Most of us have done it before and it’s not actually terrible.
Have you ever sucked on your kid’s pacifier to clean it off after it fell on the floor? Maybe not with the first kid, but probably with the second or third, right? It’s okay, just admit it … most of us are guilty. But it turns out our shared shame-filled secret could actually be beneficial for the little one, according to science.
A recent study finds that sucking on a kid’s pacifier helps prevent allergies. Researchers found that babies who sucked on a pacifier with traces of their mom’s saliva actually had lower levels of IgE antibody, a common allergy-causing protein in the body, all thanks to the microbes in their mama’s spit.
“The idea is that the microbes you’re exposed to in infancy can affect your immune system’s development later in life,” study authors explains.
The study was small, so scientists aren’t advising parents to start sucking on their baby’s pacifiers to prevent allergies just yet. But the findings do support previous theories about the benefits of babies being exposed to microbes. And it’s a little reassurance that parents don’t need to feel guilty about the occasional less-than-sterile move. We can’t raise them in a bubble, and apparently that’s a good thing.
Source: The Stir
Cow cuddling is the newest wellness trend.
Yes, you read that right!
(BeyondBlindFold.com)
Ever thought of snuggling up with a 1,000 lb farm animal to help with your mental health? No? Neither have I. But, if the sound of that intrigues you, you’re in luck. Because as it turns out, ‘cow cuddling’ might be the hottest new wellness trend. It’ll set you back a few bills, but could it be worth it?
According to PubMed, there is proof that humans can decrease their stress levels by interacting with animals. How one may choose to go about that is their own preference. While this concept, in particular, might sound a little strange, the new therapy trend falls in line with other programs we’ve seen in the past. Remember goat yoga? Or cat yoga? What about bunny yoga? While yoga with a cow might be a little tricky, cuddling with them might be the next best thing.
Mountain Horse Farm in upstate New York has a program offering the ‘Horse & Cow Experience’ where individuals can spend time connecting with the large barnyard animals. You can interact with them however you want to by petting, brushing or playing. If you’re not in the mood to play with the animals, you can simply cuddle with them. “Cows have a body temperature that is slightly higher than humans and their heart rate is lower than ours. Cuddling up with a cow, feeling that lower heart rate and higher body temperature, is very relaxing,” Mountain Horse Farm wrote on their website.
Link: