Excerpts from Rhonda Patrick’s E Book, part 4
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Early life bacterial exposures influence immune health
“The skin microbiota forms the body’s first line of defense against pathogens and external threats. Changes in environmental exposures can drive bacterial dysbiosis, a condition in which the overall makeup of the skin microbiota is altered. Bacterial dysbiosis is associated with allergies and sensitivities. A new study suggests that early life exposure to Acinetobacter bacteria, which are ubiquitous in the environment and commonly found in soil, provides protection against inflammatory disorders and allergies.
The study was conducted among 180 children living in Karelia, a region that straddles the geopolitical borders of Finland and Russia. Whereas the Finnish side of Karelia is modernized, the Russian side has maintained a traditional lifestyle that involves farming and outdoor work. The children from the two regions were examined for symptoms of allergies and sensitivities to common allergens when they were between the ages of 7 and 11 years and again when they were between the ages of 15 and 20 years. Samples of the children’s skin and nasal microbiota were collected for analysis.
The prevalence of allergies and allergen sensitivities was 3- to 10-fold higher among Finnish children, compared to Russian children. In addition, Russian children rarely exhibited hay fever or peanut sensitivity. Generally, these findings were replicated at the 10-year follow-up examination. The children’s skin and nasal microbiota demonstrated notable differences. In particular, the Russian children’s microbiota had a diverse, abundant population of Acinetobacter bacteria. These findings suggest that early life exposures modulate the risk of developing allergies and allergen sensitivities later in life.”
Notes:
- In my mind, this is fantastic evidence to support the “hygiene hypothesis,” and may provide a partial explanation for why rates of allergies have been skyrocketing in the past couple decades.
Excerpts from my Journal
So often, scientists have said a feat was impossible, and been wrong.
The fallacy of non-apparent progress: Disregarding the words of someone who seems to be behind the pack because the amount of progress they’ve made over the course of their lifetime is not immediately obvious.
Money water and electrons all flow from place to place, changing things along the way. Though rarely, if ever, do they undergo a fundamental change of their own.
If you have an excessive tendency to take setbacks as signs that you should be doing something else, or that your endeavor is not “meant to be” you are unlikely to get very far in life.
Instead of trying desperately to convince others to come over to our way of seeing things, perhaps we should simply say what we feel is true, and let them choose for themselves.
The fact that you’re not there yet doesn’t mean you won’t get there eventually. This simple truth can be so easy to forget.
I’m all for reading holy books, but in the end, I think it’s best to have experience as your primary religion.
Artist whose work I’ve been enjoying: LenaKotliarker
Music Recommendations
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