[Pet lovers unite] Dogs ward off disease?

I have been a “dog dad” most of my life. I personally can attest to all of the benefits that come along with that great responsibility of caring for another life.

Of course, this is the first time I’ve been able to say these words publicly, as doing so makes it real…

My amazing little boy, Remington, passed away recently at the age of 14 years, 7 months. (Rest in peace, sweet boy.)

While this is one of the hardest periods in my life, I know it was him who put two recent stories of how dogs are a positive influence on human health on my radar. And I truly believe that, as a rescue dog, he would want other people to read these stories and get inspired to give a shelter pet the life they deserve.

So, today and tomorrow, I’ll be sharing the research with you.

We’ll start with a new study that found how living with a dog can alter your health… for the better!

Boost your immunity

When you live with a dog, you’re exposed to many different microbes that actually BOOST the strength of our immune system.

Researchers gathered data from an environmental questionnaire. This surveyed nearly 4,300 first-degree relatives of people with Crohn’s disease who were enrolled in the Crohn’s and Colitis Canada Genetic, Environmental, and Microbial (CCC-GEM) project.

They also collected data on factors like family size, household pets, age, living conditions, and a few dietary details.

To analyze the effect of living with a dog on health, researchers genetically sequenced participant’s gut microbiomes. They also studied different factors in urinary samples.

Ultimately, they concluded that living with a pet influences the composition of your microbiome… for the better! Isn’t that fascinating?

(See, being in such close proximity to another species helps us, not harm us! A lesson we may want to put into use with other humans.)

Especially because if you want to stay healthy, you NEED to have a healthy gut—as an imbalanced gut can lead to chronic disease. (Learn more in the May 2021 issue of my monthly Logical Health Alternatives newsletter [“A secret weapon for fending off even the deadliest health threats—from cancer to COVID—may lie within your gut”].)

Of course, the benefits of dog ownership don’t stop there…

Battle against disease

Researchers also found that living with a dog and with at least three other family members during the first few years of life can protect you against Crohn’s disease.

(This inflammatory disease affects the lining of the digestive tract, causing symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and more.)

In fact, children between the ages of two and four who lived with a dog were 37 percent less likely to develop Crohn’s. And those who were among a family of four (or more) were 64 percent less likely to develop the condition.

These findings align with the theory I wrote about extensively in my book, The Allergy and Asthma Cure. In short, the more dirt one is exposed to early in life, they healthier they generally are.

So, perhaps you can convince your grandchildren to enjoy the perks of pet ownership… if their parents are able (and willing) to provide for a furry family member.

Adopt if you can

At the end of the day, dogs are our companions. They have a unique ability to show—and teach—us about unconditional love. And now, research suggests they can boost the all-important gut microbiome… and even protect us from a potentially debilitating, life-threatening disease such as Crohn’s.

So—why not research and rescue a dog? (Assuming you are able and willing to accept the full responsibility that comes along with the gifts of pet ownership.)

Not only will your physical health soar, but so will your mental health.

You can learn more about those many health benefits in the May 2022 issue of my monthly Logical Health Alternatives newsletter (“The ‘furry’ secret to a longer, happier life”). Not yet a subscriber? Click here to become one.

And be sure to tune back in tomorrow, where I’ll report on the benefits of sharing your bed with a furry companion!

Until next time,
Dr. Fred

Source:

“Dogs Can Be Protective, Even Against Crohn’s Disease.” WebMD, 06/02/2022. (webmd.com/ibd-crohns-disease/crohns-disease/news/20220602/dogs-protective-against-crohns-disease-study)


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