Let the Kids Get Dirty and Allergy Free! No comments yet

A US team of scientists have decided that children should be allowed to get dirty!

Normal bacteria living on the skin triggers a pathway that helps prevent inflammation when we get hurt. These bugs inhibit an over-active immune system that can cause cuts and grazes to swell.

The experts said that their findings provided an explanation for the ‘hygiene hypothesis’, which states that exposure to germs during early childhood primes the immune system against allergies.

Many people believe that our obsession with over-cleanliness is to blame for our recent boom in allergy development!

A spokeswoman for Allergy UK said ‘rates of allergy have tripled in the UK in the last decade. One in three people now has some kind of allergy!’

Head of the research Professor Richard Gallo said ‘The exciting implication of the work is that it provides a molecular basis to understand the hygiene hypothesis and has uncovered elements of the wound repairing response that were previously unknown.’

The lobby group Parents Outloud said the work offered scientific support for its campaign to stop children being mollycoddled and over-sanitised.

Now, we’re not saying don’t clean, as bacteria are one of the major causes of infection and food poisoning, but just don’t be obsessive about it! Don’t be scared by the TV adverts telling you if you don’t wipe everything up immediately you’ll be ill! Just take a reasonable grounded approach to life, kids get dirty, they enjoy it. I know mine do!

If you want to stay health and boost the immune system, use nutrients, either from food or supplements; they work because your body knows what to do with them!

Sources:
BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8373690.stm
Allergy UK: http://www.allergyuk.org
Parents Outloud: http://www.parentsoutloud.com

The Vantastical Funky Bus! No comments yet

So here it is the Vantastical Blue Funky Bus!

Over the last few weeks we have been working hard to get this sorted – Hopefully it will be used for shows, exhibitions and general advertising, to spread the Bio Nuts word.

If on your travels, beep us and say hello

From this:

To this:

and finally to; The Blue Funky Bus:

Please do keep an eye out for us, at shows, exhibitions and on the road. I feel the beginnings of a competition coming on!

The next plan is to get her running efficiently on bio fuel; we’ll keep you informed.

Smile, you’re getting older! No comments yet

According to a recent study, most people get happier as they grow older!

Scientists believe that this is because older people have learned to avoid situations that make them feel sad or stressed.

So, here’s our quick guide to feeling happier:

1. Smile: it makes you feel good and enriches the life of those around you! (And you’ll look more attractive, too).
2. Be grateful: generally there is so much to be grateful for. And remember – there is always someone worse off than you!
3. Laugh: as much as you can because laughter really is the best medicine!
4. Exercise: exercising stimulates the release of endorphins. This changes your body’s chemical balance and makes you feel good.
5. Learn new things: this is as enriching as exercise, and slows cognitive decline.

Practice the above and make people wonder what you’ve been up too!

You could also check out our Sleep, Mood & Memory section.