Let your kids play in the sand !

A scientific study conducted in Finland has shown that children playing in the dirt boosts their immune system and protects them from some diseases.

According to the Live Science website, the new study aimed to find out whether children's immune systems could be boosted by playing in grass and dirt in nature. The researchers discovered that within a month, children who played in the dirt had a more diverse group of harmless bacteria on their skin and immune-regulating cells in their blood than those who played in artificial gravel and sand playgrounds in cities.

The results of the study showed that exposure to bacteria found in dirt can help a child's immune system mature, which boosts immunity in his body and protects him from immune diseases and the risk of developing some types of allergies.

On the other hand, the results of a Swedish study published in 2024 showed that children who grew up on farms or had animals had lower rates of allergies than other children, and their intestines had a greater number of beneficial bacteria that are important for supporting the body's immune system.

These studies confirm the theory proposed by Professor Graham Rock in 2003, called the "old friends" theory, as the theory suggests that exposure to a variety of bacteria at an early age enhances the formation of beneficial bacteria in the intestines, which play an important role in strengthening the immune system, and exposure to a variety of bacteria and pathogens helps in the formation of immune bodies in the blood.

Health experts advise giving children the opportunity to play in nature and in the dirt, provided that the place where the child plays is free of toxic and harmful substances. Doctors also warn that eating or inhaling dirt may sometimes expose the child to the risk of some parasites and substances that are hazardous to health.

Source: Al-Rai + Agencies - https://ar.rt.com/z7pg