Children who wash dishes are less likely to develop allergies, study claims

MANILA, Philippines  - Great news, moms! You finally have the best (and reasonable) excuse to let your kids do the dishes. A new study published in journal Pediatrics claims that washing the dishes with bare hands is linked to fewer allergies.

Previous studies have supported the “hygiene hypothesis,” which stipulates that microbial exposure during early life induces immunologic tolerance via immune stimulation, and hence reduces the risk of allergy development. This is why over the years, researchers have recommended that children should be exposed to an open environment like parks and malls.

In line with that, this study, published in March found out that even washing the dishes can strengthen the immune system of the kids more. In order to come up with the conclusion, 1,029 Swedish children (ages 7 or 8) were examined. Questions on asthma, eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis were taken from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire.

Based on the answers gathered,  those whose parents said they mostly wash the family's dishes by hand were significantly less likely to develop eczema, and somewhat less likely to develop allergic asthma and hay fever.

Because of the increased microbial exposure, the immune system of the children becomes tolerant. Meanwhile, researchers also found that allergies can be avoided by eating fermented food or food bought directly from farms.