Sun + Dirt + Microbiome: Let your Kids Get Dirty
Guest post by Aimee McKee
Are You Ready for the Messiest, Healthiest Summer Yet?
Spring has sprung and summer is on the way. We can’t wait!
We are filling the kiddie pool!
Any time the weather is warm, we need to let our kids play outside as much as possible — soak up the sun, play in the dirt and gardens, splash in pools and oceans, eat fresh food, and just be outside. As it gets cooler, sit out by campfires, and you know that will get them dirty! Somehow, most kids find a way to get the soot on themselves and their clothes!
I’ve witnessed both my kids cover themselves in dirt, mud, and water more times than I can count this summer and it got me thinking — we know being outside is so beneficial for us, but WHY?
Your Gut Was Designed to Work With Nature (Not Against It)
Our immune system was designed to keep harmful bacteria from colonizing and growing, while also maintaining an ideal environment for helpful bacteria to grow and flourish! We live in a bacteria-fearful world right now, but not all bacteria is bad!!!
I used to cringe inwardly when I saw my firstborn covered in mud, but two kids in, I’m actually thankful for it now! Here’s why: the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) did a fascinating study on how soil contributes to the human gut. This is what they found…
“Soil and the human gut contain approximately the same number of active microorganisms… From hunter-gatherers to an urbanized society, the human gut has lost alpha diversity… On top of little contact with soil and feces, hygienic measures, antibiotics and a low fiber diet of processed food have led to a loss of beneficial microbes.”https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6780873/73/
What a Biochemist Wants You to Know About the Food You’re Eating
Dr. Mitra Ray, Biochemist and Ph.D. in cellular biology — and a partner in my healthy living community — talks about how society used to eat versus how we eat now. Remember the hunter-gatherers example above? Nomadic individuals used to eat around 200 different plants per month. Now, most Americans eat maybe 75 plant foods per month.
Dr. Mitra likens the average gut to a dry desert. Picture someone scattering dandelion seeds over it — eventually, the dandelions (harmful bacteria) will take over. But flip that image and imagine your gut as a lush, flourishing rainforest! If you scatter some dandelion seeds in that environment, they’re not going to take over because your gut is protected! What’s protecting that rainforest and allowing it to flourish? A wide variety of whole foods (fruits and veggies), fermented foods (sauerkraut, kimchi), and yes — even exposure to the good microbes living right in the earth beneath our feet!
This is exactly why I’ve stopped stressing when my kids lick their fingers after digging in the garden or when a snack hits the grass before it hits their mouths. Is it always pretty? Absolutely not. But is it beneficial? The science says yes. And honestly, that gives this mama a whole lot of peace.
Circling back to the NCBI study: “The human/intestinal microbiome as well as the soil/root microbiome, when coming in close contact, can replenish each other with inoculates, genes and growth sustaining molecules.”.
The Surprising Way Sunshine Builds Your Child’s Immune System
Lastly, we can’t forget about the sun and the huge role it plays in benefiting our health and our gut! Regular sun exposure of 10–30 minutes several times per week is optimal for maintaining healthy Vitamin D levels.
Another fascinating study, this one done by Georgetown University Medical Center, found that not only does the sun allow us to make Vitamin D — it also energizes T cells, which play a huge role in building immunity! The university discovered that low levels of blue light found in sun rays make T cells move faster.
The Bottom Line: Get Outside and Let Them Get Messy
So if you’ve stuck with me this far, here’s my simple takeaway: GET OUTSIDE as much as you can! In this germ-fearing world, don’t forget that we NEED the earth to help us live and thrive — not just the food, but the dirt it grows from. Touch nature as you explore it.
Let your kids get muddy and messy. Don’t freak out if they drop their food on the ground. All of these factors are helping you and your family grow a healthy gut — and that is something to be genuinely excited about! 💛
Enjoying life…. and dirt : )
~ Aimee McKee
Aimee McKee is a wife, mom, and proud homeschool graduate with a passion for helping women feel their best from the inside out. She provides Hair Analysis services and is the co-creator of Phase Based Fitness — a program designed to help you get healthy and strong. Aimee believes true wellness goes deeper than the surface, and she’s on a mission to empower women with the tools and knowledge to thrive. Follow her on Instagram
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