this post was submitted on 30 Oct 2024
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[–] MaximilianKohler -1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (3 children)

Yes, common knowledge that is actually dangerous misinformation. Debunked: https://humanmicrobiome.info/faq/#is-dirt-good-for-your-microbiome

I don't think it compares well to vaccines.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)
  • Dirt has pathogens that are only harmful.

Stopped there. Because that's how your immune system learns.

And the bit with heavy metals is bull. Just don't let them eat a ton of dirt of vineyards (copper).

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

@MonkderVierte @MaximilianKohler You should've read the rest of the page then like the first one xdd
Dirt is contaminated by harmful heavy metals and other toxic pollutants
The known beneficial microbes are the host-native ones that are passed down generationally via vaginal birth and breastfeeding. Microbes that you pick up from the environment are not the same and are more likely to be harmful.
Antibiotics are one of the primary things you want to avoid if you're worried about your microbiome

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

You're confusing gut Microbiome with immune system? Sure, it plays an important role in immune reactions but it's not the same.

Playing in is not dirt eating, it's dirt tasting. That bit of heavy metals pales in comparison to even one year living.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

@MonkderVierte Another red herring changing goalpost. Where do you think both reside?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Nothing red herring. You know how the immune system learns? By being confronted with bad actors. Too less bad actors, your body becomes the target.

About the gut microbiome: bad bacteria can only take over, if there's a hole in an already established biome or if it's generally weakened. But then that's a huge issue, you're usually in a sterile tent in a hospital, fed intravenously. A baby already has a healthy microbiome.
It's not about the microbiome, it's about the immune system. Think of them as separate entities, even though they are heavily intertwined.

Where do you think both reside?

Gut bacteria: gut

Immune system: gut, veins, mostly bone marrow tho.

[–] MaximilianKohler -4 points 3 weeks ago

It's dangerous misinformation, regardless of how you want to phrase it. You do not need to eat dirt or play in dirt.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

@MonkderVierte @MaximilianKohler Eating dirt and practicing poor sanitation increases your odds of contracting an infection and needing antibiotics.

So much commitment for just a hypothesis

[–] Cocodapuf 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Don't infections lead to producing antibodies?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

They might also disfigure, disable, or discontinue you entirely. Like polio.

[–] MaximilianKohler -1 points 3 weeks ago

You may be suffering from heavy metal poisoning.

Stopped there. Because that’s how your immune system learns.

"I chose to stay ignorant and re-state misinformation that you debunked"

And the bit with heavy metals is bull.

It cites the CDC, so you should contact the CDC and tell them to stop spreading "bull".

[–] Cocodapuf 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

This article is debunking the idea that there are probiotic benefits to eating dirt, which isn't what we're talking about at all. We don't care about the beneficial bacteria, they don't build your immune system, they're irrelevant. It states right at the beginning that there are harmful pathogens in dirt, which is exactly the point. Those harmful pathogens are literally the only thing that can build the immune system.

[–] MaximilianKohler -3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Stop spreading misinformation. Pretty much everything you just said is wrong.

What you're doing harms people. You should stop.

[–] Cocodapuf 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

What?! Are you serious?

Pretty much everything I said was wrong? How do you figure that?

Here's my primary claim: "This article is debunking the idea that there are probiotic benefits to eating dirt, which isn't what we're talking about at all"

My claim was that the page you linked is clearly talking about digestive health, not the immune system.

Let's look at the first sentence in the header

Will eating dirt improve gut health?

I'd say that's pretty clear. But wait, that's not the whole header, what does the rest of it say?

According to the Hygiene Hypothesis, ingesting dirt will strengthen our immune system right?

So it's worse than I thought, immediately, right off the bat, this page is already jumbling the concepts of digestive health and immune system. Just odd.

Look, I'm perfectly willing to concede that there are no real digestive benefits to eating dirt. But then I never made that claim. I have no idea what your motivation is, but you should stop spreading misinformation.

[–] MaximilianKohler -1 points 3 weeks ago

Here’s my primary claim: “This article is debunking the idea that there are probiotic benefits to eating dirt, which isn’t what we’re talking about at all”

Your claim starts with a misunderstanding. So you should start out by reading the citations more thoroughly.

My claim was that the page you linked is clearly talking about digestive health, not the immune system.

This is incorrect. And they are tightly interwoven.

So it’s worse than I thought, immediately, right off the bat, this page is already jumbling the concepts of digestive health and immune system. Just odd.

It's not odd, it's ignorance on your part, so read the citations more thoroughly so you get a better understanding.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

That's not a source, it's your own site.

[–] MaximilianKohler 0 points 3 weeks ago

That's not how sources work. You should read about how to vet sources for accuracy before making foolish statements like that.