Body Boost: Allergies, Babies and Puppies!

In a recent study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, there’s good news for parents-slash-pet owners out there: you’ve got guts. And fewer allergies.

What’s that you say? 

Let’s break it down:

Kids + household dust = potential allergens, kids with allergies and sometimes asthma. 

However:

Kids + Dogs + household dust = fewer allergies and less related asthma.

In other words, if you’re currently balancing an infant on one hip and sporting a dog leash in your other hand, you could be well on your way to a healthier baby. (In addition to perhaps a slightly overwhelming feeling of exhaustion!)

Perhaps the most curious piece of this puzzle is called Lactobacillus johnsonii. What is Lactobacillus? It’s a bacteria that lives benevolently in the digestive tract and aids in things like breaking down sugars. But according to this recent study it also exists more prevalently in dog owners and seems to have a role in immune system function that staves off respiratory allergies. 

Strange, fascinating, cute and scientifically supported: babies and puppies CAN go together. Just don’t let your kids read this article if you’re currently losing the battle of “can we puh-lease get a dog Mom?”!

Image credit: GSD and a baby by Dogperson3d via Wikimedia Commons Copyright Public Domain

Originally published 1/6/14 on mammographykc.com.