For decades, hand washing dishes was the norm in households around the nation. But with the event of the dishwasher, this became less common. Just about every home in America today has a dishwasher in it. The only use sinks have today is to soak dishes before they’re placed into the dishwasher. But what if this was the reason you and your family members were witnessing allergy symptoms? This is something that’s being explored in the medical community. If you receive family care in a naturopathic center, such as natural allergy treatment, you may learn that hand washing dishes is a better option.
Research shows that hand washing your dishes may help reduce the risk of children developing allergy-related conditions, including eczema and asthma.
The Hygiene Hypothesis
Most people are unaware that there’s testing going on to determine the connection between allergy reactions and cleanliness. If you’re like most people, you believe that a super clean home and environment is the key to keeping you and your family healthy. It makes sense, but it isn’t necessarily true.
In this theory, it’s suggested that when children have early exposure to various microbes, it helps their immune system become strong. When you have a healthy immune system, it won’t mistake foods and other harmless substances as an enemy, which results to allergic reactions.
The Role Dishwashing Plays
In recent studies, there seems to be a relation between how you wash dishes and the risk of developing allergies. These findings suit the hygiene hypothesis. There are also studies that show dishwashing frequently doesn’t help reduce the amount of bacteria present, which you become exposed to while washing dishes. This microbial exposure helps stimulate your immune system and make it strong.
However, it’s difficult to definitively prove that handwashing can indeed reduce your chances of developing an allergic disease. If your family suffers from allergies and would like to receive naturopathic care, then you should consult with a local practitioner.
The Results
In the study, the parents of more than 1,000 Swedish children between 7 and 8 years old were questioned about their children’s history of seasonal allergies, eczema and asthma. The families were asked about how they washed their dishes. Twelve percent of them wash dishes by hand. The children in this 12 percent had half the risk of developing allergy-related conditions.
Naturopathic centers can help you and your family take better care of your health. Learn more about allergies and how you can stop them naturally by going to a local naturopathic doctor.
