logo
Allergies seem nearly impossible to avoid — unless you're Amish

Allergies seem nearly impossible to avoid — unless you're Amish

Boston Globe20-07-2025
Advertisement
'Generally, across the country, about 8 to 10 percent of kids have asthma. In the Amish kids, it's probably 1 to 2 percent,' said Carole Ober, chair of human genetics at the University of Chicago. 'A few of them do have allergies, but at much, much lower rates compared to the general population.'
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
Now, Ober and other researchers are trying to discover what makes Amish and other traditional farming communities unique, in the hopes of developing a protective treatment that could be given to young children. For instance, a probiotic or essential oil that contains substances found in farm dust, such as microbes and the molecules they produce, could stimulate children's immune systems in a way that prevents allergic disease.
'Certain kinds of farming practices, particularly the very traditional ones, have this extraordinary protective effect in the sense that, in these communities, asthma and allergies are virtually unknown,' said Donata Vercelli, a professor of cellular and molecular medicine at the University of Arizona. 'The studies that have been done in these farming populations are critical because they tell us that protection is an attainable goal.'
Advertisement
The Amish are members of a Christian group who practice traditional farming - many live on single-family dairy farms - and use horses for fieldwork and transportation. As of 2024, around 395,000 Amish live in the United States, concentrated mostly in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana.
Over the past century, the incidence of allergic diseases - including hay fever (allergic rhinitis), asthma, food allergies and eczema - has increased dramatically. Hay fever, or an allergic reaction to tree, grass and weed pollens, emerged as the first recognized allergic disease in the early 1800s, climbing to epidemic levels in Europe and North America by 1900.
The 1960s saw a sharp increase in the prevalence of pediatric asthma, a condition in which the airways tighten when breathing in an allergen. From the 1990s onward, there has been an upswing in the developed world in food allergies, including cow's milk, peanut and egg allergies.
Urbanization, air pollution, dietary changes and an indoor lifestyle are often cited as possible factors.
Preparing a horse team for work on a farm in Pulaski, Pennsylvania.
Keith Srakocic/Associated Press
The 'hygiene hypothesis' - first proposed in a 1989 study by American immunologist David Strachan - suggests that early childhood exposure to microbes protects against allergic diseases by contributing to the development of a healthy immune system.
The study found that hay fever and eczema were less common among children born into larger families. Strachan wondered whether unhygienic contact with older siblings served as a protection against allergies.
Advertisement
Subsequent findings have given support to the hygiene hypothesis, such as that children who grow up with more household pets are less likely to develop asthma, hay fever or eczema. Perhaps even more beneficial than having older siblings or pets, however, is growing up on a farm. (More than 150 years ago, hay fever was known as an 'aristocratic disease,' almost wholly confined to the upper classes of society. Farmers appeared relatively immune.)
This 'farm effect' has been confirmed by studies on agricultural populations around the world, including in the United States, Europe, Asia and South America. But even among farming communities, the most pronounced effect appears to be in the Amish. In a study of 60 schoolchildren by Ober, Vercelli and their colleagues, the prevalence of asthma was four times lower in the Amish as compared with the Hutterites, another U.S. farming community with a similar genetic ancestry and lifestyle.
The prevalence of allergic sensitization - the development of antibodies to allergens and the first step to developing an allergy - was six times higher in the Hutterites. The researchers first ruled out a genetic cause; in fact, an analysis showed that the Amish and Hutterite children were remarkably similar in their ancestral roots. Instead, the main difference between these two populations seemed to be the amount of exposure as young children to farm animals or barns.
'The Hutterite kids and pregnant moms don't go into the animal barns. Kids aren't really exposed to the animal barns until they're like 12 or so, when they start learning how to do the work on the farm,' Ober said. 'The Amish kids are in and out of the cow barns all day long from an early age.'
Advertisement
When analyzing samples of Amish and Hutterite house dust, they found a microbial load almost seven times higher in Amish homes. Later experiments showed that the airways of mice that inhaled Amish dust had dramatically reduced asthmalike symptoms when exposed to allergens. Mice that inhaled Hutterite dust did not receive the same benefit.
On Route 11 near Patten, Maine, in 2017.
The Boston Globe
Now, Ober and Vercelli are beginning to identify the protective agents in Amish dust that prevent allergic asthma. In 2023, their analysis of farm dust found proteins that act like delivery trucks, loaded with molecules produced by microbes and plants. When these transport proteins deliver their cargo to the mucus that lines the respiratory tract, it creates a protective environment that regulates airway responses and prevents inflammation.
'We don't really talk about the hygiene hypothesis as much anymore because we now understand that it's not really about how hygienic you're living,' said Kirsi Järvinen-Seppo, director of the Center for Food Allergy at the University of Rochester Medical Center. 'It's more like a microbial hypothesis, since beneficial bacteria that colonize the gut and other mucosal surfaces play a significant role.'
During the first year or two of life, a baby's immune system is rapidly developing and highly malleable by environmental stimuli, such as bacteria. Some experts believe that exposing young children to certain types of beneficial bacteria can engage and shape the growing immune system in a way that reduces the risk of allergic diseases later in life. Farm dust contains a hodgepodge of bacteria shed from livestock and animal feed that isn't harmful enough to cause illness, but does effectively train the immune system to become less responsive to allergens later in life.
Advertisement
In 2021, Järvinen-Seppo and her colleagues compared the gut microbiomes of 65 Old Order Mennonite infants from a rural community in New York with 39 urban/suburban infants from nearby Rochester. Like the Amish, the Old Order Mennonites follow a traditional agrarian lifestyle. Almost three-fourths of Mennonite infants in the study were colonized with B. infantis, a bacterium associated with lower rates of allergic diseases, in contrast to 21 percent of Rochester infants.
'The colonization rate is very low in the United States and other Western countries, compared to very high rates in Mennonite communities, similar to some developing countries,' Järvinen-Seppo said. 'This mirrors the rates of autoimmune and allergic diseases.' These clues about the origin of the farm effect represent a step toward the prevention of allergic diseases, Järvinen-Seppo says.
Whatever form the treatment takes, the impact on prevention of allergic diseases, which affect millions of people worldwide and reduce quality of life, could be enormous, experts say.
'I don't know that we can give every family a cow. … But we are learning from these time-honored and very stable environments what type of substances and exposures are needed,' Vercelli said. 'Once we know that, I don't think there will be any impediment to creating protective strategies along these lines.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Pepsi copies Coca-Cola to win back health-conscious consumers
Pepsi copies Coca-Cola to win back health-conscious consumers

Miami Herald

time4 hours ago

  • Miami Herald

Pepsi copies Coca-Cola to win back health-conscious consumers

Many Americans may not realize the importance of the gut microbiome, or the ecosystem of microbes that live in our intestines, and its impact on overall health. A 2023 Ipsos poll also revealed that many Americans have accepted to live with their digestive problems, with one in five saying they tried many things to resolve the issue, but haven't succeeded. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter About 18% of Americans confirm they have been diagnosed with hemorrhoids, and 15% say they have been diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). How is this possible? Food plays a significant role in our gut and overall health. However, it is not the only culprit for various illnesses, because poor nutrition is often associated with other less healthy behaviors. Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are leading sources of added sugars in the American diet, and frequent consumption is associated with weight gain, Type 2 diabetes, kidney diseases, obesity, gout, a type of arthritis and more. However, more frequent consumers of sugary drinks tend to be those who don't exercise regularly, eat fast food often, smoke, don't sleep enough, and do not consume enough fruit, reports the CDC. Over the last couple of years, healthier soda alternatives have grown in popularity, due to the newer generations' focus on healthier lifestyles and mindful eating. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently started a major crackdown on various ingredients commonly found in food and beverages, with one of the goals being to eliminate synthetic dyes in food and drinks. Related: Scientists find massive anti-aging potential in magic mushrooms Kennedy Jr. also stressed that sodas are one of the biggest contributors to the poor health of many Americans. Under the White House's "Make America Healthy Again" initiative, pressure is mounting on soda giants to adapt their formulas. Just recently, it was announced that Coca-Cola might make a big change to its sodas- switching from high-fructose corn syrup to cane sugar. Earlier this year, Coca-Cola launched its own prebiotic soda under its juice brand Simply, and now its biggest rival, PepsiCo (PEP) , is making a similar move. More Retail: Target delights shoppers with savings event, 30% discountsUS government wants to make healthier eggs illegalPepsi issues stern message to employees after mass closures On July 21, the soda giant announced the launch of its Pepsi Prebiotic Cola with: 5 grams of cane sugar; Only 30 calories (a standard Pepsi serving contains about 150 calories);No artificial sweeteners; 3 grams of prebiotic fiber. Pepsi is launching prebiotic cola in two traditional flavors: Original Cola and Cherry Vanilla. Available in 12 oz. single cans for trial and 8-packs of 12 oz. cans, the new sodas will be available online this fall and at stores in early 2026. Pepsi Prebiotic Cola's launch comes a few months after the beverage titan announced the purchase of prebiotic soda brand Poppi for nearly $2 billion. Pepsi's move into a healthier beverages market was a way to win back customers. After all, according to a study by Harvard researchers, the number of young people who consumed at least one daily sugar-sweetened drink dropped to 61% from 80% between 2003 and 2016. Related: Target delights shoppers with savings event, 30% discounts Prebiotics are non-digestible, fermentable food ingredients that modify the composition or activity of gastrointestinal bacteria to benefit the host, according to the National Library of Medicine. Foods like cereals, breads, and snack foods have added prebiotics if you see on the food label some of the following terms: inulin, wheat dextrin, acacia gum, psyllium, polydextrose, GOS (galactooligosaccharides), FOS (fructooligosaccharides), and TOS (transgalactooligosaccharides). While prebiotic sodas can support your gut health, too much of it can cause gas, bloating, or diarrhea. Experts advise people who have gastrointestinal problems such as Crohn's or ulcerative colitis to avoid them. Samantha Nazareth, MD, board-certified gastroenterologist, told Woman's Health that prebiotic soda shouldn't replace plant-based foods like apples, garlic, artichokes, asparagus, and oats, which naturally contain gut-friendly fiber. The outlet consulted with experts to determine what health-conscious consumers should look for in prebiotic soda for the most benefits. They advised the following: Three grams of fiber per serving from ingredients like chicory root, inulin, and acacia fiberNo more than 10 grams of sugar Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.

Batana Oil for Hair Loss: A Natural Remedy Rooted in Tradition
Batana Oil for Hair Loss: A Natural Remedy Rooted in Tradition

Time Business News

time19 hours ago

  • Time Business News

Batana Oil for Hair Loss: A Natural Remedy Rooted in Tradition

Hair loss is a concern that affects millions of people worldwide—regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity. From stress and hormonal imbalance to genetics and environmental factors, the causes are diverse, but the impact is often the same: diminished confidence and a search for effective solutions. While there are countless hair loss treatments on the market, more people are now turning toward nature-inspired remedies. Among these, batana oil for hair loss stands out as a time-tested and holistic option, backed by both tradition and modern interest. Batana oil is a nutrient-rich oil extracted from the nuts of the American oil palm tree ( Elaeis oleifera ), primarily found in the rainforests of Honduras. The oil is traditionally used by the indigenous Miskito people, often referred to as the 'Tawira'—meaning 'people of beautiful hair.' For generations, they have relied on this golden-brown oil not just for cosmetic purposes but as a vital part of their wellness rituals. Handcrafted in small batches, batana oil is thick, aromatic, and packed with essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and natural emollients that nourish both scalp and hair. When it comes to hair loss, the causes can range from clogged follicles and poor scalp health to inflammation and oxidative stress. Batana oil for hair loss works on multiple fronts to address these issues holistically. Firstly, batana oil is known for its ability to deeply penetrate the scalp, delivering moisture and essential nutrients directly to the hair follicles. This hydration is critical for creating an environment where healthy hair can thrive. Dryness and scalp irritation often lead to breakage or hair shedding—something batana oil helps prevent by soothing and conditioning the skin. Secondly, the oil is rich in tocopherols (a form of Vitamin E), which help protect the scalp from oxidative stress. Free radicals from pollution and UV rays can damage hair follicles over time, leading to thinning or balding. The antioxidants in batana oil neutralize these effects, supporting long-term scalp health. Lastly, its high fatty acid content—especially oleic and linoleic acid—helps strengthen the hair shaft and reduce breakage. This can make existing strands look fuller while encouraging new growth in thinning areas. One of the most unique benefits of using batana oil for hair loss is its effect on hair follicles. By enhancing blood circulation to the scalp and reducing inflammation, batana oil can help 'wake up' dormant follicles that have stopped producing hair. While results vary from person to person, many users report seeing baby hairs or regrowth within a few weeks of consistent use. For those experiencing hair loss due to conditions like alopecia or post-partum shedding, batana oil provides a gentle and natural alternative to harsh chemical treatments. It doesn't rely on synthetic compounds or hormone disruptors; instead, it nurtures the scalp over time and encourages the body's natural hair-growing processes. Using batana oil for hair loss is both simple and effective. The oil is typically solid at room temperature, so warming a small amount in your palms or using a double boiler will soften it for easier application. Massage it gently into the scalp using circular motions to stimulate circulation and ensure even distribution. For deep conditioning, leave the oil on for at least 30 minutes—or overnight for more intense repair—before rinsing it out with a gentle shampoo. This treatment can be done 2-3 times a week depending on your hair's needs. Some users also apply a small amount to damp hair ends to prevent split ends and retain moisture. There are many natural oils touted for hair growth—coconut, castor, and argan oils to name a few. However, what makes batana oil for hair loss unique is its combination of deeply restorative properties and cultural heritage. This oil isn't mass-produced in industrial factories; it's often handmade by local communities using methods that retain all the oil's natural goodness. Its effectiveness lies not just in its components but in its purity. Unlike commercial products that may be diluted or include synthetic additives, raw batana oil is 100% natural. This makes it suitable for people with sensitive scalps or those seeking a chemical-free solution. Testimonials from users around the world speak volumes about batana oil's effectiveness. Many report visible improvements in hair thickness, reduced hair fall, and shinier, healthier-looking hair. What's more encouraging is that batana oil delivers these benefits without the side effects often associated with conventional treatments like minoxidil or corticosteroids. In regions where the oil has long been used, such as Honduras, it's common to see men and women of all ages with thick, vibrant hair well into their later years. This lived experience adds weight to the growing body of anecdotal evidence supporting batana oil's use for preventing hair loss. As demand for natural hair remedies increases, so does the risk of counterfeit or adulterated products. To truly benefit from batana oil for hair loss, it's crucial to purchase it from reputable sources—preferably those that support fair trade practices and work directly with indigenous communities. Real batana oil has a distinct nutty aroma and a rich, earthy color. Avoid overly processed or perfumed versions, as these may lack the essential nutrients that make the oil effective. In the search for hair loss solutions, natural remedies like batana oil offer a compelling alternative to synthetic treatments. Its powerful blend of nutrients, combined with its proven track record in traditional use, makes batana oil a valuable tool in the fight against hair thinning and scalp issues. Whether you're dealing with early signs of hair loss or looking to strengthen your current hair care routine, batana oil is a natural, holistic choice that nourishes from root to tip. With consistent use and a little patience, this ancient oil could be the key to unlocking healthier, fuller hair. TIME BUSINESS NEWS

Kansas basketball coach Bill Self released from hospital after heart procedure
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self released from hospital after heart procedure

Fox Sports

time20 hours ago

  • Fox Sports

Kansas basketball coach Bill Self released from hospital after heart procedure

Associated Press LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas basketball coach Bill Self was released from Lawrence Memorial Hospital on Saturday, two days after having two stents inserted into his heart to treat blocked arteries. 'I want to thank all the amazing doctors and nurses at LMH Health for the excellent care I received during my stay there,' Self said in a statement released by the university. 'I feel strong and am excited to be home. Our team has had a productive summer and look forward to our batteries being recharged and prepping for this upcoming season.' The 62-year-old Self felt ill Thursday after having run Kansas' final practice of its summer session earlier in the day. He missed the 2023 Big 12 and NCAA tournaments because of a heart condition, getting a standard catheterization and having two stents inserted to help treat blocked arteries. Self led Kansas to national titles in 2008 and 2022 and is the school's career victory leader with a 609-156 record. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member is 831-261 overall, also coaching Oral Roberts (1993-97), Tulsa (1997-2000) and Illinois (2000-03). ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: and recommended Item 1 of 2 in this topic

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store