18/08/2025
Early exposure is the key.
50% of American children test positive for allergies. Almost no Amish children do.
A growing body of research is revealing that Amish children living on traditional farms are among the least-allergic populations in the developed world.
Need proof? Studies show that only about 7% of Amish children test positive for common allergens compared to over 50% of kids in the general U.S. population.
Scientists believe the key lies in the Amish way of life: early, constant exposure to barns, animals, and even unpasteurized milk appears to train their immune systems to stay calm in the face of harmless allergens. This phenomenon, known as the “farm effect,” drastically reduces the risk of asthma and allergies.
Comparisons with other similar groups—like the Hutterites and Old Order Mennonites—highlight the crucial role of environment over genetics.
Unlike Amish children, Hutterite kids grow up on large, industrialized farms where they're less exposed to animals and barn dust. This difference leads to dramatically higher rates of asthma among Hutterites (21.3% vs. just 5.2% in the Amish). Lab studies have even shown that dust from Amish homes protects mice from asthma, while dust from Hutterite homes does the opposite.
The research points to one powerful conclusion: early microbial exposure in traditional farm environments may hold the secret to preventing allergic diseases.
the paper
Ober C, Sperling AI, von Mutius E, Vercelli D. Immune development and environment: lessons from Amish and Hutterite children. Curr Opin Immunol. 2017 Oct;48:51-60.
