A few months ago, Canadian native Rod Sabourin welcomed his very first child into the world. It was a proud moment, no doubt, but one that also sparked a cleaning rampage that would last for weeks. Concerned about microbes compromising the health of his infant daughter, Sabourin took to dousing everything in boiling suds to disinfect them. Bottles, soothers, breast pumps—if it could come into contact with his baby, he washed it. There were moments when Sabourin would finish washing only to realize that the countertop itself may not be clean, thus prompting him to sigh and begin the soapy process anew. “I was a little obsessed,” admits Sabourin with a chuckle.

Believe it or not, Sabourin’s behavior is not uncommon. “Many parents are reluctant to let their babies crawl on the floor or put things in their mouths,” says Dr. Lyn Wren, a family physician at Beijing International SOS Clinic. “While in some cases this wariness is understandable, regularly preventing babies from doing what comes naturally to them could in fact affect their normal development, not to mention their germ resistance. It is thought that day-to-day encounters with certain germs may actually help the body develop a natural immunity.”

This sentiment is echoed in microbiology and immunology instructor Mary Ruebush’s book Why Dirt is Good. She writes: “What a child is doing when he puts things in his mouth is allowing his immune response to explore his environment. Not only does this allow for ‘practice’ of immune responses, which will be necessary for protection, but it also plays a critical role in teaching the immature immune response what is best ignored.”

This rising conclusion is just one part of what has become commonly known among researchers and medical experts as the Hygiene Hypothesis. This same hypothesis suggests that a lack of early childhood exposure to infectious and symbiotic microorganisms increases susceptibility to allergies and asthma, and may be a key contributor in the rise of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Type 1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease. Dr. Wren adds that though the research needs to be verified, good gut germs may also play a role in reducing the incidence of obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

One of the results of these findings has been an increase in the market for probiotics—live organisms that, once ingested, can help us to metabolize food, absorb nutrients, break down toxins, strengthen our immune systems and regulate the growth of bad bacteria. Though commonly found in fermented food products with live cultures such as yogurt, aged cheeses, sauerkraut, miso and kimchi, they can now also be found in items like chocolate and hummus thanks to food manufacturers looking to profit (see sidebar).

Similarly, there has also been a surge in demand for prebiotics. Not to be confused with probiotics, these are non-digestible fibers that help to create a happy environment for gut bacteria to flourish. Luckily for us, the average diet is already rife with prebiotics. Common sources are onions, garlic, asparagus, artichokes, brown rice, whole wheat and legumes.

One other great source of prebiotics: “breastmilk,” says Dr. Nathanael Goldman, a pediatrician at Beijing United Family Hospital. “If there is one food that creates ideal conditions for the growth of good bacteria and may have a lifelong influence, it is breastmilk.”

For those who find all this a little hard to swallow, consider this: the amount of bacteria in our bodies outnumbers our cells by 10:1. In other words, our bodies are already a wonderful breeding ground for microbes. The key is ensuring that there is a healthy balance between the good guys and the bad guys.

While exposing our families to good bacteria seems relatively easy to do, selectively killing off harmful bacteria is less straightforward. In most cases, efforts to eradicate harmful organisms result in the complete removal of all forms. As stated by Tufts Medical Center director of gastroenterology and hepatology Dr. Joel V. Weinstock, “public health measures like cleaning up contaminated water and food have saved the lives of countless children, but have also eliminated exposure to many organisms that are probably good for us.”

According to Dr. Goldman, one practice that may actually backfire for germophobes is the frequent use of hand sanitizers. “It is certainly not foolish to wash your hands, but cleaning them with a disinfectant also kills good germs and could promote the growth of resistant bacteria,” he says.

“There is increasing recognition that germs—bacteria and viruses—are an intimate part of our environment,” he continues. “Many of them have even evolved in close relationships with us and depend on us for their survival. What we are now realizing is that we depend on them for our health more than previously thought. One will not do well without the other.” q