Farm Kids Develop Stronger Immune Systems

**Bamacyclone** · 01-17-2013, 02:55 AM

How can this be?!

No, we just need more anti-bacterial lotion!

Children Raised on Farms Develop Better Immune Systems | Watch the video - Yahoo! News

**cowgirl836** · 01-17-2013, 07:32 AM

this is hardly surprising to me. I've seen several studies related to that -asthma, allergies - all have lower rates in rural kids.

Think about it - exercise can help ward off colds. Farm life=exercise. Lots of time outdoors. Exposure to animals=exposure to germs and bacteria, constantly. People who were exposed to cows/cowpox (milder form of smallpox) were immune to smallpox - which is how vaccines came to be. It's good to be a farm kid!

**longtimeclone** · 01-17-2013, 08:01 AM

I always thought it was the additional iron or other things in our old well that helped. Also, I had hay fever and living in the country probably made it 10 times worse. I feel I am pretty lucky to hardly get sick but I pay my dues when the pollen count is high late in the summer.

**ianoconnor** · 01-17-2013, 08:03 AM

My fiance grew up on a hog farm and is sick all the time.

**Daserop** · 01-17-2013, 08:06 AM

Lived on a farm until I was 18 and I can only recall getting sick three times. I also never had a problem during college...but since college is a different story. Have a office job and live in town and it is a guarantee that I get sick at least once a year now. I would say that being gone from that farm type of environment has weakened my immune system over time.

Edit: maybe weakened is the wrong term...maybe lazy is better.

**Mr Janny** · 01-17-2013, 08:14 AM

Did it really take a study to determine this? Places with higher population density are always going to have higher communicable disease rates, because there are more people coming into contact with one another.

**Al_4_State** · 01-17-2013, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by ianoconnor

My fiance grew up on a hog farm and is sick all the time.

Did she ever have to actually go into the barns and work with the pigs on a regular basis? If you're not dealing with the animals/**** directly, you're probably not reaping the benefits.

I grew up on a hog farm, had to do chores every day, and am rarely sick. When I get sick, its really bad, but it doesn't happen too much.

**cowgirl836** · 01-17-2013, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by Mr Janny

Did it really take a study to determine this? Places with higher population density are always going to have higher communicable disease rates, because there are more people coming into contact with one another.

It's not just that though. It's the fact that kids do come in more close contact with germs because of the animals - even cats and dogs, which are hardly nonexistent in urban homes. And things like asthma and allergies shouldn't depend on population density.

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/...hma/44081906/1

Amish farm kids remarkably immune to allergies: study | Reuters
To Sniff Out Childhood Allergies, Researchers Head To The Farm : Shots - Health News : NPR
doesn't surprise me a bit that they think raw milk could be part of what helps them.

**Incyte** · 01-17-2013, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by Mr Janny

Did it really take a study to determine this? Places with higher population density are always going to have higher communicable disease rates, because there are more people coming into contact with one another.

Confused. your statement would indicate that farm kids would have weaker immune systems as they have less exposure to sickness. The finding was the opposite.

**MissouriCyclone** · 01-17-2013, 08:42 AM

I work with two guys that were raised on a farm and in the 4 years I've worked with them I don't ever recall them getting sick.

Knock on wood, I haven't really ever gotten sick either and I mess with some pretty nasty **** as a landscaper.

**Mr Janny** · 01-17-2013, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by Incyte

Confused. your statement would indicate that farm kids would have weaker immune systems as they have less exposure to sickness. The finding was the opposite.

no it doesn't. My statement indicates that communicable diseases are more prevalent in places where population density is higher. Having a strong immune system doesn't necessarily prevent you from getting a disease, it can mean that you feel less of the effects and fight it off easier.

**Incyte** · 01-17-2013, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by Mr Janny

no it doesn't. My statement indicates that communicable diseases are more prevalent in places where population density is higher. Having a strong immune system doesn't necessarily prevent you from getting a disease, it can mean that you feel less of the effects and fight it off easier.

Lol. Communicable diseases like asthma and hay fever?

**StClone** · 01-17-2013, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by ianoconnor

My fiance grew up on a hog farm and is sick all the time.

The farm depicted in that ABC vid is idyllic and there are few like it. As factory farms increase kids from "farms" will be no healthier than city kids.

**cowgirl836** · 01-17-2013, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by StClone

The farm depicted in that ABC vid is idyllic and there are few like it. As factory farms increase kids from "farms" will be no healthier than city kids.

I tend to agree with you. I was thinking as they showed them with their goats, chickens, and couple cows that farms like that are more well-known as "petting zoos". Not what 95% of farms look like today.