No time to clean the house? That could be good news for your kid’s health, reveals a new Northwestern University study. “Ultra-clean, ultra-hygienic environments early in life may contribute to higher levels of inflammation as an adult, which in turn increases risks for a wide range of diseases,” says study author Thomas McDade, Ph.D. In fact, adults who were exposed to common everyday bacteria and microbes as kids had significantly lower levels of C-reactive protein—a sign of inflammation which has been linked to heart disease—than adults who grew up in squeaky clean homes. Why? Exposure to germs in childhood may “guide” the inflammatory system in the body, teaching it how to work properly, says McDade.
Germs guard your child’s heart
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