from the judging eyes of friends and family, I secretly relished their earthy, mineral flavor.
I’m sure, like any mother, my own mom would have been considerably horrified at the idea of her small child sucking on dirty rocks from God knows where. And, while my strange appetite persisted from about ages 4-7, almost all parents have witnessed their younger babies or toddlers shove an ample handful of dirt or sand into their mouths. Probably on more than one occasion.
What is it about kids and dirt? Why the deep mysterious magnetism? According to Mary Ruebush, PhD, author of Why Dirt is Good: 5 Ways to Make Germs Your Friends, the attraction is based on millions of years of evolution. And, the good news is, it’s a match made in heaven. Just like any other muscle in our body, the immune system needs to be exercised in order to fully develop and become strong enough to resist illness and disease. Eating dirt as a child turns out to be the ideal training to build your immune system’s overall fitness.
We’ve written about the Hygiene Hypothesis and the overuse of antimicrobials in the past, but Ruebush, professor of microbiology and immunology for Kaplan Medical, really brings it home. Her detailed description of the immune system is not only extremely informative, it’s also surprisingly entertaining. Really! She has these delightfully silly pictures of blood cells and bacteria that had my kids peering over my shoulder, giggling, and asking what the book was about. And, the writing is equally as comedic and engaging. She writes about viruses gettin’ busy making baby viruses, macrophages burping up crumbs of their meals, and T-cells going to school and taking final exams.
The main points of the book are simple: let kids eat dirt and don’t overuse antibiotics. According to Ruebush, “Mother Nature has given you the elements to build a strong immune system, but you have to put it into action and take care of it. A strong immune system gets built up by plenty of exercise – that’s why you need a lifetime exposure to plenty of dirt. Your healthy immune system is your savings account for a healthy retirement. If you constantly make withdrawals and live with a negative health balance due to too much stress, too little rest, and too many chemicals, you will arrive at a point where you have no reserves for any catastrophic illness that might lurk in your future. A lifestyle that gives you the food, rest, exercise, and other elements you need for basic good health contributes to a healthy immune response and increases the likelihood of a long, productive life.”
Sounds like the perfect prescription to me! So, relax. Let your kids get dirty. Stop trying to sanitize every square inch of your home. And, unwind with a good book (like “Why Dirt is Good”). It’ll make your whole family healthier and happier.
(p.s. My childhood affinity for sucking rocks was likely pica, a medical disorder that can make people hungry for non-food items. Turns out, I’m slightly anemic, so my body was craving iron and hoping to get it from the mineral content of rocks. Pica is not uncommon in children and pregnant women. If you or your child are craving non-food items, talk to your doctor.)
Posted by Jenni at My Web of Life on 02/19 at 10:47 PM
I used to love sucking on quartz rocks. I can still remember that taste…
Thanks for writing a great post! It makes me feel better about my chronic lack of housekeeping! I will be listing this post in my Friday Faves this week.
Posted by Janelle on 02/20 at 12:31 PM
Jenni (kindred green mom and another rock sucker de-closeted) thanks for sharing on your blog!
Posted by Betsy on 03/04 at 12:50 PM
I heartily agree with the premise that eating dirt is good for your immune system, except. . . What about all the unnatural contaminants/chemicals that are bound to also be in the dirt? I don’t worry about bugs and worms and bacteria; I worry about synthetic chemicals from pollution.
In another article from today’s HCHW newsletter it recommends vacuuming out your car with a HEPA filter because “You’ll suck up chemically laden dust, allergens, and the dirt that’s tracked in on your feet (that could have lead, pesticides, or gasoline mixed in).”
I would like someone to address this paradox—how can I get the benefits from the natural stuff in dirt, without the dangerous chemicals. My kid LOVES to eat dirt and sand, and the chemicals are my only concern.
Posted by Janelle on 03/04 at 01:34 PM
Excellent point Betsy! All I can say is use your best judgement. Soil near major roadways or near old buildings can be contaminated with lead. Soil at a park could have pesticide residue.
If your child loves to eat dirt, you may want to keep the activity confined to your own yard (where you “know” your dirt) or maybe when you’re camping in the great outdoors. If you are concerned about lead in your soil, contact your local health department to find out how to have it tested.
1 tsp of healthy soil can contain millions of microbes, so your child will benefit from even small exposures. If you’re still worried about chemical or heavy metal contaminants, you can simply limit how much your child is ingesting (you don’t want them eating platefuls anyway).
I know this is terribly unscientific, but there’s currently no “recommended daily allowance” of dirt. Again, you just need to use your best judgement - and given the thoughtfulness of your question, I would assume your judgement is pretty sound.
Thanks again for bringing up this important point!
Posted by Sharika Phillips on 08/16 at 08:29 PM
I would like to know why my 16 month old son eats dirt and sucks on rocks. Its mainly muddy dirt, or dirt from the flower pot. Is it healthy for him or should I be trying to talk with his doctor? Please some one tell me what is it that I need to do!
Posted by Marcia on 02/18 at 05:53 PM
Kids eat dirt, my daughter would eat the dirt out of my plants, her daughter was continually shoving rocks into her mouth. The danger was her swallowing them. But I believe it does help the kids be stronger and healthier. Kids that have continually had their hands disinfected are sicker than kids who eat dirt. Those antimicrobials are a worse danger to them than the dirt.